Skylarking
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Yes, we should abide by the service manual and use good engineering practice. If it’s possible to do some task more effectively, then the dealer service guys should feed that method back to the manufacturer so it can be assessed and the workshop manual updated appropriately. That’s the crux of continuous improvementAnd we all should abide by the workshop manual.....
Shall we go into how good designers are or shall we just leave it alone?
EDIT: If someone has cross threaded a bolt/nut, the torque wrench is still masking the foobarred item...It doesn't prevent it....
What we shouldn’t do is shortcut good engineering practices which is to hand wind nuts, bolts spark plugs by hand and use a torque wrench… which then provides the correct torque setting and repeatability of torque settings.
Inappropriate use of a torque wrench on a cross threaded bolt is already an activity that occurs post the operator error which caused the cross threading. So in that context, yes I agree a torque wrench will mask problems for such ham fisted mechanics.
As for good engineering and design, sadly it’s often undone by accounting. We don’t need to go into Holden’s foobars like removing the fuel pump access hatch in the VF…
Sadly no profession is immune to poor quality workers as you’ve stated yourself; some just don’t give a **** about doing good work
Yes that’s true… now it’s clearer what you meant earlier by torque wrench masking the problem for those stupid mechanics out thereI agree how any nut/bolt/plug should be done.....However in the context of what @losh1971 has had happen, it is apparent the person that did those plugs either couldn't be stuffed stopping when the binding started to occur, or is that stupid didn't know it was occurring. So even if a torque wrench was used, it still wouldn't have prevented the problem.
Unfortunately this is another instance where common sense failed and someone else happens to be paying the price for another persons stupidity
I still think a good auto mechanics must use a torque wrench for all critical fasteners or components, after hand starting them until they seat. And most fasteners or components are critical if vibrations can make things fall off or leak.. In my book, lack of using of a torque wrench is simply a sign that speed or work is more important than quality of work