Spark Plug Torque, Yamaha 115, 2002

[gearyg]

My manual tells me to torque my plugs at 18ft/lbs or major malfunction may occur. I tried to torque them at this spec, but it felt like I was going to strip the threads out....so I just tightened them by feel like I usually do. Do they need to be "specifically torqued"? In the past I have never torqued a spark plug, on a car or marine engine....any comments out there?...thanks.

[JUSTINTIME]

u sure u were set to 18ft/lbs not 18 Newton meters?
18ft is not that much

[gearyg]

Absolutely, ft/lbs. Maybe it could be the quality of the wrench...from Pep Boys? Never the less, are there any hidden dangers if they are not all torqued at 18 ft/lbs?

[JUSTINTIME]

they could back out
turn the wrench fown to 10 ft/lbs and see if it clicks
u could have a crap wrench

[Ray Neudecker]

It does sound like a wrench problem. I have done them without the torque wrench for years without a problem. They have to be tight enough to seal and not back out. You can strip the threads out if you overdo. 18 lbs shouldn't require that much of a pull.