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My torque wrench habit was a problem for years and I didn't even know
I was working on a Cessna 172's landing gear last month, using my old click-type torque wrench. A new guy at the hangar, fresh from A&P school, watched me for a minute and just asked, 'When was the last time you calibrated that thing?' I hadn't in over two years. We checked it against the shop's certified tester, and it was off by almost 15 foot-pounds on the high end. I'd been trusting muscle memory and a tool that was lying to me. How often do you all actually get your personal wrenches checked?
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daniel4701mo ago
Two years without a check on a plane? That's terrifying.
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karen_roberts41mo ago
Get them checked every year, maybe it's just me but that's cheap insurance. I keep a logbook for my tools now after a similar scare. Trusting old gear without proof is asking for trouble.
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daniel4741mo ago
What about things you can't log, like a frayed extension cord or a drill with a loose chuck? I've seen guys ignore the small stuff until it causes a real problem. A logbook is smart, but you still have to actually look at the tool in your hand before you use it. It's about building a habit of checking, not just keeping a record.
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