Quote
I'm not sure I read correctly or not, but the mechanical advantage, or lever arm, is from the center of rotation to where the load is applied. So, if you have a breaker bar, the distance of the lever arm is from the center of the 3/8" or 1/2" square drive to where you apply the load. The radius of the nut doesn't get involved in the calculations. That's why when you torque a bolt, it doesn't matter whether it's a 1/4" nut or a 3/4" nut.


Hi Lee -

That's exactly why I said I wasn't certain about how the mechanical advantage should be determined. I see your point, but it does seem to me that the diameter of the nut should be used in the mechanical advantage relationship, because the rotational force is applied in its own radius - or so it seems to me. I might be way off base on it, though. Interesting question and one I've certainly never before considered.... that I remember. But then, school was a looong time ago.

Frank <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

'89 [color:"white"]G-Raider[color:"white"] [color:"black"]Supercharged 3.0L, MegaSquirt 2, lockup A/T, 2.5" exhaust, 172k, Cibie H4s/Oscar SCs, Hella Micro DE fogs, Cobra CB, Superwinch hubs, LSD rear/Aussie Locker front, Bilsteins, Lifeline AGM, Rust-Oleum