PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-586
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 586
SEPTEMBER 2001
PS 586
57
Lubricate a bolt only when your TM tells you to lube it.
Oily threads reduce run-up friction and allow overtorque.
When you finish a job, check the
manufacturer’s manual that came
with the torque wrench. It should
tell you what setting to use for
storing the wrench.
If you have a bending-beam
torque wrench, just stop turning
and remove the wrench. The pointer
returns to zero. Be careful, though.
the pointer is not protected. If you
bend or damage it, it won’t maintain
calibration. Then the next guy won’t
be able to use the wrench. It must
be turned into your local TMDE shop
for calibration and repair.
Seizures ruin readings. During the last few turns, just before
you reach the torque you want, you might hear a popping sound.
It means the fastener has stopped turning momentarily. So back
off the fastener with a standard wrench and retorque.
Questions
about
TMDE
calibration?
Check with your
local
TMDE
coordinator.
once you’ve finished
torquing me, take the
pressure off my
buddy’s spring before
you put him away!
Torque the nut, not the bolt,
unless your TM tells you
differently, and when the
torque is reached,
stop.
Sometimes you
have
to tighten
the bolt end
—
when space is limit-
ed, for instance. In that case,
always torque to the high side of
the torque range. That’s because
you’ve already used up some
torque getting the bolt moving in
the hole or to align parts.
Be sure it
reads zero
Not
too
much,
buddy!
Hey fella…
go easy!
Help!
Likewise, don’t toss
or drop the wrench.
Rough treatment
KO’s calibration.
A torque wrench
is
not
a hammer,
so don’t use it
like one.
I don’t
belong
in here!
Getting an accurate
torque means going
slow and steady until
you reach the required
torque. Herky-jerky
motions make for bad
readings.
If you think a reading
is bad, back off the nut
with a standard wrench
and retorque. Never
use a torque wrench
for loosening. That’ll
damage its calibration.
Micrometer and other torque
wrenches can be set at zero
before storage unless your
tool room SOP says differently.
Setting the reading to zero
takes pressure off the spring
while it’s not in use. If you
leave the pressure on, the
calibrated spring will stretch,
weaken, collapse or lose ten-
sion. That can ruin its accuracy.
Finally, store each wrench
in its own box. Never throw
one into a tool box with
other tools. You’ll damage
it every time.
586. 54-57 (C)
7/29/01
3:41 PM
Page 3
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