Check your torque wrenches!!
Turbo Mini Forums

As some of you already know, and are probably sick hearing about it., I have been having problems with my head gasket.

The last time Iit went, I popped the head off to Steve (BENROSS) and he did an excellent job, getting it back into shape. I thought that once I got it all back together my car would be back on the road in no time, but...

After running for just 10 minuites the bstard gasket went again!

The last time it went, Steve had suggested that I got the torque wrench checked, but once we found that the head was warped I did'nt bother (idiot!).

So, last week, I got the wrench checked, and this is the results.

with the wrench set at 48ft,lb it only probuces 20ft,lb!! and to achieve the required 55ft,lb it had to be set to 97ft,lb!!

The moral of the story appears to be in the title! If you are having problems, get your wrench checked.

Thanks to Steve (BENROSS) for the spot on advice and sorry Steve at M.E.D, I will not be spending £3700 on a new lump this month!!

In the 13's at last!.. Just

It always pays to buy decent tools.

My torque wrench (NORBAR) came with cal cert etc and was only about £45

Hi,
Always back the tension off your torque wrench when not in use.
Failure to do so causes the spring to stretch, giving the problem above
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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My Mini build diary

where'd you get it checked?

Aughton Hire and RS components are the two we use at work for stuff like that.

My dad took it into work to get it checked!

In the 13's at last!.. Just

All was well for about an hour or so running, the head gasket is still in one piece, but now...

The turbo has failed!!!

I had better start a new thred!

In the 13's at last!.. Just

I'm happy to check anyones if they send it to me.

Or if there are enough people interested I could rig something up for avon park

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

thats an awsome idea Wil!

Alex

AlexF

Top man Will

Thanks Wil,

From experience, can most turbos be repaired or do you think that I will have to bin it and buy another?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

I'll see what I can do then

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

mine get calibrated every 6 months.

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

That would be good Wil, had mine done a while ago but always nice to get them checked.

Well its the one item i don't scrimp on tool wise. Just finished paying for a nice snap on one at huge cost but its a tool for life!!!

Whether you scrimp on them or not they still need checking periodically, whether is Snap On Britool Draper or made in Taiwan!

something else which can knacker a torque wrench is overtightening things with it.

i.e setting it to 90ft lb but tightening it up to say 150ft lb

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

a few things abut tw's

a beam style will Never go off, are accurate and are rather cheap as well ( Draper sell one in the UK).

note that the proper lubrication, cleaning and such does affect the preload a LOT (even when you do it all according to the rules don't expect more than 10% accuracy). How you tighten the nuts and bolts makes quite a bit of difference. impact torque wrenches score a bit better..

on rodbolts it is better to measure stretch.

not really large fittings a hydrolic ram is used to stretch the bolt.. the nuts are then simple wound on by hand.

That sir, is not rust, it is the progressive mass reduction system

http://aseriesmodifications.wordpress.com/

garry, bats advice is sound

SUPER wil-h

There are 10 types of people in the world; those that understand binary and those that don't.

thats funny!!!

I liked that too, Well done Tom.

In the 13's at last!.. Just