Why bother with a torque wrench ??

[IsleofNinja]

I started stripping down the donor engine to replace Dan's gearbox this morning. All was going well until I got to the crankcase bolts, and despite my best efforts, I could only remove 2 of the farkers !
3, yes that's right 3, of my trusty 12mm sockets have snapped
I don't know who tightened these things in but it looks like the compressor & rattle gun is going to get a work-out, just as soon as my neighbour opens his bedroom curtains ( I don't wanna piss him off cause I might need a hand later on to remove the engine from Dan's bike)

have you gotten anywhere with the rattle gun/compressor yet?

if not then its probably a good thing.. or if you've done em already then ignore this post.


i wouldnt use a rattle gun on something that appears to be overtight or just locked in place like what you've described - a breaker bar thats a good length (foot and a half long) and a decent brand name impact socket that's a six point, not twelve point, will do the job better and safer than a rattle gun would.. then you can just apply more torque using your arm and pushing downwards with gravity if you can... just might need somebody to hold the engine while you do it.

sorta agree!?
Err all impact sockets are single hex (assuming it is in fact impact sockets that are breaking??)
A decent breaker bar will apply far more torque than any rattle gun can and be much kinder to the bolt hex.
HINT-try doing the bolt UP a touch first.(no extension bar if possible).If it 'cracks' then you will be able to undo quite easily.

My ol faithfull is the big Snap-On Variety and has seen plenty of action..My Snap-On / CP and Wurth rattle guns won't touch what the breaker bar will undo.

CGL sockets / tools are pretty decent tools for the $$.. I would not waste your money on crap tools as you will just destroy all those really expensive ex Japan on back order type fastenings!!!
Buy decent stuff and you can thank me later


5c worth hehe...done it yet or what???

[Kwak addict]

Get a centre punch & give the centres of the bolt heads a GOOD rap to crack the thread bind before trying to loosen them, It will work 7 times out of 10.

[Smitty]

i wouldnt use a rattle gun on something that appears to be overtight or just locked in place like what you've described - a breaker bar thats a good length (foot and a half long) and a decent brand name impact socket that's a six point, not twelve point, will do the job better and safer than a rattle gun would.. then you can just apply more torque using your arm and pushing downwards with gravity if you can... just might need somebody to hold the engine while you do it.

carn Dave...a DECENT breaker bar is a minimum 600mm long

my good one is 900mm long 25mm thick chrome moly steel

[gixxerdave]

carn Dave...a DECENT breaker bar is a minimum 600mm long

my good one is 900mm long 25mm thick chrome moly steel

carn Smiffy, i was just hazarding a guess off the top of my head whilst typing..

[Rossi]

Still waiting on delivery of my impact sockets
Tried the bashing of the bolt head too
Breaker bar length.......pfft....... 600mm my ar*e, get yaself a real one guys----- got a 3ft length of pole that slips nicely over the standard length breaker bar in my socket set..... How d'ya think I managed to bust 3 sockets with my spindly little weight

[mfzx6r]

Still waiting on delivery of my impact sockets
Tried the bashing of the bolt head too
Breaker bar length.......pfft....... 600mm my ar*e, get yaself a real one guys----- got a 3ft length of pole that slips nicely over the standard length breaker bar in my socket set..... How d'ya think I managed to bust 3 sockets with my spindly little weight

Mate if you need a hand give me a ring ..

[gixxerdave]

Err all impact sockets are single hex (assuming it is in fact impact sockets that are breaking??)

yeah youre right, slipped the brain a bit, impacts are six point, dont recall ever seeing a twelve point one!

[IsleofNinja]

Like I said.. Try doing up first... You'd be suprised!!

[Rossi]

Like I said.. Try doing up first... You'd be suprised!!

without being rude.......... this is not the first time I have been inside an engine and I have been spinning spanners with a vengeance since 1976
I farkin tried that 1st

Now what would suprise me, is if manufacturers of todays so called "quality" tools actually used decent steel and gave it a heat treatment when finished, instead of this stuff which acts like chocolate wrapped in foil !!

Can you tell it's beginning to piss me off

[IsleofNinja]

Didn't mean ta tell ya to 'suck eggs' mate.

And yes as a qualified tradie myself of a few odd years , I'd have to agree that the quality has dropped..
Reckon most the manufactures have gone down the 'cheap labour-fark the quality-we'll ride the reputation like chinese pit bike' route ..