Originally Posted by
TiHabanero
Not sure why storage requires setting to lowest level. My understanding of fatigue is that it comes from use. A car sitting on its wheels does not wear the springs out, it is the use of the springs when driven that wears them out. Perhaps I am incorrect. Please explain the logic of storing at lowest setting. Is there something else in the mix that can be forced out of calibration by not storing at lowest setting?
My materials science classes were nearly 50 years ago but I suspect it may be the problem is creep, not fatigue, which would not be issues with other systems like you FD and RD or your auto and may be with the precision of a torque wrench. Stress below the metal's yield strength can slowly plastically deform the metal with temperature and time resulting in calibration errors.