Debate: should we follow the manual to the letter on torque values or trust feel?

I had an old lead mechanic tell me I was overtorquing oil filter adapters on Lycomings because the manual said 600 in-lbs but he swore by 450 after years of stripped threads. I stuck with the book for months til I cracked a housing on a 172 last Tuesday. Now I'm second guessing everything. Do you guys go by the book or adjust based on experience? I'm curious how many of you have bent a part because the spec felt wrong.

2 comments

2 Comments

verac402d ago

Yeah that book never paid for a cracked housing, did it?

william8162d ago

Man, @verac40 is really bringing the heat today. My housing is held together by good vibes and a prayer, that book didn't even chip in for the duct tape. I swear my landlord's solution to a crack is just painting over it and hoping it doesn't go through the whole floor. At this point, I'm surprised my bookshelf hasn't filed for emotional damages from all the leaning. Guess I'll keep reading it while my ceiling drips on the couch.