The time a senior guy told me to always zero my torque wrench after every use

I had this old timer named Doug at my first shop in Denver who swore up and down you had to back the torque wrench down to zero after every single job. He said leaving it set at 20 inch pounds or whatever would mess up the spring over time. I listened to him for like two years straight, never had an issue. Then I swapped to a new hangar and the lead tech there laughed at me for doing it. He showed me the manual for the same brand torque wrench and it said storing it at the lowest setting is fine, just not maxed out. I felt kind of dumb but also Doug was so sure about it. Anyone else get told some old school rule that turned out to be overkill or just plain wrong?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim.emma1mo ago

Did I start parking my car with the steering wheel perfectly straight because my dad swore it would wreck the alignment if I didn't? Yeah, I still do it out of habit even though I know better now. Guess Doug and my dad would have been best friends.

andrew9161mo ago

Actually the straight wheel thing matters more than people give it credit for, just not for the reason your dad said. @kim.emma, the real issue isn't alignment but the steering column lock mechanism. I had a 2002 Civic that would bind up if I parked with the wheel turned all the way. Took me forever to figure out why the key got stuck. Your dad was half right but for the wrong reason.

troy4391mo ago

Man, I used to think Doug was totally exaggerating but after reading this I'm starting to wonder if I've been doing it wrong all along too. Guess the manual really does settle it.