The anode is supposed to be torqued to about 7 ft/lbs -- my torque wrench does not even work at that low of a setting -- is there a math trick for figuring this out manually? Like a two foot wrench with a 3.5 lb weight hanging on the end of it, or something like that?I wish I had paid more careful attention to levers during high school physics -- I had other things on my mind in those days . . . . Now I mostly think about RV maintenance.

Something like that. I remember 7ft-lb as being 'just snug.'

On quite a bit of plumbing these days the instructions state to hand tighten then take it 1/4 turn further with a wrench.

You need an inch-pound calibrated wrench.Otherwise snug it up and you are done.

profdant139 wrote:...snip...... Like a two foot wrench with a 3.5 lb weight hanging on the end of it, or something like that?To answer your question, yes that is the correct answer. Seven pounds at one foot or three and one half pounds at two are both equal to seven ft pounds. In other words, be careful. A 3/8 drive torque wrench will have that range, but need an adapter for the larger socket.

7 lb on a 1 ft bar3 1/2 lb on a 2 ft bar84 in lb (1 lb on an 84 in bar)or half way between snug and snap.

Water heater anode torque: wrench doesn't go that low?

wildtoad
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2016
Me thinks we over think things. It's a plug that just needs to be snug.
profdant139
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2016
Thanks, Tom! So that is the solution -- hang a weight on the long torque wrench, with the right socket (which for my anode is 1 1/16). I will give that a try!
K_Charles
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016
7 lb on a 1 ft bar
3 1/2 lb on a 2 ft bar
84 in lb (1 lb on an 84 in bar)
or half way between snug and snap.
TomG2
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016
profdant139 wrote:
...snip...... Like a two foot wrench with a 3.5 lb weight hanging on the end of it, or something like that?

To answer your question, yes that is the correct answer. Seven pounds at one foot or three and one half pounds at two are both equal to seven ft pounds. In other words, be careful. A 3/8 drive torque wrench will have that range, but need an adapter for the larger socket.
time2roll
Nomad
Jul 12, 2016
You need an inch-pound calibrated wrench.
Otherwise snug it up and you are done.
Dick_B
Explorer
Jul 12, 2016
On quite a bit of plumbing these days the instructions state to hand tighten then take it 1/4 turn further with a wrench.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jul 12, 2016
Something like that. I remember 7ft-lb as being 'just snug.'

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Water heater anode torque: wrench doesn't go that low?

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