Just realized my old lead was right about torque seal

Six months ago my lead mechanic at Orlando airfield told me to always put torque seal on the bolts even if the manual doesn't say to. I thought he was just being extra until I had to recheck a landing gear retract actuator last week. Found three bolts that had backed off a quarter turn because the vibration shook them loose. Has anyone else had a senior guy's rule save them from a headache?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix291mo ago

That torque seal is one of those things you don't realize how much you need until you've seen bolts walk themselves loose. I had a similar thing with an old timer who made me mark every fastener on the engine cowling with a paint pen. Spent years thinking he was just being obsessive until a buddy skipped it on a Cessna 172 and found a cowl screw sitting in the oil pan after a rough flight. The vibration on those smaller airframes is no joke, even with lock washers. The seal is your second set of eyes when the torque wrench is put away.

the_troy1mo ago

Yo that's a solid point but I think people sleep on the other side of it too. Torque seal isn't just for catching loose bolts, it's also a dead giveaway if someone else has been messing with your work without telling you. I've had ground crews "check" a panel and reapply the seal sloppy as hell and you can spot it right away. Saves you from trusting a fastener that some kid with a 3/8 ratchet cranked on.

grant.nina20d ago

Ugh I mean I get it but is it really that deep? Bolts back off a quarter turn over a whole week big whoop I bet you could have just torqued them right the first time and been fine. Feels like we overcomplicate this stuff.