In praise of the torque wrench!

[annirak]

I've seen people suggest that you don't need a torque wrench. Well, I'm now certain that I do need one. I adjusted the angle of my stem recently. I used my multitool to do it. Since then, my stem has been creaking more and more. I tried tightening it more. That only made things worse. Finally, I loosened everything off, and re tightened it with the torque wrench. Now, everything peachy; the stem is silent once again!

So, if you ever need to adjust your stem, maybe you do need a torque wrench!

 

[Jaykun85]

I'm looking for a torn wrnch set as we speak to put in my tool box

 

[Globalti]

Yes a torque wrench adds a satisfying perfectionism to fettling.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Yes a torque wrench adds a satisfying perfectionism to fettling.

My thoughts exactly... A little click of "That's done just right"

 

[numbnuts]

Or maybe is shows that you haven't got "the knack" on how tight things have to be

 

[MichaelW2]

Time to calibrate your fingers.

 

[Jaykun85]

i do thingss up mostly FT .. but on a carbon from and with going the gym i don't want to break it cos I'm getting all Beefcake now

 

[screenman]

Or maybe is shows that you haven't got "the knack" on how tight things have to be

How often are you calibrated?

Sorry but after years of holding spanners I am yet to find anyone who can torque up a bolt etc, accurately every time without the correct tool.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Or maybe is shows that you haven't got "the knack" on how tight things have to be

Time to calibrate your fingers.

Calibrated fingers are great until you have that *CRACK* "Oh, shoot" moment. Seen people do it with carbon stuff, seen people do it in engineering.

In most cases I can think of, a torque wrench was cheaper than the thing that just got broken.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I bought one. I read the instructions carefully, I set it to the right torque and proceeded to tighten my stem bolts. Hmmm, I thought, this is a lot tighter than I would normally do it. Perhaps I've been wrong all these years. Then PING the bolt sheared.

I don't use it any more.

 

[Pale Rider]

I bought one. I read the instructions carefully, I set it to the right torque and proceeded to tighten my stem bolts. Hmmm, I thought, this is a lot tighter than I would normally do it. Perhaps I've been wrong all these years. Then PING the bolt sheared.

I don't use it any more.

A decent torque wrench is £60+, few people want to pay that which can result in sheared fixings.

Another problem is range, a quality torque wrench which reads low enough for the more delicate fixings won't read high enough for the gruntier ones. so you need two.

As regards use, the wrench should be set to its lowest setting after each use for storage.

Torquing in steps is also a good idea, do the fixing up a few NMs lower than needed, then adjust the wrench for the final nip-up.

Or do as I do and don't bother using one.

After all, it's only a bicycle, we are not fixing wings to jet liners.

 

[Globalti]

My son spent a week on school work experience at BAE Systems in Warton where they build the Euro-fighter. Sure enough, even the task of adding one small nut or bolt to that multi-million pound assembly needs to be carefully studied, considered and documented so during the week he was there he didn't actually see much work being done. OTOH he did learn a lot about male banter and the avoidance of work.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I have a habit of over tightening things, a torque wrench can save me grief.

 

[numbnuts]

I have a habit of over tightening things, a torque wrench can save me grief.

I hear an echo

 

[Jaykun85]

...echo