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Just realized I've been torquing spark plugs cold for 8 years
Last Tuesday a 45 year old line guy watched me install a set on a Lycoming and asked why I never warmed the cylinders first, so I looked it up and the manual says heat soak changes the friction factor on the threads, has anyone else been doing it cold this whole time?
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shane7512mo ago
Wait, the manual actually says that? I've torqued plenty of stuff cold my whole life and never had a fastener come loose or a thread strip. Heat soak changes the friction factor, sure, but we're talking a few inch-pounds here, not a huge deal. Unless you're chasing some super tight tolerance race engine, cold is fine. The real trick is just being consistent, use the same wrench and same method every time, and you'll be good. I bet half the guys on the line can't even tell the difference blindfolded.
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