TIL the hard way that old school torque wrenches beat digital for certain jobs

I was replacing a flap actuator on a Beechcraft King Air and used a new digital torque wrench for the mounting bolts. The thing beeped at spec, but the next day we had a slight play during a walkaround check. Went back with my old clicker style Snap-On, set to the same 450 inch-pounds, and got another quarter turn before it clicked. That extra bit of stretch on the bolt made the difference. Anyone else find digital tools can miss the feel needed for some critical airframe work?

3 comments

3 Comments

wadefoster23d ago

Ever check if the digital one was out of calibration?

jessec3523d ago

My buddy's digital scale was off by like five pounds, can you believe that?

the_sean14d ago

Wait, did you check the calibration on the digital wrench first? Those things can drift if they get bumped around. A clicker is just a spring, so it's either right or broken, but a digital tool needs to be checked way more often. That extra quarter turn you got is pretty telling.