I finally figured out my torque wrench wasn't clicking because I was holding it wrong
Spent 3 hours last Tuesday chasing a phantom issue on a Cessna 172 nose gear bolt, redoing the same 40 ft-lb spec over and over because the wrench kept slipping before it clicked. An old hand named Dave walked by, watched me for 10 seconds, and said "you're choking up on the handle, you're supposed to hold it at the end." Turns out I'd been gripping the middle of the handle for 6 years, anyone else learn this the hard way?
Had the same thing happen with a beam style wrench years ago, kept getting weird readings and thought the tool was shot. Guy at the shop told me to keep my hand on the handle end and pull smooth, not jerk it. Once I stopped gripping the middle it clicked every time and my numbers matched the spec. Weird how a small habit like that messes with the whole reading.