Twenty-seven lbft is not much. Unless you're my five year old son, I would suggest that "forcefully" is too much. If you need a mallet to get it out, you're tightening it too much!
The goal is to just compress the gasket a bit, that's all.
xtn
27 lbs is nothing.
i need to torque a few bolts on my FF to 25 ft lbs, and i am amzed when i use the TW at how little it is.
i would take a 3/8 ratchet with a 6 point socket(12 point do suck), and hold the ratchet right at the center point with my fist, not at the end, get it just snug, and then go 1/4 turn still holding the ratchet at the center point, not on the handle at the end.
if you are really worried about it coming off,safety wire the bolt. thats easy to do also if you have a drill and a small bit.