I bought this tool recently, too, and am wondering what ft/lbs other purchasers are torguing the wheels/wheel spinners to.
Thanks,
/s/ Chris Kennedy
Hi Chris, since there are not any posted torque settings by any wheel or spinner makers, the standard stated method is to use a lead hammer until you think it is good enough. In my 66 Lotus Elan coupe maual, has the only torque settings I've been able to find anywhere. It was 200 to 220 ft/lbs. Since the hub size on the Lotus is about the same as the GT40 hubs and spinners, it is only my guess might apply.
A shop owner who uses a lead hammer for years, we tested his 3 good whack method, and he hit within 3 to 4 pounds of 210 everytime. He did say that the added leverage you get by using a breaker bar or a torque wrench, I needed a block of wood to stop the wheel from turning on the floor. The hub size is about the same as the halibrand spinners. It is my guess would be under 250 to tighten.
If you have used a lead hammer on the last time you tightened them. Make a mark on both the wheel and the spinner. Loosen the spinner and use my tool with a torque wrench and see how close the marks are to that torque.
My tool with its impact socket has been tested to over 1,200 ft/ibs of torque which should remove the most subborn spinners that have seized together. When trying to remove over tightened spinners with a hammer, you will put all of the removal force on one ear at a time, when using a hammer it puts all of the force on one ear and can weeken or even break it off. My tool applies equal force to all three ears at the same time spreading the removal force without damaging the spinner's ears. It works best when using it on the deepest wheels, where a hammer would have difficulty reaching in to geting a good swing.
A torque impact wrench can be use to break the spinner loose but use s torque wrench to tighten themN. Over tightening will only stretch the threads.
Nobody really knows what torque is best but once the spinner and wheel are tight, over tightening can only deform the threads and make it harder to remove. Use anti-sieze and safety wire for best protection.