Torque Sledge Hammer
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Seasoned HDF Member
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Torque Sledge Hammer
At the dealer today, having my 1K service done on my '20 Heritage Classic 114, I would occasionally stroll by the service department viewing window to get a look at the progress my service technician was making. The first time by, I was pleased to see that an older, gray-haired technician was doing the service. That put my mind at ease knowing that they didn't assign some kid right out of tech school. I had a seasoned, professional, experienced and highly trained H-D service technician taking care of my beloved Heritage!
About 2-1/2 hours goes by and I'm thinking this seasoned, professional, experienced and highly-trained technician must be doing a really thorough job going through the bike because I can see the full containers of oils unopened on his work table by the bike, so he hasn't even started changing the fluids.
About that time, I see him put a special wrench on the rear axle nut, but it's not a torque wrench. Hmm, I say. He then grabs about a 12" two pound sledge hammer and starts beating the crap out of the wrench to tighten the axle nut. I about sh*t a brick! One thing's for sure. I don't have to worry about that axle nut coming loose!
About 2-1/2 hours goes by and I'm thinking this seasoned, professional, experienced and highly-trained technician must be doing a really thorough job going through the bike because I can see the full containers of oils unopened on his work table by the bike, so he hasn't even started changing the fluids.
About that time, I see him put a special wrench on the rear axle nut, but it's not a torque wrench. Hmm, I say. He then grabs about a 12" two pound sledge hammer and starts beating the crap out of the wrench to tighten the axle nut. I about sh*t a brick! One thing's for sure. I don't have to worry about that axle nut coming loose!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 4,529
From: Bismarck N.D.
I would have had a really hard time not bringing that to someone's attention when paying my bill !! that might be acceptable when working on a twenty year old bull dozer but not on a brand new motorcycle!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 395
From: Squamish, B.C.
Not very professional in my opinion. One of the things I look for when buying a new to me car or bike is the condition of the nuts and bolts to see if a hack worked on the machine. I can't get out of there fast enough if things are chewed up. I was a diesel mechanic many years ago and when I went to do my 6 weeks at the school each year I was introduced to a new group of hacks, most of these bozos flunk out but some get through!! and I see you found one!! I'd report the turkey to the service manager and head office and there would be a major problem with the bill.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 655
Likes: 759
From: Coconino County AZ
Sorry to hear of your experience with the hammer mechanic.
There are hammer wrenches designed to be used with a sledge hammer. They’re used in industrial applications to tighten very large fasteners that do not rely on a specific torque such as packing gland nuts, large pipe flanges, and such. It is much more common to see them used to loosen very large fasteners. The smallest I’ve used or seen fits nuts on 7/8” diameter and up thread sizes. There is no application I can think of where you’d use a hammer on a wrench to tighten a fastener on a motorcycle.
I spent many years turning wrenches for a living and managing large maintenance organizations. If that Bozo worked for me, he’d be on the street looking for a job. It’s your ride and your maintenance $$ -- use a shop with technicians you can trust. This guy has no business working on motorcycles – I wouldn’t let him near my lawn mower.
There are hammer wrenches designed to be used with a sledge hammer. They’re used in industrial applications to tighten very large fasteners that do not rely on a specific torque such as packing gland nuts, large pipe flanges, and such. It is much more common to see them used to loosen very large fasteners. The smallest I’ve used or seen fits nuts on 7/8” diameter and up thread sizes. There is no application I can think of where you’d use a hammer on a wrench to tighten a fastener on a motorcycle.
I spent many years turning wrenches for a living and managing large maintenance organizations. If that Bozo worked for me, he’d be on the street looking for a job. It’s your ride and your maintenance $$ -- use a shop with technicians you can trust. This guy has no business working on motorcycles – I wouldn’t let him near my lawn mower.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 5,076
Likes: 3,293
From: Plover, WI
Is the gray haired tech a forum member? I've seen it countless times here. Torque wrench needed?
Snug it up, you'll be fine.
Waste of time, it's not a critical fastener.
I've got a feel for it, haven't stripped one yet.
Tight as you can, then another 1/4 turn.
Red Loctite it, she ain't going nowhere.
Snug it up, you'll be fine.
Waste of time, it's not a critical fastener.
I've got a feel for it, haven't stripped one yet.
Tight as you can, then another 1/4 turn.
Red Loctite it, she ain't going nowhere.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
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From: Sunshine State
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Seasoned HDF Member
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I think the torque settings on that sledge hammer only went up to 110 ft/lbs, so he didn't go too far over the tightening specifications. Thank God! 
I'm going to give the dealer a call tomorrow and speak with the Service Advisor about that sh*t. It'll be interesting to hear what he has to say.
I'm going to give the dealer a call tomorrow and speak with the Service Advisor about that sh*t. It'll be interesting to hear what he has to say.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
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Believe you me, they won't be touching it from now on. I only took it in because it was the 1K service and I negotiated for it when I bought the bike. I think I got the short end of the stick.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,922
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From: Toronto Canada
when i worked in a computer service department we had a big rubber mallet mounted on the wall with a sign "Customer Alignment Tool" (it wasn't anywhere that customers could see) . sometimes a particularly stubborn fastener would get the hammer applied to a wrench to loosen it , but i never saw it used to tighten anything . of course nothing was done to specific torque , we didn't even have a torque wrench , all fasteners were non-critical 