Torque Tightening

Torque Tightening What is Torque? Torque Tightening

and Preload
It is a measure of how much force
Turning movement
acting on an object which causes that The amount of preload created when
object to rotate. torqueing is largely dependant on the
effects of friction.
What is Torque Tightening?
Force The application of preload to a Principally there are three different
fastener by the turning of the “torque components”:
Stretch of Fastener fastener’s nut. • torque to stretch the bolt
(Pre-load) • torque to overcome the friction in
bolt and nut threads
• torque to overcome friction at the
nut spot face (bearing contact
surface).

Preload (residual load) = Applied Torque minus Frictional Losses

Lubrication Reduces Friction Frictional Losses

Friction points should always be 10% converted
lubricated when using the torque Lubrication reduces the friction during
to preload
tightening method. tightening, decreases bolt failure
during installation and increases
bolt service life. Variation in friction
coefficients affect the amount of
50% at 40% in
preload achieved at a specified nut face threads
Lubrication Reduces Friction torque. Higher friction results in less
conversion of torque to preload.
11 The value for the friction coefficient
Residual Bolt Load (tons) 

10 provided by the lubricant manufacturer

9 must be known to accurately establish Frictional Losses
8 the required torque value. (dry steel bolt)
7
6 Lubricant or anti-seizure compounds
5 should be applied to both the nut
4 bearing surface and the male threads.
3
2
1
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Torque (ft.lbs) 
(Applied load)
Lubricated with Moly grease (µ = 0.1)
Light oil (µ = 0.15)
Dry unlubricated (µ = 0.2)

Example of how a lubricant can reduce

the effect of friction and convert more
torque to bolt preload.

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Torque Tightening

Manufacturer’s rating of pressure and torque are maximum safe limits.

Good practice encourages using only 80% of these ratings!

Torque Procedure Select the Right Wrench

When torquing it is common to tighten only one bolt at a time, this can result Choose your Enerpac torque
in Point Loading and Load Scatter. To avoid this, torque is applied in stages wrench using the untightening
following a prescribed pattern: rule of thumb:
• When loosening a nut or bolt more
torque is usually required than when
tightening.
• For general conditions it can take
Torque Sequence up to 2½ times the input torque to
1 1 1
breakout.
12 5 • Do not apply more than 75% of the
8 5
8 9 maximum torque output of the tool
when loosening nuts or bolts.
4 3 4 3 4 3
Conditions of bolted joints
10 7 • Humidity corrosion (rust) requires
6 7 up to twice the torque required for
6 11
2 2 2 tightening.
• Sea water and chemical corrosion
requires up to 21⁄2 times the torque
Step 1 Spanner tight ensuring that Step 4 Increase the torque to full required for tightening.
2-3 threads extend above nut torque following the pattern • Heat corrosion requires up to 3 times
Step 2 Tighten each bolt to one-third shown above. the torque required for tightening.
of the final required torque Step 5 Perform one final pass on
following the pattern as shown each bolt working clockwise
above. from bolt 1, at the full final
Step 3 Increase the torque to two- torque.
thirds following the pattern
shown above.
Read Instruction Manuals
Please refer to the product
Instruction Sheets for safe use
guidelines and detail on the
correct set up and operation of
Breakout Torque the equipment.

When loosening bolts a torque value The use of penetrating oils or

higher than the tightening torque is anti-seize products is always
normally required. This is mainly due recommended when performing
to corrosion and deformations in the breakout operations.
bolt and nut threads.

Breakout torque cannot be accurately

calculated, however, depending on
conditions it can take up to 2½ times
the input torque to breakout.

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