Why does my torque wrench click when the bolt is barely snug?

I've been seeing this a lot on line maintenance lately. Young guys coming in, they use a cheap clicker wrench on a dry bolt, and it clicks at like 10 foot pounds when it should be 25. They think it's done. But the threads are binding, not the fastener seating. I had a case last month at O'Hare where a cowling fastener came loose because of this. Check the threads, use a little lube if the manual says so, and always do a final pull with a beam wrench if something feels off. Anyone else deal with this, or is it just the sets I'm getting?

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the_kelly20d ago

Whoa, dry bolts causing clicks at half the torque is wild!