Jeff, I hear you, but remember that rod bolts were installed for years using a beam-style torque wrench, lubricant and a guess. Then came the angle torque method, a more sophisticated guess. So suppose you're ARP, you're thinking, "anything we can do to enhance the ability to get a repeatable stretch will lower the failure rate of our bolts, enhancing customer satisfaction AND we get to sell a $10 chinese-made dial indicator and an anodized aluminum frame for $150!"

If I'm going to the trouble to engineer my own gage, I'm going to try to avoid some of the known pitfalls of the ones on the market. Such as, making the frame out of aluminum, which bends and expands a lot when heated.

It's all theoretical of course. . . :)

Makes sense, can't really argue with that!

Cheers

I wish I had pictures of the measuring devices we used to tighten the cable bands on some of the big suspension bridges (GW, Verrazano, Williamsburg, Throgs Neck, Whitestone)

In reality they are just larger versions of the bolt stretch gauges used to verify rod bolt elongation..

If I may just step in and smack you guys upside the head!!

I think you are making mountains out of mole hills...

Tim, I will drive across the GWB in complete confidence knowing that it was you who tightened the cable bands. :)

Of COURSE it's overkill, that's what makes it a fun exercise. Then again, trying to design a tool that's cheaper and more accurate than the commercial alternatives is the essence of the Pelican DIY spirit.