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Funktionstür
Konvergenzbörse
Jan 6, 2009 13:32
15 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term

linksbündig anziehen

German to English Tech/Engineering Mechanics / Mech Engineering Laboratory apparatus
From an update to the instructions for setting up a rotary evaporator unit:
----
Abdrückvorrichtung Die Kunststoffmutter (E) dient als Abdrückhilfe für festsitzende Kolbenschliffverbindungen (Fig. 9).
Halten Sie die Arretierung und lösen Sie die Kunststoffmutter (E).
Halten Sie hierzu den festsitzenden Verdampferkolben und drehen Sie die Kunststoffmutter (E) bis zum Verdampferkolbenhals.
Hinweis: ***Ziehen Sie vor Inbetriebnahme die Kunststoffmutter (E) linksbündig handfest an***. Dabei halten Sie die Arretierung (D) des Dampfdurchführungstohres fest.
----

For further context, the pre-update version is here: http://www.ika.net/ika/product_art/manual/ika_rv10_bd.pdf (left-hand side of page 7, or search for "linksbündig"). There is a bad English translation of that version, which has "hand-tighten the plastic screw nut (E) left-aligned.", so that's no help!

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Cheers, Stephen
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 tighten against left-hand stop
3 +1 just "tighten by hand"
2 +1 tighten in counter-clockwise direction

Discussion

John Jory Jan 6, 2009:
Adding to the confusion The French text in the reference says "tighten up to the end stop", whilst the Spanish text simply says "turn to the left". Common sense makes me think that the Spanish (and Steffen) are probably right.
Languageman (asker) Jan 6, 2009:
Thanks Hmm, that's what I suspected, but wasn't sure if I was missing something. Perhaps if you add your idea as an answer then I can choose whichever is closer when/if I hear from the customer. Thanks.
Steffen Walter Jan 6, 2009:
Inconclusive Thanks for your reply, Stephen, and yes, I'd seen those images in the PDF file, too, but they (in particular Fig. 9 showing the nut) don't provide any conclusive evidence. All that's left now (IMHO) is to add a translator's note and/or to contact your customer, pointing out the ambiguity.
Languageman (asker) Jan 6, 2009:
Occured to me too Both ideas occurred to me too (hence the question!). The diagrams in the pdf (see my link) are all I've got too.
Steffen Walter Jan 6, 2009:
Linksbündig = linksherum? Could linksbündig perhaps mean that the nut must be tightened in counter-clockwise direction ("linksherum" anziehen)? Is there any photo/drawing that could corroborate or refute either Isaac's or my interpretation?

Proposed translations

+3
7 mins
Selected

tighten against left-hand stop

This is based on my assumption that "linksbündig anziehen" means "bis zum Anschlag nach links anziehen".
Note from asker:
Makes sense, thanks. So, not entirely obvious to a German native speaker either then?
Peer comment(s):
agree Erik Freitag : Sehr wahrscheinlich. Es handelt sich ja um eine Abdrückvorrichtung, deshalb soll die Mutter ganz "nach oben" gedreht werden, damit genug "Fleisch" (Gewinde) zum späteren Abdrücken des Kolbens da ist.
2 hrs
agree Peter Manda (X) : yes important to point out, since convention is lefty loosy, righty tighty ...
15 hrs
agree Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
22 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Doesn't look like I'm going to hear back from the customer on this one, so selected this based on the voting only. Thanks for the help all."
+1
1 hr

tighten in counter-clockwise direction

(as requested above)

Gentlemen, please place your bets now :-)
Peer comment(s):
agree gangels (X) : just 'tighten counter-clockwise'
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
2 hrs

just "tighten by hand"

Looking at your pictures (and they ARE worth 1000 words!), I would suggest just 'tighten'

As I see it, they are saying that you should tighten the plastic nut by hand. Most English speakers would understand this. The nut would then be making contact with the stop, be flush up against it, whatever else you would like to say, but I think 'tighten by hand' should be sufficient.
Note from asker:
You might be right, thanks. Another idea for the melting pot!
Peer comment(s):
neutral Steffen Walter : Question is whether the design includes any stop at all, which (at least to me) is not obvious from the image(s). / Yes, you are right.
12 mins
But, if there were NO stop, then you need not tighten by hand, you could use a tool (because, if you went too far, the nut would fall off the end).
agree Erik Freitag : Sehr wahrscheinlich, siehe Kommentar bei Isaacs Antwort. Reicht meiner Meinung nach tatsächlich aus.
53 mins
Something went wrong...
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