Got chewed out by a senior mechanic over my torque wrench technique

I always used the click-style torque wrench by pulling fast until it clicked, but a guy with 30 years at Delta told me that was wrong for certain bolts. He said aluminum threads on older Boeings can strip if you don't slow down near the end. Has anyone else had to unlearn a habit after getting called out on it?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jenny17h ago

Yep, had to learn that same slow-finish trick on Pratt turbine blades.

william_taylor9h ago

Is it just me or does that slow-finish pass make all the difference in chatter? @the_jenny I spent a solid month fighting with those blades on a Navy contract back in '09 before an old-timer showed me the same trick. Your mileage may vary but taking that last cut at half speed and feeding by hand cleaned up the surface finish like magic.