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Took me 10 years to stop over-torquing head bolts by feel
I used to think I could torque head bolts by hand. I've been doing diesel work since 2004 and always thought the torque wrench was for rookies. Then I had a 6.0 Powerstroke blow a head gasket 8 months after I did the job. The head bolts had stretched because I went way past spec. Now I use a calibrated torque wrench every single time and I check it against the shop's master gauge twice a year. Does anyone else still know a guy who does it by feel and swears it works?
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bell.felix17d ago
The part about checking it twice a year against a master gauge got me. I don't think I've ever seen anyone do that on a diesel forum before. Most guys I know just grab the wrench off the pegboard and hope it clicks right. You actually have a master gauge for your torque wrench. That's next level.
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mila_murphy2117d ago
Get yourself a digital torque adapter that clicks at the set poundage, @bell.felix can tell you that the master gauge is the only way to stay honest with yourself after seeing bolts fail. A good one pays for itself the first time you don't have to redo a head gasket job.
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