A retired inspector at the Oshkosh air show told me my torque wrench technique was 'asking for a crack'.

He saw me setting a torque value on a cylinder stud by turning the handle with the wrench already on the fastener, which he said puts a side load on the mechanism. He insisted the proper way is to set the value off the bolt, then apply it straight on. Has anyone else had an old-timer completely flip their view on a basic practice like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

joel_butler26d ago

Oh man, that hits home. I've definitely done that exact move a hundred times, just trying to save a second. Now I'm sitting here wondering how many things I've quietly messed up by taking a shortcut. Guess the old guys know a thing or two because they've already made every mistake in the book.

the_sage25d ago

Remember my uncle telling me, @joel_butler, he learned more from his one big screw-up than a hundred easy wins.

cora86320d ago

Consider the physics of that side load on a click-type wrench. You're basically fighting the spring inside the calibration mechanism, which can absolutely throw off the click point over time. It's not just about cracking the tool, it's about slowly ruining its accuracy without even knowing. Makes you respect the simple act of setting the value free and clear before you even touch the bolt. Those old guys protect both the gear and the work.