When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Ok, you might tell someone later today how dumb my question is and have a good laugh, but here I go. I've never used a torque wrench before so I went out and bought a 3/8th socket wrench and am about to go around my RK and tighten everything down, but the lowest setting on the wrench says 80 lb/inch. My question is in the Harley manual there are man bolts that require torque less than 80. Did I buy the wrong torque wrench and need a wrench that goes to lower settings? Sorry, I must sound like an idiot.
ClayHarley,
Don't worry about the question, you made me realize I need to pay attention to those details when I go to purchase mine.
Thanks for the question.
Really your going to need two torque wrenchs one that is a smaller one that is in the lower inch pounds ratting and one that is bigger and will go up to around 90 to 100 plus ft lbs for larger stuff.
Unless you can find a good one at sears that has both but id go for the two of them. And are you absolutely sure that the lowest it goes is 80 ft lbs. I have a nice 1/2 inch drive that goes all the way to like 0 ft lbs to way up over 100 ft lbs.
What brand and do you have a link to the one you bought.
If you are going to check torque, you need to loosen and then tighten. Just putting a torque wrench on and clicking it, will give you a higher torque. That is why they tell you just to click it once. It will only matter on the smallest of fasteners, but it will matter.
The other thing that you will do is break the seal on the loctite if you turn them enough, you should reseal them with new locktite and put them back.
I'm just a computer guy today, so please don't flame me. (Used to be a federal helicopter mechanic, in the good old simpler days, though)
I bought this bike with 7k miles on it over the winter so besides cracking the seal on every bolt are there any bolts I should pay the most attention to? Axle, calipers (Since I just did the brakes), header pipes (Since I just changed the clutch release cover) and anything else?
Harbor Freight also has an in-lb clicker type torque wrench that goes down to about 10 in-lb if I remember correctly. It's a 1/4" drive. (In addition to their 3/8" and 1/2" wrenches.) It's $19.95, or less if you find it on sale.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.