Have torque wrench -- what size sockets?

[rbrick]

I found the 0-100 Newton meter torque wrench at Sears for about $20. Can anyone tell me what size sockets I need to put in my traveling tool kit? I am hoping I will not have to disconnect the batteries and my torque wrench will go unused but I have too many connecting flights and the odds are against me. So "Sock et" to me with the sizes I need.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10805148&BRD=1459&PAG=461&dept_id=506062&rfi=6

[SegwayBill]

16MM deep for the wheel lugs

Bill

[amturnip]

The batteries? Do you tighten the peanut-butter jar lid with a torque wrench also, by any chance?

[Zorba9]

Hey rbrick!
A 5/8th" deep well socket will work also. You will find as you change wheels a number of times that you don't have to read the torque wrench after awhile. You become accustomed to the amount of "pull" you need. Why LLC figured we needed "Newtons" instead of American ft/lbs in our Segway torqueing is beyond me. But the torque you need also translates out to 35 ft/lbs, which is a much easier torque wrench to find anywhere in the US.

KOG

Zorba9.....

[Stan671]

All of the screws and nuts in the Segway are metric. So, the 16mm socket would be best for the wheel lug rather than 5/8". But they are virually the same size down to 0.04 inches or 0.125 mm.

And since the Segway is all metric, that would probably explain the N-m instead of Ft-lbs for torque.

Stan Dobrowski

[Zorba9]

Hey Stan! You must be an engineer. Whats the difference between the 13mm socket and 1/2"? Where do "Newtons" exist in the metric system? I would have thought you needed 10 kilograms of torgue or something such as that in the metric system? Anyways its darn hard to find a "Newton" torque wrench anywhere in "average" America!-:)

KOG

Zorba9.....

[Stan671]

quote:Originally posted by Zorba9
Hey Stan! You must be an engineer. Whats the difference between the 13mm socket and 1/2"? Where do "Newtons" exist in the metric system? I would have thought you needed 10 kilograms of torgue or something such as that in the metric system? Anyways its darn hard to find a "Newton" torque wrench anywhere in "average" America!-:)I'm flattered you called me an engineer. I am not, I'm just a geek.

The difference between 1/2" and 13mm is 0.0118 inches or 0.3mm. <grin> It is probably not a problem to use english sockets of 5/8" on 16mm and 1/2" on 13mm because they are so close, but it would not be good to use the in-between sizes as the fit may not be so good and the nut could be stripped. I just like using the correct wrench whenever possible.

A Newton is the stuff around the fig in ... never mind. Kilograms is a metric unit of mass and technically this does not have anything to do with force or "weight". Newtons are units of force, kind of like pounds. I don't know if they are specific to the metric system, but they are the more correct engineering & scientific units. Meters are, of course, metric units of length. Pounds are used interchangeable in the english system for force, weight and mass.

Torque is a measure of force applied in the form of leverage at a distance from the center. If you notice how the torque wrench is made, the handgrip is attached at a single pivot point on the handle at a specific distance away from the center of the socket. The instructions say to make sure that the handlegrip is balanced on this pivot point and not touching anywhere else. If this happens, it will change the length of the lever arm and give an incorrect torque reading on the scale. Since torque is force at a distance, if the handle was shorter, then you would have to pull harder to get the same torque and the opposite for a longer handle.

Well, that is your physics lesson for today. There will be a quiz next week. <grin>

The first torque wrench I found was at Sears and it cost less than $20 and had both N-m and Ft-lbs on the scale.

Stan Dobrowski

[Ground Loop]

The Sears Craftsman torque wrenches are scaled in "lb-ft", but also have a N-m scale on the back side. The numbers aren't nice and round, but it works fine. The long handle makes it very easy to put a wheel on.

I appreciate that Segway prints torque specifications for just about everything. Nothing can ruin your day like stripping the threads out of a hole trying to snug it down. I sometimes get my car back from the shop with insanely-tight lug nuts. I power them off at home and reseat them to spec. That way I sweat less and swear less when I'm pulled over changing a tire..

Anyway, the Sears wrenches go on sale for $49 pretty often. Just remember to leave them loose when putting them away.

[Neelix]

Just bought a torque wrench today, cheap $12 torque wrench with a spring loaded scale thing. Not the best quality, but its a lot better than paying the $70 Orchard Supply wanted for their torque wrench!

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Fear not, for even though I come from the Forbidden City, I surely do not agree with the rules.
Chris Knight