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| | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,799 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,799 | Torque isn't terribly important on bolts like those, but here's a simple procedure. Tighten the bolt until all the looseness is taken up (no gap visible between the bolt and the cover) then turn the bolt head 1/6 to 1/4 turn tighter to compress the gasket slightly and prevent the bolt from loosening. Overtightening a bolt on a sheet metal cover can distort the cover and/or damage the gasket. You could also use a drop of a thread locker such as Loctite (blue color, not red) on the threads.
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| | | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 171 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 171 | Ok, thank you for your answer. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 354 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 354 | When I tighten this type of bolt I never use two hands on a ratchet wrench. I grip the ratchet mechanism in my palm with the ratchet head under my thumb and forefinger, that way the only leverage is the length of my palm from the forefinger to the little finger. I find it easier to limit the amount of torque this way.
Harold Wilson
41 Chevy 3/4 Ton
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2019 Posts: 119 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2019 Posts: 119 | I agree that you can easily over-torque a joint like this. The techniques described to achieve proper bolt tension are good practices.
The other practice I follow is to tighten bolts evenly in a crisscross or "X" pattern for a cover like this.
Rusty
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,067 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,067 | What?? You don't torque them till they break and then back off a half turn? 
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,067 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,067 | If you're talking about the wheel bearing adjusting nut, there's no torque spec for that. What you do is tighten it (the service manual just says "tight") while turning the wheel hub, then back it off by 45 degrees. Be sure the wheel hub turns freely by hand. Then install the lock nut and secure it by bending a tang.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 171 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 171 | Thanks for your answer.
Wolfgang | | |
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