[SEL] Honda oil plug OT

[bill at antique-engines.com]

Wheel nuts are to be TORQUED on, period.
Use of impact is fine if all they do is run them up snug in the proper
pattern.
The wrenches WILL stop - however, most idiots that use them have no clue
how to set them down, they use them at max torque at all times.
They are not accurate........ so don't think you'll set it to a certain
"torque" setting and it will always be the same.

They WILL warp certain rotors if used on the wheel nuts/bolts of cars with
disk brakes.
Before we were married, Two times a shop had to replace brakes on
Barbara's Camaro until I went up there and WATCHED while they properly
installed the nuts by hand, then using a torque wrench to torque to specs.
End of brake problems. (they ate the cost of the messed up rotors each
time)
They should not be used where a BEARING is concerned! (your diff yolk,
etc.) The impact action can hammer the bearing, causing later failure.

Bill

>> I have a great disliking for an impact wrench due to a similar
>> situation many
>> years ago.  I realize that impact wrenches have their place.
>
> I've several times encountered dangerous situations from overtightening
> lug nuts with impact wrenches. As I kid I was on a trip with my folks
> when  a tire went flat. Pop went to take the lug nuts off with a cross
> lug wrench and found the threads were all completely stripped. Amazing
> the wheel hadn't come off. We had to be towed into a shop by a wrecker.
>
> Jane was driving herself to college one morning when her left rear
> wheel came off and passed her. Her dad got all over the guy who'd
> stripped her lug threads.
>
> I was fortunately driving my Ramcharger, not riding my Harley, when the
> left front wheel of an oncoming Oldsmobile Cutlass came off and came
> straight at me. We were in a 40 MPH speed zone and I was obeying the
> speed limit. Looked to me like the other car was, too. Didn't have time
> to slow down much. The wheel was bouncing up to my head height, but
> when it hit it dead-centered my "Eat More Possum" tag on the front
> bumper. Felt like I'd run over a fire hydrant or something, a
> substantial impact. The wheel went back in the direction it came from,
> moving even faster. Went between two cars, and sailed down into a
> creek. The heavy front bumper was bent into a V, the grill was smashed,
> and the air conditioning condenser was dinged. The stripped threads
> from the lug nuts were still in the threads on the lugs. Fortunately
> the lady driving was able to pull safely to the side of the road and
> didn't veer into me along with her wheel.
>
> It used to be a common belief, may still be, among mechanics that the
> overriding clutch on those wrenches wouldn't allow overtightening, and
> they'd let 'em sit and hammer after the nut was run down. Very, very
> dangerous practice.
>
> John
>
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