[Toontje]

Just reading the post of that guy who broke two spark plugs "torquing them up to spec". Why do we have to "torque everything to spec" nowadays? I mean, I understand if you are dealing with alu parts like cylinders, etc., you don't want to fook the threads out of those, but normal steel bolts and nuts, WTF? Doesn't anybody have "the feel" for tightening up without fucking up anymore?

[gizzo]

A lot of us do. Torque settings for those that don't.

[Starpeve]

A lot of us do. Torque settings for those that don't.

I’ve vary rarely used a torque wrench in all of my 62 years. Heads yes. Anything else meh.

[Carl Fenn]

I never let the torque settings apply to RE just gently nip them up.

[Bilgemaster]

When it's "dicey" it's stubbies for the win! It's hard to really "heave-ho" those flakey threads with these:

Here's a lovely set in Metric and SAE for just $12.⁹⁹ (or 30% off today if you're an Inside Track
 member) at Harbor Freight: https://www.harborfreight.com/12-piece-stubby-combination-wrench-set-97383.html. Apart from a teeny little 8mm for ignition stuff and the whomping big 24mm & 30mm for the wheel nuts, which no reasonable person would use a stubby for anyhow, this little set's got most everything you'll need to gently fettle a Bullet, with its odd mix of Metric and SAE. And it all comes in a swell sturdy little case, so no more fishing around the tool box. If you're feeling "fancy", they also sell ratcheting sets in Metric or SAE flavors for just a few bucks more. And yes, like your Daddy's venerable old Craftsman, there's a Lifetime Warranty on their Pittsburgh line. Just bring it in, and they'll hand you a fresh one. No receipt or other bullshit required.

While you're there, you might as well grab a little bottle of their Medium No. 42 Threadlock  goo, so you don't feel the need to hoink those bolts down like they owe you money: https://www.harborfreight.com/threadlocker-no-42-10-ml-medium-strength-65192.html

And remember, for stuff under $10 today ($20 if you're Inside Track) it's 30% off. Here's a handy desiderata list: https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=collection:%20items%20under%20$10

[Bilgemaster]

I’ve vary rarely used a torque wrench in all of my 62 years. Heads yes. Anything else meh.

Hell, I've actually used a fish scale like this one for my Norton's headbolts...

With a 6 inch long ¼ Whitworth combination
 spanner, just multiply reading by 2 for foot-pounds

[JLewis]

I used to use a torque wrench occasionally just to get a feel for how tight something needs to be, like Harley crankshaft nuts etc, but I don't even know offhand where my torque wrenches are these days.

I can't imagine why anyone would keep leaning on a spongey or brittle feeling thread just because their torque wrench is telling them they're not there yet.

[dickim]

A lot of us do. Torque settings for those that don't.

+1👍

[dickim]

When it's "dicey" it's stubbies for the win! It's hard to really "heave-ho" those flakey threads with these:

Here's a lovely set in Metric and SAE for just $12.⁹⁹ (or 30% off today if you're an Inside Track
 member) at Harbor Freight: https://www.harborfreight.com/12-piece-stubby-combination-wrench-set-97383.html. Apart from a teeny little 8mm for ignition stuff and the whomping big 24mm & 30mm for the wheel nuts, which no reasonable person would use a stubby for anyhow, this little set's got most everything you'll need to gently fettle a Bullet, with its odd mix of Metric and SAE. And it all comes in a swell sturdy little case, so no more fishing around the tool box. If you're feeling "fancy", they also sell ratcheting sets in Metric or SAE flavors for just a few bucks more. And yes, like your Daddy's venerable old Craftsman, there's a Lifetime Warranty on their Pittsburgh line. Just bring it in, and they'll hand you a fresh one. No receipt or other bullshit required.

While you're there, you might as well grab a little bottle of their Medium No. 42 Threadlock  goo, so you don't feel the need to hoink those bolts down like they owe you money: https://www.harborfreight.com/threadlocker-no-42-10-ml-medium-strength-65192.html

And remember, for stuff under $10 today ($20 if you're Inside Track) it's 30% off. Here's a handy desiderata list: https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=collection:%20items%20under%20$10

AGREED  - I just picked up a set same but ratchet for AU$40👍

[JessHerbst]

A lot of us do. Torque settings for those that don't.

😉

[zimmemr]

Tight is right, too tight is broken.

[AzCal Retred]

"If you are tightening up a nut/bolt and it starts to get loose, back it up to where it was tight and move on..." 

[Blazes Boylan]

After a long break from motorcycling I was determined to do shed my bad habits and do everything strictly by-the-book this time.  (I'm not generally a by-the-book kind of guy and have an aversion to instruction manuals.)  I bought three budget HF torque wrenches then, thinking better quality tools would inspire me to use them more--who wants to play a cheap guitar?--bought three Tekton wrenches from Amazon.  The Tekton are vastly superior but, despite my best intentions, I don't rely on them, preferring to feel my way along.  (I snapped a couple of bolts when I was twelve but not since then.)  Frankly, outside of head bolts and a few other critical parts, I think you're better served by Loctite and a good dose of common sense.

[Jack Straw]

+1

[DoBer]

Nach 'fest' kommt 'ab'. (ancient german law of engineering)