Hi I don't have a torque wrench and need to torque something to 7ft/lbs. Can someone tell an example how tight, like finger tight+ 1/4 turn?

 

I would just make it snug with a wrench. But of course that to me could differ from your thought of snug. Get it just tight enough that its not gonna spin off would be my guess.

 

I normally hold the wrench as close as i can to the socket size so there minimal leverage when tighening bolts like that. I myself have never even used a torque wrench that works under 15 ft/lbs. I've never had a problem upto this day...

 

if you are tightening something like an oil spray bar bolt you need to use a torque wrench to get it right- too loose and it won't seal (or worse it'll back out), too tight and you will crush the tube (= no oil supply) or shear the bolt.

7ft lbs is sod all, its like one finger on a 6" wrench, it would be very easy to get it wrong by a factor of two....

If you can't beg buy borrow or steal a torque wrench, you can always improvise; a simple way is to get your wrench extended to 1ft long (another wrench, a piece of tube, an extension bar....) and then to hang a bag with 7lbs of something on it using a piece of string. If the bolt is vertical, pass the string over a smooth horizontal bar so that the 'pull' can be horizontal.

Do not underestimate the forces that can develop; even at just 7ft lbs a well-oiled 1mm pitch bolt will develop about 450-500lbs tension force in it. Just think, if someone said 'place that pointy 500lb weight on your engine' you would be very careful about how you did it and if they said 'oh, it'll be fine if it is double that' you would want a second opinion, wouldn't you....?

Ultimately it all depends why it is specified at 7ftlbs as to your real risk of doing damage now or later, but don't trust to luck if you have any choice.

cheers

 

Go buy a inch pound torque wrench and set to 84in. Done.

 

Yep, 84 in.lbs. Is there a Harbor Freight near by?

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-qua...ench-2696.html

 

just do hand tight and then 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn...at that torque it really wont make a difference...just dont overtighten and break it..

 

1/2 to 3/4 of a turn past hand tight will already be over tightened...

 

very much so.

i usually just grab the handle way up near the socket as someone else has previously said