Factory torque specs vs. feel: which one do you actually trust on critical bolts?

Last week I was torquing down a main gearbox cover on a 737 at the hangar in Memphis. The spec sheet said 85 foot-pounds, but the bolt felt tight at 70 and I second-guessed myself. My lead who has been in the trade since the 80s said he always goes by feel on this particular cover because the spec has caused more stripped threads than he can count. Three years ago I saw a guy snap a stud on a Cessna crankcase because he followed the book exactly and the thread was dry. But then again, my A&P instructor drilled into us that the manual is the law and feel is just an excuse for sloppy work. So which side are you on? Do you trust the torque wrench every time or do you adjust when your hands tell you something is off when you have a tight spot to reach?

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