Torquing A/C Hold down bolts

[Redapple63]

I believe the reason for only 30 in torque is to avoid over compressing the foam gasket between roof & AC unit.

Yes, agree with that.

Bill

[Butcher]

Some low torque locktite would prevent them from working loose.

[FlyStar]

Torqued them today. They were only finger tight after one year. Stopped at 30 inch pounds like others here as it seemed enough gasket compression. I don’t think loctite will help as the looseness is because the thick gasket compresses over time. Based on how loose they were I’ll be checking them as part of the annual maintenance list which is getting kind of long.


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[FlyStar]

Action photo of new inch pound torque wrench

[Butcher]

And when the thick gasket compresses, the bolts loosen up and may come out. Yes indeed, low tension locktite would prevent that from happening. You just need enough friction on the threads to prevent them from shaking loose. No reason to get the mid or high tension stuff. You would just be asking for problems.

Yes, it would not help the gasket from shrinking. That is the gasket manufacturers issue.

[FlyStar]

Ahhh. Get it. Loctite on next tightening. Thanks.

Was surprised at how loose they were and how this maintenance item is not mentioned very often and likely overlooked.

Much more fun to tighten bolts to specifies torque. Very technical. Than say for instance cleaning the roof.


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[Gronk1]

Have been using my Newton Meter torque wrench (I use on my bicycle) for this. 30 inch pounds is 3+ N.m, 40 is approx. 4.5 N.m. I use 4 N.m

And this is my mostly useless info for the day!

[MoonShadow_1911]

Again, thanks for this thread! I'm in the middle of my annual maintenance and bought an inch pound torque wrench specifically for this, and some purple Loctite. My second AC unit in the bedroom was still tight, but I removed all four bolts, Loctited (is that a word?) them, reinstalled them, then retorque then to 30 inch pounds.

The main AC unit, the bolts were either finger right, or loose. Did the same in all of them. At least next year, all I'll need to do is back the bolts off a color of turns, then retorque them.

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[Butcher]

Let us know if they are finger tight next year. It would be curious if the bolts do work loose or the gasket is indeed shrinking.

[MoonShadow_1911]

Let us know if they are finger tight next year. It would be curious if the bolts do work loose or the gasket is indeed shrinking.

If they're finger tight, the Loctite didn't do it's job.

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