Torque Mistake - Now what should I do?

[wmax59820]

I'm changing the oil in the rear drive of my 91 R100GS. In replacing the drain plug I thought I was setting the torque wrench to 23 Nm. However, I misread the wrench and set it to 23 ft-lb which is actually about 31 Nm. So now I'm not sure what to do. Should I take the bolt out, get a new washer and try again? Or should I just leave it as is. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[kbasa]

Take it out and retorque it properly.

 

[wmax59820]

That was fast! Thanks. Since I have the fill washer, I think I'll use a new washer as well.

 

[kbasa]

That was fast! Thanks. Since I have the fill washer, I think I'll use a new washer as well.

Yeah. The bolt is stout, so you didn't hurt it. You might be able to just loosen it and retorque it so you don't have to go through filling it again. That's what I'd do. Break it loose and retorque it.

 

[omega man]

Once removed, I may try some re-installing of the drain plug feeling for any “thread stretch” in the drain plug hole. If there is any worrisome ill-fit, some Blue Monster Teflon tape may take up the slack.
OM

 

[stevenrankin]

I guess I am being a bit of a jerk but we are only talking about a 8nm difference, I bet those threads would stand up to a lot more than that. I would back it off and retorque it as long as it tightens. If you stripped the threads, you would not be able to torque it down, then I would be concerned. St.

 

[akbeemer]

A related piece of wisdom..... For those of us who have and will make similar mistakes and ask for help on the forum, we find it wise to begin the online request with, "Asking for a friend". Or so I'm told.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[swall]

I would leave it alone. Buy a new drain plug and crush washer and install those on your oil change.

 

[PGlaves]

I would leave it alone. Buy a new drain plug and crush washer and install those on your oil change.

It is very unlikely that the steel plug is damaged in the aluminum threads. Damage, if any, which I don't think is likely, would most often be to the threads in the aluminum housing.

 

[FELAW]

I'm changing the oil in the rear drive of my 91 R100GS. In replacing the drain plug I thought I was setting the torque wrench to 23 Nm. However, I misread the wrench and set it to 23 ft-lb which is actually about 31 Nm. So now I'm not sure what to do. Should I take the bolt out, get a new washer and try again? Or should I just leave it as is. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

If my calculations are correct 23 Nm is 17 ft lb. So 23 ft-lb is 6 ft-lb too tight? Unless some destruction on the aluminum threads was evident, I'd leave it. In the days before I had a torque wrench, another 6 ft-lb was "just snug enough". I'v stripped a few threads in my day but, given the size of the plug, 6 ft-lb over-snug seem relatively inconsequential to me in that application. Now, the rocker cover center bolt, that's a whole different story.

 

[skibum69]

Did you say toque?