Rep Power: 0

hey everyone, just needed some insight and advice on an issue im having, motor is a D16Z6and I was putting my valve cover back on today after replacing the gaskets and the front three bolts wont tighten, they screw down right to the point of where they should grab and tighten but they just spin. the bolts themselves arnt stripped so im not sure whats going on there, and then one of the two longer bolts in the back snapped off, i wasnt even wrentching on it hard or anything either, it got to the point where it started to grip and i gave it a slight turn and it just broke off. at this point im not really sure what my options are for this kind of situation so im open to helpful advice on it. thank you in advance to anyone that can help!

 
Rep Power: 518

Stripped holes, Heli-coil.
Broken bolts, replace.

Put both together, and I say you gotta stop being a gorilla on those little bolts.
Use a torque wrench and proper specs if you don't have a "feel" for tightening.

 
Rep Power: 314

Hmm... I have the "feel". It's usually 1/4 of how tight I think it should be!!! Hasn't failed me yet.

 
Rep Power: 518

There's a scary number of people in this profession that have no sense of, never got, and will never ever have the "feel" for tightening anything by hand.

Sad part is most don't know it, don't realize it, can't admit it, and refuse to use torque wrenches when needed.
They keep on breaking and stripping stuff. Guess what happens next.

 
Rep Power: 314

I've seen a guy install a ball joint nut by using a pneumatic impact on it Now that's accurate.

 
Rep Power: 518

I do it all the time......But that's a bit different from a 6mm valve cover bolt going into aluminum.

 
Rep Power: 314

Do it all the time until the holes line up or until it stops spinning?

 
Rep Power: 518

That's what she said....


Wait, whut?

 
Rep Power: 314

Now I'm confused. I know that's pretty normal nowadays but I mean I'm more confused than normal.

 
Rep Power: 518

I use air tools every chance I can.
Speed is time, time is money.

But if I do it wrong, I get to do it over again for free.




(This is a test, this is only a test) I will use an impact gun to "install" spark plugs and make sure the new guy in the shop sees me do it. Most freak out if they know anything at all. The ones that don't see a problem with it are the ones I worry about.

 
Rep Power: 314

Hmm... I'd be running at you with crescent wrench

 
Rep Power: 518

Here's something most people don't get: The triggers of my impact guns are more than just ON-OFF switches.


Me feathering the trigger of an impact gun as it were a throttle CAN net more accurate results than the next guy with a ratchet. Or a crescent wrench.

Gotta know your tools.
I am perfectly willing to use my 3/8 gun on those small valve cover bolts, but I use my 1/4 air ratchet on them more often. Either one will strip or break them if I let it.