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Tightning up Wheels.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 7:14 am
by tapper54
Hi All,Just about to remove both wheels on my R 1100 S to replace tyres,question is, I don't have a torque wrench,(never used one in my life)will it be ok to tighten them as tight as I can get them,has anyone done this ?

Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 7:47 am
by Phil Thomas
The rear wheel bolts are the only ones I have ever used a torque wrench for...I think it might be worth borrowing a torque wrench, they have to be very tight. Front wheel is no problem...normal common sense and mechanical intuition should suffice.
Regards to all,
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 8:22 am
by gus
Hi
You really need to buy a torque wrench. You don't want to strip or break a wheel stud just as much as you have the wheel come loose. Either situation is not very good! They can be bought quite cheaply.
Gus
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 8:25 am
by slparry
+1 on this .... there have been many instances of HGV's breaking studs/wheel nuts due to incorrect tightening.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 8:49 am
by Boxered
gus wrote:Hi
You really need to buy a torque wrench. You don't want to strip or break a wheel stud just as much as you have the wheel come loose. Either situation is not very good! They can be bought quite cheaply.
Gus
My mate has just had problems loosening one of the rear wheel bolts on his 1200GS because it had been severely overtightened, he is now on his 3rd torx socket because they keep snapping
Remember to get a Torque wrench that covers the range required for the 11S rear wheel, which is quite high at around 112nm IIRC, most of the cheaper ones wont cover this range.
Steve
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 8:55 am
by Gromit
I'd never be without a torque wrench now - a good one is worth its weight etc etc.
The rear wheel on the 11S needs an initial tightening to 50Nm then to 105Nm (someone with access to a manual will confirm this hopefully). Most fun I ever had (NOT) was when a tyre fitter decided to coppagrease the wheel bolts - firstly it made a right mess, and secondly it's highly dangerous to do so as the dry bolts need to 'grip' the threaded inserts on the hub. Greasing the threads will cause over-tightening of the bolts.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 9:09 am
by conkerman
Tightening torques are as Gromit says.
1, 50Nm
2, 105Nm
Tighten blots in a Diagonal pattern.
I would suggest spending a little bit on a torque wrench. You tend to use them when it is really important. The Halfords professional ones are good. I have one.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 9:10 am
by johnny 5
Bought a halford torque wrench a couple of weeks ago for doing back end on the bike which was pricey and then to find a capable 1 in b&q for around £27 if you wish to do a few jobs on the bike i suggest you buy the 2 giving the full torque range.. big-un 40nm-210nm
small-un 9nm-25nm
B&Q do sell them both
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 9:12 am
by slparry
Gromit wrote:I'd never be without a torque wrench now - a good one is worth its weight etc etc.
The rear wheel on the 11S needs an initial tightening to 50Nm then to 105Nm (someone with access to a manual will confirm this hopefully). Most fun I ever had (NOT) was when a tyre fitter decided to coppagrease the wheel bolts - firstly it made a right mess, and secondly it's highly dangerous to do so as the dry bolts need to 'grip' the threaded inserts on the hub. Greasing the threads will cause over-tightening of the bolts.
according to here
http://www.convertunits.com/from/newton ... oot+pounds
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 10:08 am
by Gromit
slparry wrote:
50NM is 68 ft/lb
and
105NM is 142 ft/lb
Other way round Steve; 1 lb-ft is a larger value of torque than 1 Nm.
ie...
100Nm is just under 75lb-ft.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 10:45 am
by slparry
fudge
never trust the interweb

Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 10:54 am
by Twinspark
So we can't rely on the British Standard Grunt measurement for wheel bolts?
I've been doing it for years on single sided swingarms.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 10:57 am
by f90x
rear wheel is the only thing i use the torque wrench for. everything else is grunt and feel. especially since i stripped my rear caliper using the bmw service manual settings.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 2:00 pm
by dave the german
Halfords Pro range aren't too expensive - personally I wouldn't use the cheapest of cheap ones. Machine Mart aren't too badly priced. With regard to rear caliper bolts, I'm pretty sure the clymer manual and the bm maintenance booklet differ in settings
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 2:05 pm
by Herb
dave the german wrote:Halfords Pro range aren't too expensive - personally I wouldn't use the cheapest of cheap ones. Machine Mart aren't too badly priced. With regard to rear caliper bolts, I'm pretty sure the clymer manual and the bm maintenance booklet differ in settings
Another vote for Halfords pro. I have a mid range one (10 - 60 Nm) which covers almost everything I need. I also have a low range Sealey. They used to be considered pretty good once upon a time. Not sure what their modern quality is like, but this looks ok for your needs without breaking the bank. Comes with a calibration certificate.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-8-inch-7 ... que+wrench