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Had to choose between a proper torque wrench and a breaker bar with a cheater pipe last week
Working on a Cessna 172's nose gear, the manual called for 150 foot-pounds on a stubborn bolt. My good torque wrench was across the hangar, but a buddy's breaker bar and a 3-foot pipe were right there. I went with the pipe, and of course, the bolt head sheared clean off. Spent the next four hours drilling it out. Ever had a 'shortcut' cost you way more time than the right tool would have?
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the_john7mo ago
Man, that's the worst. I have to ask, in the moment when you were sliding that pipe on, did you have a bad feeling you ignored, or did it honestly seem like it would be fine? I've talked myself into those shortcuts before by saying 'it's just a little more leverage,' but there's always that tiny voice knowing it's wrong.
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the_thomas7mo ago
Nah, I honestly didn't get that feeling at all. Sometimes a pipe is just a pipe, you know? I think you're overthinking it, @the_john. It felt totally fine until it very suddenly wasn't.
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