How to use a torque wrench to tighten shovelhead head bolts?

Kevin Gorman

unread,

Sep 21, 2002, 9:33:15 PM9/21/02

to

I have a 1/2" drive torque wrench and with a 9/16" socket, there isn't
enough room between the base stud top and the head of the head bolt to put
the socket on the nut/bolt to torque the damned things.

Is there a special wrench with a 9/16" box end and 1/2" (or 3/8") square
hole to allow the use of a torque wrench or am I stuck guessing at the
torque I use?

I've looked in the tools sections of my manuals and catalogs but the closest
thing I find is a special wrench for base nuts. It doesn't look helpful.

I suppose I could get a wrench with two box ends, 1/2 and 9/6, a 1/2 piece
of octagonal stock, and put a 1/2" socket on the torque wrench and calculate
the difference in torque with the added leverage, but it sounds ugly.

No doubt this will sound/read like I'm a moron to the non-shovel/pan people.
Hopefully the people familiar with these motors will be able to make sense
of this...

Thanks

Fast Charlie

unread,

Sep 21, 2002, 10:04:36 PM9/21/02

to

"Kevin Gorman" <not.kevi...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:v59j9.393308$_91.5...@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...

Kevin, not sure I've got your answer, but maybe. I bought a set of wrenches
several years ago from Snap-On tools. They're open end wrench "ends"
designed to be used with ratchets an torque wrenches when you have minimum
overhead clearance. It's called a "crow's foot"(don't ask me why). I *think*
I've seen them also in Sears. Like I said, mine are open end, but I would
think they are also made in box end, but I don't know what you would call
them.

DCLXVI

unread,

Sep 21, 2002, 11:17:16 PM9/21/02

to

Perhaps you are looking for this:

http://www.parktool.com/tool_indexes/catindex_torque.shtml

Cris in Brooklyn

Ct Jstr

unread,

Sep 21, 2002, 11:34:57 PM9/21/02

to

>I have a 1/2" drive torque wrench and with a 9/16" socket, there isn't
>enough room between the base stud top and the head of the head bolt to put
>the socket on the nut/bolt to torque the damned things.
>
>Is there a special wrench with a 9/16" box end and 1/2" (or 3/8") square
>hole to allow the use of a torque wrench or am I stuck guessing at the
>torque I use?
>
>I've looked in the tools sections of my manuals and catalogs but the closest
>thing I find is a special wrench for base nuts. It doesn't look helpful.
>
>I suppose I could get a wrench with two box ends, 1/2 and 9/6, a 1/2 piece
>of octagonal stock, and put a 1/2" socket on the torque wrench and calculate
>the difference in torque with the added leverage, but it sounds ugly.

What you're looking for is 2" point to point extensions. Snap on has them in
their catalogue. I assume others do as well. Basically, your torque wrench goes
on one end and the other is a box end that will fit the bolts on the heads.
You are extending your torque wrench by 2 inches, so you have to do the math,
but its no big deal. you can buy a whole set, or just the ones you need.

Toni Froehling
CourtJester Racing

Kevin Gorman

unread,

Sep 21, 2002, 11:47:42 PM9/21/02

to

Thanks for the ideas and the suggestion that I (use my brain and) look for a
standard tool.

I found what I guess I need at Mac Tools. $95 for the set. Maybe I can just
get the 9/16 for a decent price...

http://mactools.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNum=SXB4H

Snapon wanted me to register before looking at their online catalog...

"Kevin Gorman" <not.kevi...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:v59j9.393308$_91.5...@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...

Roger M

unread,

Sep 22, 2002, 12:18:01 AM9/22/02

to

I've got a long 7/16 Matco open/boxed combination wrench. I use it and
a two foot long piece of 1-3/4" pipe. I make sure all the bolt holes are
clean a lubricated and tighten them down. I've never had a problem and
never used a torque wrench on them. I've built a lot of Shovel engines
over the years and head gaskets have never been a problem even on the
big strokers. Snap On has the tool you are looking to use a torque
wrench.

Roger

Jon T

unread,

Sep 22, 2002, 9:12:08 AM9/22/02

to

> > I have a 1/2" drive torque wrench and with a 9/16" socket, there isn't
> > enough room between the base stud top and the head of the head bolt to
put
> > the socket on the nut/bolt to torque the damned things.
> >
> > Is there a special wrench with a 9/16" box end and 1/2" (or 3/8") square
> > hole to allow the use of a torque wrench or am I stuck guessing at the
> > torque I use?

This what I use on my shovel

http://buy.snapon.com/catalog/catalog.asp

Torque Adaptor, 7/16 3/8", 12-Point

Stock FRDH141 $23.05

Voyeur

unread,

Sep 22, 2002, 9:16:55 AM9/22/02

to

Sounds like the kind of thing I did before they invented "torque wrenches"!
Special tool my ass. LOL I've never done it to a shovel, but a LOT of old
V-8s. I'm sure the right tool is a great idea, but you CAN build an engine
without them. Good luck!
"Roger M" <rmauc...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:3D8D4479...@adelphia.net...

Roger M

unread,

Sep 22, 2002, 11:06:50 AM9/22/02

to

Voyeur wrote:
>
> Sounds like the kind of thing I did before they invented "torque wrenches"!
> Special tool my ass. LOL I've never done it to a shovel, but a LOT of old
> V-8s. I'm sure the right tool is a great idea, but you CAN build an engine
> without them. Good luck!

I guess when I said 7/16" I didn't think that a set of stock Shovel
head bolts are probably a different size. All Of the engines I've built
lately have had S&S stroker head bolts and they have a 7/16" 12 point
head on them. Oh well..........

Roger

Hd36knuckl

unread,

Sep 22, 2002, 12:32:49 PM9/22/02

to

I have never used a torque wrench. I use my Genuine Harley-Davidson Head bolt
wrench and follow the directions in the Knuck, Pan and Shovel service manual.
No torque setting is specified. EVO's, however, are a totally different ball
game.
Later,
Chris
Who you callin' a CURMUDGEON!
If you ever see my bike on a trailer, CALL 911! Its stolen.
1986 FXRP "RODE WARRIOR"
Iron Butt association

Phil Boutros

unread,

Sep 22, 2002, 12:43:22 PM9/22/02

to

Kevin Gorman <not.kevi...@attbi.com> wrote:
>
> Is there a special wrench with a 9/16" box end and 1/2" (or 3/8") square
> hole to allow the use of a torque wrench or am I stuck guessing at the
> torque I use?

You can either get the proper tool (a dogbone, which Snap-On
calls a Torque Adapter), or you can just grunt them on by feel.

The proper torque is "spot tight" (tighten until you see
spots) <sfsf>...

Phil
--
AH#61 Wolf#14 BS#89 bus#1 CCB#1 KOTC SENS ph...@total.net
http://www.total.net/~philb http://eddiekieger.com
In Memory of Buster the Dog. EKIII rides with me.

LB

unread,

Sep 23, 2002, 10:24:22 PM9/23/02

to

Kevin, I noticed someone recommended using "crows feet." I'd like to offer
an additional comment to that. I have a similiar problem with clearance on
my scooter as well. You can use a 3/8" adapter on your 1/2 drive and use a
9/16" crows foot that should snap right onto your 3/8" adapter. Also, I've
had to buy a set of elbow sockets for real tight angles as well as an
extension bar w/ A SECOND elbow socket at the other end what would end up
looking like this:

x** The 'x' respresents the 9/16" socket & the '**' is the elbow socket
|
| -this is the extention bar
|
|
**x -this is the 2nd elbow and where the torque wrench attaches (w/ the
3/8" adapter)

It's a bit of a Gerry-rigged deal, but I think you may lose only 1-3
foot-pounds at most along the way and since most Harley torque specs have a
range you shouldn't have a problem...other than spending more money and time
at Sears for tools...which we all know isn't a bad thing.

Hope this has been a help.
Lee-Bro.

"Kevin Gorman" <not.kevi...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:v59j9.393308$_91.5...@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.net...