Torque wrench capacity
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Torque wrench capacity
Hi gang,
Ok , this must be a dumb question since I did a search and no one actually asked this question.
What is the correct Torque wrench capacity to get?
I got one from Sears and is 25 to 250 in-lbs (3.61 to 29.03 Nm) with a 3/8" drive size.
First thing that I've check in the Bentley is the wheel nut. That alone requires 90 Nm or 130 Ft-lbs (not in-lbs).
What is the best range capacity to get to cover most of the 1987 Porsche 911 carrera repairs?
Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
youngatheart
Ok , this must be a dumb question since I did a search and no one actually asked this question.
What is the correct Torque wrench capacity to get?
I got one from Sears and is 25 to 250 in-lbs (3.61 to 29.03 Nm) with a 3/8" drive size.
First thing that I've check in the Bentley is the wheel nut. That alone requires 90 Nm or 130 Ft-lbs (not in-lbs).
What is the best range capacity to get to cover most of the 1987 Porsche 911 carrera repairs?
Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
youngatheart
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: HATTIESBURG, MS.
You really need, more than one wrench. I have 1/4, 3/8. 1/2, 3/4 inch drive wrenches. You will need at least 2 to be able to do most of the work on these cars. Some of the little stuff needs the 1/4 drive, and the bigger the nut/bolt, a bigger wrench is needed. I know it is costly to get all of these, but it will make life easier having the proper tool for the job instead of trying to make do with one or two wreches. With mine, I can go from basically 0 inch pounds to several hundred foot pounds. Not bashing, just trying to make it easier for you. You could probably get by with the 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 wrenches, but getting good quality tools is the key. If you don't have the right wrench, see if someone will let you borrow one for a bit so you can tighten up what needs doing. Good luck on your project. 
Last edited by 3.2SLANTNOSE; Jul 5, 2008 at 11:00 AM.
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From: San Antonio TX
For the wheel nuts (lug nuts) you need the 0-250 or a 50-250 pound wrench. I think the Bentley is wrong if it says 130 lbs for the nuts. My data says 94-95 foot pounds on my 88 Carrera. As stated previously, you need at least two wrenches....one for 1/4" small inch pound stuff, and a 3/8" one for the up to 250 pound torques. If you do the half shaft nuts and other larger torque requirements, you've got to get bigger capacity tools.
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From: TX
I'd suggest a 1/2 inch drive 250 lb torque wrench, which will work for the majority of what you'll need. A second torque wrench with a lower capacity is handy at times too. To help your torque wrench last, if it's a twist-the-handle-to-set-torque type, be sure and reset it to zero after each usage.
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Awesome guys, thanks for the valuable info.
1. 3.2 Slantnose, I didn't even know a 1/4" and 3/4" existed. I need to do some digging to find who sell these. Awesome picture. If you have all these torque wrenches, can imagine how many other tools you also have. It must be a Posche mechanics heaven in your garage.:-)
2. Spider911 , just wondering where did you find the spec for for 911? Mine is a 87' 911, it should be in the same books. When you mean 3/8" drive up to 250 pounds, I assume you meant 250 in-lbs not ft pounds right?
3. Bill, when you mean 250 lb wrench , I also assume you meant 250in-lbs not ft lbs , correct?
Thanks for the tip on reseting, would never occur to me that it would screw up the accuracy? Is it string loaded, if is not, why would it need to be reset?
1. 3.2 Slantnose, I didn't even know a 1/4" and 3/4" existed. I need to do some digging to find who sell these. Awesome picture. If you have all these torque wrenches, can imagine how many other tools you also have. It must be a Posche mechanics heaven in your garage.:-)
2. Spider911 , just wondering where did you find the spec for for 911? Mine is a 87' 911, it should be in the same books. When you mean 3/8" drive up to 250 pounds, I assume you meant 250 in-lbs not ft pounds right?
3. Bill, when you mean 250 lb wrench , I also assume you meant 250in-lbs not ft lbs , correct?
Thanks for the tip on reseting, would never occur to me that it would screw up the accuracy? Is it string loaded, if is not, why would it need to be reset?
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From: Bakersfield, CA, for now...
Bill is correct, my 1/2" drive is a SnapOn click-type that goes from 50 - 250 lb/ft, and my 3/8th drive covers 0 - 75 lb/ft. I have always turned both back to their lowest setting after use, SnapOn reports that they needed very little in the way of calibration when serviced. I also have in/lb wrenches for delicate work. That covers pretty much everything that someone might need at home in the garage. The torque for 911 lug nuts is 94 lb/ft.
Pete
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Yes - and if you can only get one, then get a 1/2" one. You can do w/o the 3/8" drive one unless you rebuild the engine or trans.
Don't get confused about the ft-lbs vs. N-m values for the lug nuts. And do use the right anti-sieze in the right places on the lug nuts. Search button will enlighten you.
Don't get confused about the ft-lbs vs. N-m values for the lug nuts. And do use the right anti-sieze in the right places on the lug nuts. Search button will enlighten you.
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Torque wrenches aren't all that expensive, but certainly ain't cheap for a decent one. How many you own depends entirely on how much work you do. Personally, I'd own a 1/2" that goes to about 150-200lbs. That will take care of most of the larger fasteners, including the wheels. A 3/8" torque wrench that goes up to about 75-100 lbs should get you by for the rest. Also keep in mind that they are least accurate at both extremes of their torque ranges so I wouldn't be torquing my lugnuts with a wrench that maxes out at 100lbs, for example.
Edward
Edward
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In a perfect world, the preferred torque wrench is one in which your torque application falls in the middle of the wrench torque range for accuracy. Also, there are some twist type wrenches that should be reset to 20% of maximum value rather than zero. Probably the best idea is to contact the manufacturer. Either way, do not forget to reset the wrench when not in use. This may seem ****, however, we are seeking perfection, are we not?
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From: San Antonio TX
youngatheart, I found the reference to 130Nm on page 89 of my 87 specifications handbook. i don't know what that converts to in foot lbs, but for 38 years I have used approximately 94-96 ft lbs for securing my alloy lug nuts on my fuchs. Any tighter and you can strip out the threads. This is the same torque values used by a couple of shops here in town and National tire and Battery and discount tire.
I meant to say 1/2" drive for the torque wrech and it is in foot lbs, not inch lbs. 12 inch pounds = one foot lbs. Most 0-250 ft lbs are 1/2" drive.
I meant to say 1/2" drive for the torque wrech and it is in foot lbs, not inch lbs. 12 inch pounds = one foot lbs. Most 0-250 ft lbs are 1/2" drive.
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From: Bakersfield, CA, for now...
I realize that it's easy to be confused about Nm, mkp, Kpm, lb/ft, but basically Nm (Newtonmeter) is the newest terminology for what used to be Kpm (Kilopondmeter), which was aka "mkp". An Nm is roughly Kpm (mkp) by the factor of 10 (actually 9.81). Therefore 130 Nm is 13.0 mkp. To convert mkp to lb/ft multiply by 7.23, which in the case of 130 is 93.99 (94) lb/ft. Porsche recognizes the factor 10 for shop work (which they state in various manuals), and that is evidenced by driver's/owner's manuals found in gloveboxes everywhere. For instance, the owner's manual for a 2.2 911E states on page 75, "the prescribed tightening-torque is 94 lb/ft." Hope this makes it better, not worse!
Pete
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1. The units are lb*ft rather than lb/ft. If your wrench is 1ft long and you push on it with the force you'd need to support a 45lb plate, you'd have 45 lb*ft. I'm not advocating ballparking torques you put on nuts, but if nuclear war hits and we're all stuck without tools trying to get our machinery working, it's good to understand it. Even sears doesn't, as they also use the ft/lb thing.
2. As a newcomer to the 911 world and subsequently 911 work, I'm going with 2 torque wrenches:
3/8, beam style (0-75 ft*lbs, only 2.5ft*lb increments though, guaranteed forever):
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...00&tab=spe#tab
$24
1/2, digital (no lifetime warranty as result, good price though, measures 25-250 ft*lbs)
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...00&tab=spe#tab
$109
2. As a newcomer to the 911 world and subsequently 911 work, I'm going with 2 torque wrenches:
3/8, beam style (0-75 ft*lbs, only 2.5ft*lb increments though, guaranteed forever):
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...00&tab=spe#tab
$24
1/2, digital (no lifetime warranty as result, good price though, measures 25-250 ft*lbs)
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...00&tab=spe#tab
$109
