Took me 6 years to figure out I was over-tightening compressor bolts

Had a call last month on a 3-year-old fridge with a seized compressor and when I pulled the old one off I noticed the gasket was completely flattened. You ever pull one apart and just stare at the damage you've been doing the whole time?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_laura28d ago

Honestly I did the exact same thing on a 1992 Chevy van AC compressor back when I was starting out. I cranked those bolts down like I was trying to weld the thing to the bracket and ended up with a warped housing and a gasket that looked like a pancake. Took me three compressors and a ton of swearing before I realized torque specs are actually there for a reason. Ngl the first time I checked the manual I felt like a total clown.

jana_fox5027d ago

I stripped the threads on an 87 F-150 alternator bracket doing that same gorilla-arm nonsense, @the_laura. Had to helicoil the whole thing (which honestly felt like cheating at the time). Once I started using a beam-style torque wrench on stuff like intake manifolds and water pump housings, I stopped having to explain to customers why their new parts were already leaking. It's an expensive lesson but you only learn it the hard way once.