To install the cylinder back, I installed a new Fel-Pro gasket, and started to hit the bolts according to the specified order by the manufacturer. The problem started when my old torque wrench failed.
Such failure became a big nightmare for an amateur like me, a broken hard steel bolt in the engine block. I had to buy a cobalt drill bit and a bolt remover. Actually, removing the broken bolt wasn't that hard, it came easy by following the steps shown in the bolt remover package.
I adjusted the torque wrench (a Craftsman 20 years old one) to its maximum torque, scratched the windows where you see the numbers, and glued the adjuster to the main body, so I have now another brake bar, at this time with wrenching properties.
The nightmare continued when I went to buy a new torque wrench.
I read the reviews for the Craftsman ones, and decided to check a different brand. My intentions were not to spend more than $100.00. Going here and there, every auto parts near my area had the torque wrench I need , but their packages were opened. So, I refused to buy an open box torque wrench, because I have no idea if those tools were used already, misused, and whatever.
So, I went to Home Depot. They do have also the torque wrench I need, but I noticed that the package can be opened and closed and leave no signals that they were used already. I became so "picky" buying this tool, because I didn't want to have the same problem with a failing torque wrench. And the reason is because I also had to buy a new cylinder head gasket, this is to say, an additional $50.00 for the job, plus a new set of bolts, because I read that these can't be used further than twice.
Finally, I bought a Kobalt torque wrench at Lowes, because this wrench came in a sealed box. I didn't care anymore about "reviews" of the tool. By the way, I found two reviews about this tool, one with two stars and another one with five stars. Still, the second review with five stars, appears to be from someone working for Kobalt, because his testimony "pushes it" too much...
I said that it was a nightmare to buy a new 250 lb torque wrench, because I spent a lot of time finding one that comes in a solid sealed package. Well, I will try it to see how it works.
The point of this topic is my wonder why auto part stores don't care about this issue. A tool that works with internal calibration is similar to a device that works with computer chips, this is to say, when the box is open, there is no more an absolute guarantee that the device still working at its 100%. Of course, there are lots of new tools that come defective already in their sealed packages, but these are returned to the manufacturer, not so reinstalled back on the shelves.
When buying an open box of regular pliers, or even -lets say- a ball joint, the buyer can see that the product still as new as it is expected, but no one can see the inside of a calibration wrench if the tool has been misused, and "trying it" at home can lead to a broken bolt or a wrong adjustment if the tool can't perform as it it suppose to do.
Well, If no more inputs about this torque wrench are written from my part, this means that the tool works fine...otherwise I will be back here cursing the manufacturer, cursing Taiwan...cursing Fel Pro, cursing Obama...
