Originally Posted by Kontact

Your argument just shows that you don't know what torque is. 12 inch pounds is identical to 1 foot pound, which means that one 30 pound kid 6 feet from the pivot is identical to one 180 pound adult one foot from the pivot. They produce identical torque, and either will lift a 28 pound child at the other end of the board because their torque exceeds the force the 28 pounder's weight produces.

There are many reasons that Snap On would tell you not to hold the shaft, but it isn't because the torque reading is going to be different if you are putting perpendicular force on it. And anyone with a torque wrench can confirm this very easily.