General Fitting towbar - torque settings

[Cameron1590]

Hi,

I have bought a tow bar for the panda, I haven't got a torque wrench and for one that is able to do up the 250nm specified on the tow bar instructions it is going to cost in excess of 100 quid with it being the only time i will use it!

Would it be okay to do the nuts up as tight as physically possible, maybe use a short length of pipe over the spanner for extra leverage?

Thanks

 

[wrightyy]

You could always call in at your local garage and ask to borrow theirs for a few minutes

 

[Sweetsixteen]

Basically the answer to your question is yes.
Tighten as much as you can, then keep the right spanner in the car, and after you have towed for a while use the spanner to check your work.

I have towed with different vehicles and various loads for many years and I haven't had a tow bar come loose yet. Although it's better to tighten to the right torque I have never found the need when fitting a tow bar.

Carefully check the tightness of the ball hitch periodically. I have had one work loose after towing a heavy boat for a long distance.

 

[Cameron1590]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I will hang off the spanner with a bar over it and also use some thread lock for some added security

 

[portland_bill]

In my years in the trade, torque wrenches were mostly used on cylinder heads and some wheel bearings, hardly ever elsewhere. Mechanics get a feel for what is right. I've never seen anyone use a torque wrench on a towbar. However, as we get more litigious, torque wrenches are used more. Suppliers will quote a torque setting, which is likely based on the bolt size, not the work it will do. Although bolt size has been specified with workload in mind.

A normal spanner for the size of nut should be sufficient. Adding extra leverage when tightening could actually be worse than undertightening it, as unseen stresses may cause later failure.

If not tight enough, it will gently work loose. This will be visible, and you should also hopefully hear and feel it. As suggested, when towing for the first time, recheck it.

If too tight, and stressed, the bolt could just break.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi,

I have bought a tow bar for the panda, I haven't got a torque wrench and for one that is able to do up the 250nm specified on the tow bar instructions it is going to cost in excess of 100 quid with it being the only time i will use it!

Would it be okay to do the nuts up as tight as physically possible, maybe use a short length of pipe over the spanner for extra leverage?

Thanks

Are we talking about the towing ..frame..bolted to the pandas chassis.
or the bolts holding the 50 mm ball plate onto the same towing frame.

The ones onto the panda chassis may..creep.....so keep checking

the ball mount should be solid..often using Nylok nuts.

Charlie . Oxford

 

[Cameron1590]

Hi all,

Thanks for the reply, well started the job today, have down the bolts up using just my hand and the spanner no extra leverage etc.

Hopefully will finish the job tomorrow, think I will mark the bolts up with tipex so I can check if they have moved.

Under the bumper was a electric cable and plug not connected to anything, anyone know what this is? Haven't checked yet but hoping it's a prewired loom for trailer lights.

Thanks

Cameron

 

[varesecrazy]

Under the bumper was a electric cable and plug not connected to anything, anyone know what this is? Haven't checked yet but hoping it's a prewired loom for trailer lights.

Thanks

Cameron

it'll need to be 7 core.. so unlikely..

possibly for reversing sensors..??

 

[TheNorthernMonkey]

250Nm is tight. It's a force of about 25kg on a 1m long spanner, or 100kg on a 25cm spanner. Roughly putting all the force you can with one arm on a 50cm breaker bar would get you close enough.

Hanging off a 1m bar on the end of a spanner would be more like 750Nm.