Lucky or Unlucky ??

[Brian]

Put a new C box on my gyro and was torquing up one of the eight bolts that go through the box into the alloy backing plate [there are 4 inside the box and 4 outside when it didnt feel quite right however I gave the bolt one more quarter turn when "bang" went the bolt and a sickening feeling went through my stomach. Using a pair of pliers, I grabbed the bolt head and felt resistance so I gently tried unscrewing the bolt and out it came. There was one very relieved fellow there I can tell you !!!!After examining the bolt hole and the thread of the bolt, I got one of the bolts from the old box and tried again, this time there was no binding and the bolt torqued up as the other 7 had done before.Hopefully there will be a photo of the bolt attached and perhaps someone might comment on what happened. I followed the books instructions !Image Insert: 60.32

[NiqueNaque]

Brian,There are dodgy bolts, they aren't all proof tested.Have a look at the end grain, that will tell you, and me, alot more..Regards,Nick.

[Tim]

Brian, that looks like one of those safety bolts you can get - stops you torqueing them up too much.Sure you didn't get Menzy to torque that one up for you?Tim McClure

[Brian]

Nope, had no one helping me !!! Its not as if I havent done these up before but it was the first time ever using a torque wrench....and the last, I will go back to the old way !!Will do that Nick and yes, I know there are dodgy bolts and that was one of them, just frightened me when it let go !!Brian

[telf]

I don't still have a photo of it but I too bought a c box around 3 years ago and one of the bolts had a crack running up its entire length that was plainly a manufacturing fault.I reported it to the local agent and AUF (back then). The supplier offered a new bolt but didn't really seem to care. I was very surprised by their response.Maybe they get it frequently.telfFlying - The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. (Douglas Adams-The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy)