Narrative:

Suspect possible damage to the nose wheel tiller shaft during test per aircraft maintenance manual (amm) 32-51-00-735 test tiller handle steering. We set up to perform the test while the rest of the [maintenance] crew was at break so that we could have hydraulics off. While trying to do the test during the crews break time; I forgot to raise the [nose gear] upper torsion link to be parallel with the ground position per step-G during the test; but didn't realize it at the time. When the mechanic in the cockpit used the torque wrench to move the tiller; I was watching the load limiter. I heard a noise as he applied the torque but assumed it was normal since it was the first time I had performed the test. The cam rollers didn't move and he said the torque wrench jumped so he was unable to get a good reading. The second time we tried to perform the test it was at the end of our shift. I had the upper torsion link up at that time and was able to see the cam rollers move from the detent as they should. I was on my way home about midnight and thinking about the job when I realized that the cam rollers didn't move the first time we performed the test; probably because the torsion link was not up. I called and notified the lead on the next shift. He said they would check and make sure everything was ok. But after looking at the [shaft] tube and [shaft] couplings the next day in the illustrated parts catalog (ipc) and realizing they couldn't see the rivets that hold the coupling at the upper end of the tiller shaft; I talked to the supervisor and requested that they do a maintenance set-up to inspect the tiller shaft between the load limiter and the tiller handle; reference ipc 32-51-01-05. The shaft is set up to be inspected tonight in ZZZ1.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Mechanic requests his Supervisor initiate a maintenance follow-up to inspect the Nose Wheel Handle Steering; Upper Torque Shaft coupling attach rivets for damage on a company B757-200 aircraft. He had initially applied a Torque Test on the Torque Limiter without disconnecting the nose gear Upper Torsion Link first.

Narrative: Suspect possible damage to the Nose Wheel Tiller Shaft during test per Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) 32-51-00-735 Test Tiller Handle Steering. We set up to perform the test while the rest of the [Maintenance] crew was at break so that we could have hydraulics off. While trying to do the test during the crews break time; I forgot to raise the [Nose Gear] Upper Torsion Link to be parallel with the ground position per Step-G during the test; but didn't realize it at the time. When the Mechanic in the cockpit used the Torque Wrench to move the Tiller; I was watching the Load Limiter. I heard a noise as he applied the torque but assumed it was normal since it was the first time I had performed the test. The cam rollers didn't move and he said the torque wrench jumped so he was unable to get a good reading. The second time we tried to perform the test it was at the end of our shift. I had the Upper Torsion Link up at that time and was able to see the cam rollers move from the detent as they should. I was on my way home about midnight and thinking about the job when I realized that the cam rollers didn't move the first time we performed the test; probably because the torsion link was not up. I called and notified the Lead on the next shift. He said they would check and make sure everything was OK. But after looking at the [Shaft] tube and [Shaft] couplings the next day in the Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) and realizing they couldn't see the rivets that hold the coupling at the upper end of the Tiller Shaft; I talked to the Supervisor and requested that they do a Maintenance set-up to inspect the Tiller Shaft between the Load Limiter and the Tiller Handle; reference IPC 32-51-01-05. The Shaft is set up to be inspected tonight in ZZZ1.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.