Ah, the lessons we learn. I did my best to find the correct specs. They are all over the map. The bolt size, assuming it's grade five, calls for 55 lbs. I thought that would be safe. I also checked the depth of the bolt hole just out of curiosity. It's much deeper than the thread length. I even install new washers just to make things right. The first bolt clicked at 55 lbs. On to the second. It seemed to be tightening oddly, but it is a good torque wrench, so I continued. The darn thing busted in the hole.
A few choice words, and some head scratching, and I finally got the cap off where I could see the bolt. A slight bit protruded. I whacked it good with an impact screw driver. Much to my surprise, it came loose, and backed out.
Then on to the forensics. What I discovered was that the threads do not go to the bottom of the hole, and the new washers are not as thick as the old. The threads bottomed out, and the bolt was not torquing on the head. She busted, her.
So...I dug around, and found a good grade 5 bolt almost long enough, and dug through the pile, and found the old thicker washers. All is now in place and torqued to 55 ft lbs. I know that's on the light side, but I doubt I will be so lucky on the next busted bolt.
This is, by the way, my first differential experience. I now have a dial indicator, and know how to use it...sort of. Curiously, the differential was almost spot on after 71 years of mucking around the country. That speaks well for the engineers of olden times.
