Hey guys, this maybe a dumb question but I'm pretty new to torque wrenches. Basically I know how to torque bolts down in ft-lbs or flipping it for nm readings, my question is how do I torque down a bolt requiring torque to be in--> IN-LBS?

example: the FSM calls for the head bolts to be torqued down to 72 ft-lbs, then loosen, then 25-33 ft-lbs, then two separate steps of 90 deg turns. <--this is not a prob for me, however today i was putting in my new oil pump and it calls for 57-58 IN-LBS, being that most other bolts need to be in IN-LBS for what i'm doing, I need to make sure that I'm doing everything correctly.
Is there some conversion that I haven't figured out? I used the NM side to use the 6.4 - 6.6 reading> but it seems awfully tight and I don't wanna snap the bolt. Thanks in advance to all that help.

 

Torque is a measure of a force applied at a certain distance. Hence converting from ft-lbs to in-lbs is as simple as converting from ft to inches. So: 1 ft-lbs = 12 in-lbs.... 57 in-lbs = 57/12 = 4.75 ft-lbs

Edit: Moral of the story: Divide in-lbs by 12 to get ft-lbs.

 

^ what he said.

 

NineOhSE, thanks for the clarification I spent about an hour on the web looking into this before I posted, but just wasn't clear to me. So you're saying it's that simple.....my upper oil pan's supposed to b somewhere in the144 - 168 IN-LBS range, so it's 168/12 =>14 ft-lbs correct? why didn't they just put 14 ft-lbs in the FSM specs and put it in inches-lbs,<-- this is where I got it twisted, --> just didn't think it would be so easy........you are the man!!!thanks for the clarity.

edit: thanks morpheus also..

edit: Got the edit in your post NineO.....1

 

Most torque wrenches do not go below about 15ft-lbs, but you can buy torque wrenches that are in inch pounds but dont bother. Just tighten the bolts with a regular ratchet holding it by the head. You dont need to use a torque wrench for everything.

 

hmm,u got ur answers,good question though.

 

Vlassic-->thanks, BTW what's the link to ur quote lol? wanna see what was said prior to it.

 

heh, dont know where the thread is, but it was a thread about what motivates you to keep your car. I mentioned how nothing motivates me and my friend replied saying how jankey my car has become.

 

I tried using one for the bolts holding the stereo bracket... worthless. LOL.

Do you get your wrench calibrated? I have Sears/Craftsman and they can calibrate it once/year for me.

Jae

 

There's a tire shop where I work, they used some tool they have to check if it was calibrated correctly, both checked out fine-- but thanks for the heads up.