Torque Check

An observation I was compelled to share.

It was supposed to be a quick reassurance check, but my torque wrench started moving at 17+/-  ft. lbs.



All the APE main stud nuts had been torqued to the click at 20+ ft. lbs. about a month ago.

Apparently the ThreeBond 1184 sealer I used shrank enough between the case halves to diminish the fastener tightness to an unacceptable looseness.

Many of the M6 case bolts were loose as well!

Guy's, you might want to double check those nuts again.










 

The gaskets compressed.  Base gaskets are particularly known for this.

When torquing the nuts, it's necessary to first back off the nut about 1/8th turn or so, then quickly reverse and tighten.

The barest minimum amount of ThreeBond "case" sealer was applied between the halves...

Having to pull the oil pan is what really got me going.

 

 

That seems strange !! retorqueing the head after heat cycling "Yes" but I have never heard of having to re-torque the casing halves or main bearing nuts ???? (Quofan's GS750 was still running leak free 25 years after I rebuilt it and I didn't re-visit those, or the Honda motor in my Harris ??) hopefully it's not an issue with your torque wrench which could mean they are overtightened now !!!

Strange it was/is

Just ordered two oil pan gaskets so I could have a spare.

Nope, it isn't a torque wrench issue.

Used ThreeBond 1184 to fill in the visible case bolt holes at the front and back of the motor.  
I purposely left a mound of sealer thinking it would shrink back and dry flush, but instead it shrank back into the holes a day or two later and needed several applications to get close...and still aren't full.

Crazy!