Rant: People keep using the wrong torque on the D-sub connectors in our LRUs

I've seen three different techs at our MRO in Mobile over-tighten the 9-pin connectors on the Collins Pro Line 21 radios this month. They're cranking them down like they're lug nuts, but the spec sheet clearly says 12 to 15 inch-pounds. It's causing cracked backshells and intermittent faults on the bench. How do you guys make sure your crew actually reads the maintenance manual before grabbing a tool?

2 comments

2 Comments

eva_lewis1mo ago

You said "inch-pounds" but the Collins manual for those D-subs lists the torque in ounce-inches. It's a really easy mix-up. That tiny difference in units is probably why they're cranking them so hard.

tarak171mo ago

Ever notice how the smallest mix-ups cause the biggest problems? @eva_lewis, your point about the units reminds me of when my husband tried to put together a bookshelf. The instructions listed the screw tightness in newton-meters, but his old wrench was set for foot-pounds. He didn't check and stripped half the holes. It's wild how just a tiny detail, like ounces versus pounds, can wreck things. Makes you wonder how many stripped threads are out there because someone just grabbed the nearest tool.