Originally Posted by
exRunner
My degree is in Applied Mathematics. I play the part of an engineer at work, only I don't use Mathcad as often. I spent 22 years operating and maintaining the power plant on nuclear submarines. I have experience both as a turner and calculator.
What you are using to defend your point or is called a false equivalency. A bike mechanic that does it over and over is going to know when that cheap torque wrench is giving a bad reading. They aren't your average backyard wrench monkey.
Second, if the allowed error on torque values is as wide as you claim ( I really don't know) then the torque wrench is unnecessary just because of that. That experienced bike mechanic can get close enough by feel.
i wasn't for or against using a torque wrench in the driveway. I was pointing out the argument on both sides have merit, but a torque wrench won't save the idiot.
i was here for the power meter discussion, I just chose to let it go. I was an early adopter of training with power, but just like torque wrenchs, you have to understand what you are using and have some knowledge about what to do with the data.
To me, you are the real perpetrator of false equivalency. I explained the dynamic succinctly. If you don't understand it, I can't help you. You say a torque wrench can be a scourge in the hands of a poor mechanic and the truth is, a torque wrench even without torque calibration will vastly save the average wrench much more than it will go wrong. This is obvious to someone with common sense and
why torque wrenches exist.
To carve out common ground, is a torque wrench essential? Can I rebuild a car or motorcycle engine or build a bicycle without a torque wrench? Any day of the week. Will it be better generally if I use one for more torque critical parts? Any day of the week. Torque spec's are derived for a reason and a torque wrench is generally able to hit this torque target better than 'any mechanic'. I believe you were trying to make the point that a master mechanic can sense when torque is going too high with a bad wrench. Of course. Years of experience. Even more of reason why an inexperienced mechanic needs the guidance of a torque wrench. A torque wrench will save an inexperienced wrench much more often than break a bicycle. That is why they exist and are so vastly used.