Torque and Chrome

Question on how to use a torque wrench?

I just purchased my first torque wrench, it goes from 0-80 ft/lbs of torque. If I were to do a repair that required taking my wheel off (i would take the wheels off with a breaker bar, not the torque wrench, i know that). To re install the wheel, the suggested torque is 90 ft/lbs. Since my wrench doesnt go that high, could I set it to 50, torque the lug nut, set it to 40 and then torque the same lug nut in order to do it in stages?

Public Comments

1. No - your torque wrench needs to go to 90 lbs - so what you do is torque it to the max - and then get your breaker bar and give each bolt another little crank. For most of the time there were cars, nobody torqued the wheels on - just tighten the bolts - you'll be fine.
2. To properly use a torque wrench you can not torque anything beyond the range of the wrench. If you need to torque something that outside the range of your wrench, you'll need to use a wrench that goes up to the value you need to achieve. As Vulcan said, wheels are not really all that critical to torque, just be sure they're real tight. Hi suggestion would work for wheels, but for other things such as headbolts, rod caps, etc, torque is much more critical and you will need the proper torque wrench to torque those items that are in excess of the maximum value of your wrench.
3. that will not do anything. the torque wrench does not know math, only actual twisting force required to move an object.
4. No, the torque wrench is not an auto tightener. It just tells you when you have put X amount of force on a bolt. So set to 50 ft lbs and the beam goes to 50 or if clicker style, it clicks as you tighten.. You are at 50 ft lbs. If you then set it at 40 ft lbs and try to tighten the same nut, guess what. It will click as soon as you start to turn it because that bolt is already past 40 ft lbs of torque (it's at 50 ft lbs) You pretty much bought the wrong torque wrench for your needs/use. You need one that goes to atleast 90 ft lbs
5. Hello You can only set the wrench to what is shown ie up to 80 ft/lbs. However if you find you constantly have to go above that you can buy a 2 X converter which fits to the wrench. But you must remember that when fitted you set the wrench to half the required torque as the converter will just double what is set. When you are not using it set the torque to the lowest setting to cut down wear and if you buy the converter get into the habit of removing it when you put the torque away. Hope this helps. Andy C
6. Take it back and get a 1/2" drive that goes to 200. The one you got is probably 3/8" drive and meant for smaller work like tranny or small engines, some head bolts require over 90 pounds