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Posted By: nikothenomad Torque Wrenches - June 21st 2018 5:06 pm
Are we ready for this can of worms?

I'd like to finally invest in a torque wrench. Was going to start with the one that works on my transmission pan and bands. That means in. lbs. However am having trouble finding anything but ft. lbs.

How many of you feel that it is valid to convert ft. to in. lbs.??? Versus making sure you have a wrench for each task.

I have read differing opinions in regard to conversions not actually being accurate.

GO!
Posted By: Reed Re: Torque Wrenches - June 22nd 2018 12:23 am
MULTIPLY foot pounds by 12 to get inch pounds. DIVIDE inch pounds by 12 to get foot pounds. Seriously. Thats it.

I have both a clicker in/lb wrench and a beam style inch/pound torque wrench. I actually prefer the beam style.

However, the torque specifications are so small for things like the band adjustments in the transmission that I actually just do them finger tight then back the adjuster off the correct number of turns. I find fiddling with the torque wrench annoying when doing band adjustments.
Posted By: Dyno_Dave Re: Torque Wrenches - June 22nd 2018 12:49 am
EBAY TORQUE WRENCH
Posted By: nikothenomad Re: Torque Wrenches - June 23rd 2018 3:02 am
Reed you seriously do your band adjustments by hand? And to think I'm too nervous to even do it with a wrench. The trans works great so I've never touched it. But had thought about just checking to see if they were tightened to spec.
Posted By: Reed Re: Torque Wrenches - June 23rd 2018 5:22 am
Yup. The band torque is something like 24-36 inch pounds, which translates to 2-3 foot pounds, which is less than I can create rolling a bolt head betwen my thumb and index finger. So, loosen locknut, snug the adjuster tight with my fingers, back adjuster off specified number of turns, hold adjuster, tighten locknut. Works for me. I learned that trick from a long-time slant six drag racer. Just be sure to back it off the correct number of turns for your year trans.
Posted By: nikothenomad Re: Torque Wrenches - June 25th 2018 8:44 pm
Well, Reed, I chickened out on messing with the band adjustments. Decided I'd go with the if it ain't broke don't fix it theory.

Although I didn't do any torquing on those adjustment bolts I did decide to use a Redneck Torque Wrench on the bolts of the tranny pan. Now that was pretty fun. Far as I can tell it worked out well too. Fish scale and foot long ratchet. Pretty cool.
Posted By: Reed Re: Torque Wrenches - June 26th 2018 2:41 am
No worries. If it si shifting fine, then the bands are probably OK. To be honest, almost the only time I ever adjust the bands is when I am rebuilding a trans, or if I have encountered a trans that is near death and I am trying to limp it along.

Your fish scale trick sounds just fine. As long as you understand the principle of a foot-pound, then you can do fun stuff like that!
Posted By: nikothenomad Re: Torque Wrenches - June 26th 2018 4:09 pm
Yes, it was pretty neat to use the fish scale. Quite an interesting experiment. Glad you said that about the bands. Even in my FSM it indicates adjusting them only if you have rebuilt the trans.

She seems to perform well enough for our type of use so we'll leave well enough alone for now. She still prefers to run cold but it hasn't hurt her to date so again, we'll leave that where it is.
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