Torque on battery Allen bolts?

[Murray Fisher]

What to do about the torque on battery installation bolts. I just got my new Lithium's. I have a giant fancy chrome plated digital torque wrench tht does not go low enough! Best I have seen was to tighten them by hand all possible and then take some leverage to turn them another half turn and that woild be about right. Any other ideas. I hate to try to find a torque wrench and its cost just for that one time installation!

Murray Fisher

[bystander]

quote:Originally posted by Murray Fisher

What to do about the torque on battery installation bolts. I just got my new Lithium's. I have a giant fancy chrome plated digital torque wrench tht does not go low enough! Best I have seen was to tighten them by hand all possible and then take some leverage to turn them another half turn and that woild be about right. Any other ideas. I hate to try to find a torque wrench and its cost just for that one time installation!

Murray Fisher
You've got the right idea there, but I might just go an extra 1/4 turn instead of 1/2 turn.

In my experence, I haven't applied much "extra" leverage, and my packs haven't fallen off yet.

Smaller torque drivers exist, but as you have noticed, the prices are too high for this one-time application.

Someone remarked recently that one can tighten them "lightly", then tighen them again after a couple of glides, as they may loosen up a little if not snug enough. (that could have been Desertseg).

I think I'd rather tighten them a little bit at a time rather than risk stripping the threads in the base.

[TedS]

Murray, if my math is right, the .5 N-m torque required is 4.4 lb-in.

A 16-oz sinker at the end of a 4 inch long hex wrench would be 4 lb-in.

What I have done with small screws is run them up until they are 'hard' tight and no more or they will strip.

Ted

You won't find anything if you are not looking for something.

[wwhopper]

Too tight and you go into the base, not tight enough and you risk loosing a screw.

They taught us at fesT NH in the hands on maintenance class to always use the new screw that come with the batteries, they have a special coating that secures them and seals them into the base.

Never use a power driver to tighten those screws!

Will W Hopper
DCSEG Member
SEG America
The Premier Gliding Organization!
Rooting for the BAY AREA SEG TEAM at the World Cup of Segway Polo in New Zealand later this month.

GO BAY AREA SEG - Now just to pick my favorite player - will it be... Alex - he is quick, Woz, he has his game on, George, That glider knows how to shoot a goal - or someone else!

[Florida Ever-Glides]

I have been using a power driver to tighten the batteries down for several years. It takes some skill and feel to do it just right. Otherwise you could go through the base. I don't recommend using a power device unless you first learn the 'feel' and apply the power gently...

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com

[BarnyFife]

The battery screws have a sharp edge or crown to capture the O ring, if tightened too much this edge can cut into the plastic of the battery case and alow moisture in.

New screws come with Loctite #212 pre applied.

[Murray Fisher]

Thanks for all the tips from everyone......they all kinda say the same thing.......take it cautiously! This afternoon I purchased a Sears Craftsman set of T handle Hex wrenches that included the 3mm we need for the battery installation. They will give a lot more leverage and May be all I need. I DO see that the bolts they included are coated with some substance. I will probably not install them for a few days. Working on a power lift for the car hitch at the moment.


quote:Originally posted by Murray Fisher

What to do about the torque on battery installation bolts. I just got my new Lithium's. I have a giant fancy chrome plated digital torque wrench tht does not go low enough! Best I have seen was to tighten them by hand all possible and then take some leverage to turn them another half turn and that woild be about right. Any other ideas. I hate to try to find a torque wrench and its cost just for that one time installation!

Murray Fisher


Murray Fisher

[bystander]

quote:Originally posted by bystander

Someone remarked recently that one can tighten them "lightly", then tighen them again after a couple of glides, as they may loosen up a little if not snug enough. (that could have been Desertseg).
Turns out that was in this thread:

http://www.segwaychat.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12412

cmonkey gave that re-tightening tip, Desert Seg was the post following.