overtightening
Turning too much
Overtightening is tightening something too much—beyond what's needed or safe.
The term appears most often with fasteners: overtightening a bolt can strip threads or crack the material around it.
The leak was caused by overtightening the fitting.
The concept applies wherever excessive force defeats the purpose: overtightening guitar strings breaks them.
Breaking without separating completely
- fractureSplit in hard material
- breakageAct of shattering
- strippingRemoving outer layers
- snappingBreaking with sharp sound
splitting · shearing · rupture · warping · deformation · distortion · buckling · shattering
Threaded rod for nuts
- screwThreaded metal fastener
- nutHard-shelled seed
- clampDevice for holding tight
- lug nutHexagonal wheel fastener
spark plug · drain plug · hose clamp · fitting · connector · bracket · flange · gasket
Tool for turning fasteners
- torque wrenchCalibrated tightening instrument
- specificationDetailed technical requirement
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- foot-poundsWork or torque unit
setting · limit · rating · measurement · gauge · sequence · pattern · click
Written instructions for use
- star patternArrangement of pointed shapes
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- threadlockFastener adhesive compound
- anti-seizePrevents metal-to-metal fusion
feel · experience · sequence · snug · crisscross · gradual · checking
cracking
Breaking without separating completely
snapping · splitting · shearing · rupture · warping · deformation · distortion · buckling · shattering · failure
bolt
Threaded rod for nuts
lug nut · spark plug · drain plug · hose clamp · fitting · connector · bracket · flange · gasket · washer
wrench
Tool for turning fasteners
- torque wrenchCalibrated tightening instrument
- specificationDetailed technical requirement
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
foot-pounds · setting · limit · rating · measurement · gauge · sequence · pattern · click · dial
manual
Written instructions for use
- star patternArrangement of pointed shapes
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- threadlockFastener adhesive compound
anti-seize · feel · experience · sequence · snug · crisscross · gradual · checking
- DIY mistakeswrong measurements, skipped steps, gaps, cracks, leaks
- fastener failuresstripped screw, loose screw, stripped bolt, broken zipper, stuck zipper
- adjustment errorsovercorrection, miscalibration, wrong setting, overcompensation, misalignment
- assembly defectsmisalignment, stripped threads, cross-threading, skipped steps, wrong order
- Maintenance Errorsloose bolts, overfilling, skipped steps
overtighteningloosening
Reducing tightness or tension
backing off · slackening · slack · relaxing · easing
tight, tighten, tightness, tightly, tightened, tightens, tightening, tightener, retighten