Originally Posted by
Calsun
I helped out in a bike shop in the 1970's and a torque wrench was never used. The bike mechanics knew to use the correct size wrench when tightening anything. The length of the wrench handle limits the amount of torque that can be applied. People bringing their bikes with failed fasteners had used wrenches meant for use on automobiles and not small 8mm bolts on a bike.
I have personally seen, a 1" diameter, grade 8 bolt, that was necked from being overtorqued. I was told that some things are designed as large as they are, not for function, but to withstand a mechanic torquing on them with an 8' cheater bar. That was almost 50 years ago, hopefully use of torque wrenches has increased to prevent overdesign that way.