Call Me Idiot.

Ya, me!

So…. you know that quote about you learn something new every day? Well, my lesson yesterday was about torquing. yes, yes, I know. What this topic again? Apparently I have years of touring lessons to do. Now, because this is the internet, and you are all smarter than I , lets see if you knew this little obscure one.

Those ones

Head bolts. You know on some engines, there is that bar that holds the spark plug wires?

Torquing!

Well, the double bolts on the head under that bar are slightly different.

1.Two of them are drilled out so you can screw down the bar. THUS.

2.They are not the strength of the other bolts.

3. SO? When torquing, these two bolts warrant a lower torque. 35lbs vs 65lbs on the others. SO.

4. Guess what happens? Yup.. Did you know this little detail? I didn’t and now I do. And so do you. 

Ouch

Thats not good

Woohoo, no big deal.

Lets go boating

And so it goes. The good news is that it hasn’t slowed down my weekend of boating. Cause that stud, is well, not the sharpest stud in the block, just like me! Woohooo, I am idiot boating.

22 replies
  1. m-fine
    m-fine says:

    You are an idiot.

    Is that better or worse than being an imbecile? I can’t remember.

  2. Once is enough
    Once is enough says:

    An idiot would start the motor in gear on the trailer while launching at the ramp. (Speaking for a friend.)

    • Riva Della
      Riva Della says:

      @Once; no, that’s not being an idiot. THIS is being n idiot…..(btw: Matt? Didn’t you have a Whaler? And a pickup?…..)

  3. Jack Schneiberg
    Jack Schneiberg says:

    At least you’re not “Tweeting” —- or maybe you are and I don’t know it because I don’t……………….

  4. Captain Nemo
    Captain Nemo says:

    I’ve done stupider things than that (stupider? Is that a word?). Anyway, looks like it should be a fairly easy extraction. It didn’t ruin your weekend.

  5. Wilson
    Wilson says:

    Learned that lesson early on when I took my Racer to Clayton. Terry judged it and said, ” You know you have two studs in backwards.”…Then he kindly explained why that was so.

  6. Dennis Mykols
    Dennis Mykols says:

    ok, if Matt will confess about his stupid move of the early season, I guess so can I. Monday I was excited to see how my $500.00 tune up on the 1984 Merc turned out. I was just going to the ramp, and keep the boat on the trailer to fire her up. After cranking and cranking, no fire. Call the Mechanic, chewed him out, he suggests fresh gas, since the tank only had a gallon or two. Back to the ramp, crank, crank, then it hit me. I needed to push the key in, to “CHOKE” the engine, as I turn it to start. Sure enough, fired right up!
    I blame old age and wait, what was I talking about??
    Oh yea, I am an idiot, also Matt…

  7. Rick
    Rick says:

    As an very young teen with no knowledge of torque wrenches I tightened the bolts on Dad’s new Cadillac when I noticed a slight oil seep at one of the head gaskets. I was stronger back then.
    Needless to say the next day he had the car at the dealer to have them tapped out. Lesson learned after the lesions on my rump healed.

  8. Clay
    Clay says:

    Nice Tower of Power Dennis. Jim Staib: are those little tiny holes saws for your drill to core sample the screw? And I love the guy tying the Whaler off to the dock just to be sure.

  9. bryguy
    bryguy says:

    Why not just colour the bolts in question with some nail polish as a visual reminder. I am sure you can find some..
    Make things easier instead of trying to remember all those detail ???

Comments are closed.