Contents

Tightening of Fasteners ..
What is Torque ?
Torque Measurement Unit ..
What Happen to Bolts when
Tightened?
Torques Values Table..
Torquing..
Friction..
Why Measure Torque ?
Torque Wrench Types..
Torque Turn..

Avoid unnecessary costs of Over/Under-Torquing

Tighten with the right torque =
long service life from equipment and tools.

Too much torque:

deforms the nut and compresses threads.
Too little torque:
may allow fastener to work loose.
Failure of fasteners can lead to
major repairs and
costs that could have been avoided.
Caterpillar provides charts with general tightening
recommendations

Tightening of Fasteners

Loose Bolts
Wear of bolt & joining surfaces
Shear bolt
Vibration, parts come apart

How tight do you fasten a bolt or a nut ?

Wrench Tight

Bolt tightened so its stretched

- then will hold tightly.

Stretch by applying leverage or torque with a wrench.

The longer the handle on the wrench, the more torque
can be applied.

What is Torque ?
Force applied to wrench handle when tightening a
fastener.
or
Twisting force acting on a bolt or nut when being
tightened with a wrench.

Torque Measurement Unit ..

Force applied is measured in pounds
Pounds of force exerted at one foot from the fastener is the
applied torque.
Measured in pounds - foot ( lb-ft )

Metric Newton - meter ( N.m )

1 Newton = .224 lbs. of force
1 Meter

= 3.3 ft

Torque = Force X Length

Problem : To apply 200 lbs of pull to the wrench safely by

hand would be very difficult.

Solution : To reduce the amount of pull and yet keep the

same torque, we can use a longer wrench.

Not practical to hang weights. We can measure by attaching

a Spring Scale.

To measure quickly and easily a special tool was designed :

Torque Wrench.

Wrench Types
Beam Torque Wrench

Parts

Operation

Wrench Types
Clicker Torque Wrench

Parts

Operation

Wrench Types
Dial Type

Identified by the movable pointer and dial.

Pre-Set Torque Wrench

Wrench Types
Adjustable Torque Wrench

Varied by twisting the handle.

Value desired can be read on the adjusting sleeve.
80-150-250-1000 lb ft

Indicated by an audible click sudden release followed by

several degrees of free movement.

What happens to bolts when torqued (tightened) ?

Elastic Deformation

(a) Before
loading

(b) Loaded

(c) After removal

of load

What happens to bolts when torqued (tightened) ?

Plastic Deformation

e partly elastic and partly plastic,

only elastic portion is recovered

Over torqued
stretch beyond the elastic state
neck out
loosening its grip
probably break.
Necking

Plastic Deformation

Torque Values
Specific torque values in Service Manual.
General torque values can be used.

Torquing
We apply
this-----

And
want this-----

Twisting
Force

Tension
(Clamping Force)

We measure this tension indirectly by using a Torque Wrench.

Friction
Because of the Twisting Force,
we have a Friction that affects the Clamping Force.
1) Head of the bolt or nut . .
turning against the
piece being held.

2) Threads of the nut and bolt . .

turning against each another.

Factors That Affect Friction

1) Surface Texture of bolt & part being hold

2) Lubricant
3) Type of Lubricant
4) Machined or Rolled Threads
5) Dirt or Rust on Threads
6) Damaged Threads
7) Bent Bolt

The distribution of torque

in fastener tightening

Why Measure Torque ?

Consumer demand
Industry to increase:
Power / Cubic Inch
Power / Dollar
Product Eff. Factor / Pound
Safety Standards.

Older products using oversized parts.

To increase : Product Efficiency / Pound
Efficient machinery using smaller yet stronger fasteners.

Nuts & Bolts Since Fastener is the weakest link of any

assembly. Special attention.necessary
Incorrectly tightened will fail before the machine itself fails.

How to Compute Torque when using Adapters?

RS =

AXT
A+B
B

RS = Torque Setting.
A = Distance from drive center to
handle pull point center.
B = Length of adaptor from drive center to nut or bolt center
( Only // to handle ).
T = Torque Desired.
What should the Setting be when?
A = 12

B = 6 and T = 30 lb. ft.

Extensions reduce Torque.

Some Force lost in Twisting

20% with a 4extn.

30% with a 6extn.
40% with a 8extn.
For Impact Tool (150 lb.-ft.) + 4extn.
Max. Applied Torque = 120 lb.-ft.

Torque-Turn
Actual clamping force or bolt tension
can vary when using torque as a means
of measuring that tension.
Because of this researchers have come
with a Torque -Turn method.
A combination of torque + a certain
number of degrees of rotation of nut or
bolt .
Torque to 50 10 lb.- ft. plus 180 5
Degrees of rotation
A degree is 1/360th of the distance
around a circle ( symbol )

Torque/Tension Chart

(4 bolts same size)

Point

Torque

Tension (lbs) Variation

(lbs)
From..to

(lb- ft)
A

100

8,400-10,500

2,100

200

17,000-21,000

4,000

400

34,500-42,500

8,000

Tension variation increases as

torque increases.
Dashed line lubricated bolt,
reached the tension level with

Turn Portion

Direct Relationship
Tension on
bolt

Elongation
or stretch

2,500 lbs

.001

12,500 lbs

.005

25,000 lbs

.010

37,500 lbs

.015

50,000 lbs

.020

Tension / Stretch ratio of 2,500 lbs per .001 stretch.

Not constant for all bolts.
It depends upon factors: Size, Length & Material

Torque Turn

Tension variation at 190 lb.- ft. roughly 2,200 lbs. After 120 of rotation
roughly 4,300 lbs using torque method roughly 7,400 lbs a difference of
3,100 lbs could be a difference between a quality product and a field failure.

Remember !

Always . . . Use a steady even pull,

Never . . . Jerk or snap the wrench.
The tool will do what its designed to do,
if..
The serviceman uses the tool as it was designed to be
used.