Retorquing the Lugnuts

Normandin in Napierville, that's it (sounds too cool to say no).

Me and the mechanic are like this...

 

That's nice, I'd still want to to double check with my own device. Since nobody follows up on retorquing lugnuts, who's to say anyone really recalibrates wrenches?

 

lol

 

It's just laughable, because all this stuff is out there, and it's like it was only made for me ('k, thanks).

So, back in the bjork cave, I found that the budget torque multiplier wasn't quite what I wanted to use there (as a backup or anything else, apart from loosening like it was made for). It starts winding up like a coiled spring and jacking the torque adapter up at just over 100 ft lbs, so forget taking that any farther. Still glad I got it, because I ended up with some sockets that I use, and after considering a beam type wrench for it, I now use one for verifying numbers on the torque adapter (and can be fairly certain my big wrench is dialed in).

There's another 3/4 inch digital adapter around, which is a little more compact and costs a little less, but it starts reading above 145 foot pounds (the bigger one starts at 50, which is good for testing smaller wrenches too).

In practice though, the other day I was waiting for a mobile repair for something else pre trip related, and took the wrench around to a couple of our other tractors. Most wheels on those had several undertorqued lugs (and hadn't had tires changed recently). Every tractor I've checked so far was in need of a retorque. Going by that I don't think this is uncommon (even though there's a sticker on the frame that reminds anyone involved with maintenance to do so). Well so much for that, I have to go back and retorque them again soon, since my wrench was a little undertorqued itself.

 

Switched to going around the wheel clockwise, instead of going by the torque sequence. I'll reserve that for when all lugs are loose (only once was it really necessary), it never got any faster, and sometimes I'm torquing several vehicles in a row, where it really becomes a wrench in the spokes.

 

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but another indication that torque might need to be checked, besides rust streaks, is a lack of surface rust on the stud threads of a wheel (if there's rust or darker metal in between them), along with some shiny spots (socket marks) on the lug nuts. That will tell you the wheel was removed recently (sometimes they'll leave a sticker on the front of a trailer, indicating if retorque is needed, not always though).