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c/bicycle-mechanics•the_willowthe_willow•13d ago

Why I stopped using a torque wrench on every single bolt

Last month in the shop, I was rebuilding a vintage Campagnolo crank and torqued the pinch bolts to spec, but the crank still had play. My boss, who's been at this for 40 years, told me to just tighten it until it felt right, and it worked perfectly. When do you guys decide to go by feel instead of the number on the wrench?
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3 Comments
viola_allen
Experience taught me feel matters more sometimes.
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patricia_gonzalez
My friend Sarah, a baker for twenty years, never uses a timer for her sourdough. She just puts her hand on the oven door and knows. She told me the exact feel of the heat on her palm means more than any clock.
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miles_burns
It's more that experience helps you trust your gut. The feel comes from the practice.
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