In praise of the torque wrench!

[Deleted member 1258]

I hear an echo

Not any more.

 

[winjim]

OhgodIreallyhopethatcrackingnoisewasjustthelacquer.

 

[steveindenmark]

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!

In nearly 60 years I have never owned one and never needed one. The repair you carried out could have been done without a torque wrench.

You dont NEED one. You just want one.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Quick question...

To all those that are adamant a torque wrench isnt needed - did you ever work for British Leyland?

 

[Jaykun85]

you can say that though about most things @steveindenmark you don't need a mobile phone really but people want them. I didn't need a apple watch but i ended up with one. only now i can tell the time as well as read my emails on a watch its like GET SMART technology has arrived .. just waiting for the shoe phone now

 

[PeteXXX]

My torque wrench cost me over a £1000 from Canyon...

Mind you,also included in the box, was a crackin' CX bike

 

[Jaykun85]

Au free bike.. you must have been surprised when it arrived with that @PeteXXX

 

[PeteXXX]

Indeed I was! Very useful it was too.

And the torque wrench..

 

[steveindenmark]

you can say that though about most things @steveindenmark you don't need a mobile phone really but people want them. I didn't need a apple watch but i ended up with one. only now i can tell the time as well as read my emails on a watch its like GET SMART technology has arrived .. just waiting for the shoe phone now

I dont have a mobile phone I dont need one.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

My torque wrench cost me over a £1000 from Canyon...

Mind you,also included in the box, was a crackin' CX bike

Beats packs of Harabo.

 

[F70100]

I've got a talk wench . Never shuts up when I've been away for a couple of days. All those words get stored up and just have to come out...

 

[snorri]

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

Nobbut death by swerving into the path of a juggernaut on your bike after the bolt securing the 'bars shears is just as serious for the individual as dying with 300 others when a Jumbo hits the dust..

 

[Pale Rider]

Nobbut death by swerving into the path of a juggernaut on your bike after the bolt securing the 'bars shears is just as serious for the individual as dying with 300 others when a Jumbo hits the dust..

Which is why most handlebar clamps are secured by four bolts.

The most safety critical fixing on a bike is the one that holds the wheels to the frame, and if it's a quick release, it is one of the least secure fixings imaginable.

The tightness for that is recommended by Shimano as 'so the the lever leaves an impression in your palm'.

Hardy scientific, but I don't see the roads littered with spun out bicycle wheels so it does the job well enough.

 

[snorri]

Which is why most handlebar clamps are secured by four bolts.

I didn't know that, none of my three bikes has four, food for thought.

 

[lazybloke]

The Leyland reference sparked memories for me. My Austin Princess very nearly went off the road a few days after I estimated 150 lbfoot on the hub nut. Scary experience!
It's unbelievable just how reliable modern cars are in comparison to what I had back in the day.