Dennis, for many applications you are probably right, but for many there
are also specified torque values. If a torque value is specified, then
use it. It is there because the engineers determined it to be necessary.
For nearly all hardware - bolt and nuts - anyway,  there is a standard
torque value specified somewhere simply based on the  length, diameter,
thread count and material of the bolt/nut. There will also be a torque
value for specific applications, which take into account the bolt specs
as just mentioned.  I'm not concerned about torque values on the bolts
that hold my 2x4 wood table together, but I am definitely concerned
about any that hold the front in ovf my Vanagon together - as example.

There may be places where the torque value is of no consequence, but if
I ever caught some mechanic short-cutting a job on the assumption that a
torque value specificed was not really important,  I would pitch a bitch
that could be heard from here to Texas. I'm sorta, really, for sure,
majorly touchy about torques being used when specified because some
idiot didn't torque the cylinder head bolts on an aircraft cylinder
once, and it blew that jug with me and the airplane up at about 6,000
feet. I made a major investment in GA Upholstery Cone Remover that day I
will tell you. Pucker factor went completely off the scale that day.

Yes it was a cylinder, and yes, it was a more serious area for torques
to be applied, more so  than the torque on the window crank handle of my
Vanagon, for example. But it taught me a lesson. And I have never
forgotten it. If torque is specified, torque gets applied.!! I expect
it, I demand it.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Dennis wrote:

>My one comment here, and I have 2 click type and one beam torque wrench, is
>simply the fact that in using any torque wrench, you are probably going
>beyond what many consider sufficient.  I am a great believer in torquing to
>spec, but I've observed many situations, including a few larger shops,
>where a torque wrench is the exception rather than the rule.  Yes, I do see
>torque wrenchs on cylinder head bolts, but not often elsewhere.
>
>I am not a trained mechanic, (but I've spent a lot of time working on their
>computer systems) perhaps there are a few on this list who can speak to
>this issue.  I would guess that many mechs who are experienced, ballpark
>the torque setting on feel, particularly on chassis work, which in turn
>allows them to get through a job much quicker.  I have seen this time and
>time again, and I wonder if this is question of the shop reputation, or an
>example of me being overly particular.  As I don't work on hundreds of
>cars, just my own three, torqueing to spec makes me feel comfortable with
>my work, perhaps an experienced tech doesn't always need the torque spec?
>
>No slight to mechanics here, just an honest question.
>
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