Torque Wrench advice please.

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Gez73

Veteran
Using a Jobsworth Torque wrench with setting just above 4nm. The bolt seemed very tight, far more than I would probably tighten by hand. The wrench was to my mind not clicking in any discernable way. Watched a video from PX and found no matching alert from my wrench. Is just above 4nm particularly tight for a novice user or have I not tightened enough? Seat stem collar by the way, recommended 4-5nm or 4.5nm, not sure so played it safe. Thanks. Gez
 

Vapin' Joe

Formerly known as Smokin Joe
Most people worry about over tightening seat post clamps with a hex key, not realising that 4Nm is a lot tighter than all but the most ham fisted gorillas will exceed. The first time I used a torque wrench I also thought there was something wrong with it as it seemed ages before it clicked on 5Nm.

I would say it is probably ok, but for peace of mind do what I did and find someone else with one to compare values.
 

autolycus

Über Member
I checked a setting on my torque wrench by clamping the business end in a vice and hanging a certain weight a certain distance along the shaft. I'm not sure if this is scientifically sound, but the wrench clicked pretty much bang on when i calculated it should.
 

Custom24

Über Member
I checked a setting on my torque wrench by clamping the business end in a vice and hanging a certain weight a certain distance along the shaft. I'm not sure if this is scientifically sound, but the wrench clicked pretty much bang on when i calculated it should.
That is scientifically sound as long as the vice doesn't budge and you allow for the torque of the wrench itself. I assumed with mine it was the weight of the wrench exerted at a point halfway along its length.
 

SpokeyDokey

68, & my GP says I will officially be old at 70!
Moderator
Using a Jobsworth Torque wrench with setting just above 4nm. The bolt seemed very tight, far more than I would probably tighten by hand. The wrench was to my mind not clicking in any discernable way. Watched a video from PX and found no matching alert from my wrench. Is just above 4nm particularly tight for a novice user or have I not tightened enough? Seat stem collar by the way, recommended 4-5nm or 4.5nm, not sure so played it safe. Thanks. Gez

Is it supposed to click?

Mine, which I purchased from Wiggle, doesn't click. When the dialled in torque is reached the head unit just twists slightly along the longitudinal axis of the wrench.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-es...|pcrid|67090793462|pkw||pmt||prd|5360671412uk
 
Using a Jobsworth Torque wrench with setting just above 4nm. The bolt seemed very tight, far more than I would probably tighten by hand. The wrench was to my mind not clicking in any discernable way. Watched a video from PX and found no matching alert from my wrench. Is just above 4nm particularly tight for a novice user or have I not tightened enough? Seat stem collar by the way, recommended 4-5nm or 4.5nm, not sure so played it safe. Thanks. Gez
Hi Gez, I've also got a Jobsworth from PX and have just tested it on my set stem collar and it seemed to work OK, although I would say it's not a very definite 'click', I guess it could be easy to miss. I actually notice a small 'kick' feeling in my hand more than hear the click .... perhaps try again but tighten very slowly and wait until you hear the click / feel a kick?
 
OP
OP
Gez73

Gez73

Veteran
Thanks for the responses, may have expected more of a 'kick' or click than actually occurs. Have tightened tonight and hopefully it is okay. Gez
 

Milkfloat

An Peanut

I have that exact same wrench and mine clicks. It is not as loud as my big torque wrenches, but it is certainly audible.
 

SpokeyDokey

68, & my GP says I will officially be old at 70!
Moderator
I have that exact same wrench and mine clicks. It is not as loud as my big torque wrenches, but it is certainly audible.

@Milkfloat

That's strange - mine is dead silent. No mention of a click in the instructions either - just mentions the head twisting when the required torque is reached.

Maybe I am going deaf. :laugh:
 

Vapin' Joe

Formerly known as Smokin Joe
As long as it slips when you reach the correct setting I would not worry. I have a large torque wrench that makes a loud click and a smaller cycle one that hardly clicks at all. It's a bit like Campag and Shimano freewheels, they are just different.
 

SpokeyDokey

68, & my GP says I will officially be old at 70!
Moderator
@Milkfloat

Non-clicking mystery solved!

Just been and tried mine. As an aside I hadn't realised both the wrenches linked above were exactly the same just with different names and prices - with Wiggle being far cheaper. I only paid £24 delivered.

I set it to 6Nm for my stem bolts and it does make a noise.

It's more of a soft 'clonk' than a loud 'click' when the little deflection is made at the required torque. Nothing like the noise on the video though.

I've used it maybe half a dozen times now and never noticed the 'clonk' - I am wondering that whilst concentrating for the deflection thing to happen I have switched off my ears.:laugh:

Whatever, it's a smashing little wrench for not many pennies.
 
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