I always thought torque wrenches were overkill for small bolts on a Cessna 172

After a prop strike inspection, I found three loose spinner bolts that were hand-tightened by a previous mechanic. Now I torque EVERYTHING, even the 1/4 inch stuff. What's the smallest fastener you guys still break out the calibrated wrench for?

2 comments

2 Comments

gray_gibson1mo ago

Ever notice how the small stuff is what always comes back to bite you? I see it all the time with cabinet hardware. People will crank down a tiny screw holding a drawer pull, strip the threads, and then the whole handle is loose in a month. On my own bike, I torque the small bolts on the brake calipers. It's not just about strength, it's about even pressure so nothing warps or wears out weird. That spinner bolt story is exactly why you can't skip steps.

umamoore1mo ago

Actually, I think you're mixing up torque with just cranking it down hard.