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Finally caught someone torquing lug nuts on a Cessna with a standard ratchet today
Guy said he's been doing it for 10 years and never had a problem, but I showed him the manual says 100 ft-lbs minimum. Anyone else run into mechanics who just guess on torque specs?
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angela_kelly4h agoTop Commenter
That 'never had a problem' line gets me every time. You hear it all the time from guys who've been doing it their way for years. I mean, sure, maybe on a little 172 with four lugs per wheel you can get away with it, but on something bigger like a twin or a turboprop, that 100 ft-lbs minimum is there for a reason. The real issue is that a torque wrench isn't just about hitting the number, it's about consistency across all the lugs so the wheel doesn't warp or cause vibration over time. One loose lug and you're looking at a wheel stud snapping off on landing, which is way worse than just having to buy a proper torque wrench.
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