Which Torque Wrench?

[Fattman]

Hi All,

I am determined to get me a torque wrench to lovingly tender to my nice new CF bike. Does anyone have any opinions on which one to get?

I have reviewed this recent thread though that is more about the pros/cons of having them, and I am past that point now. One poster mentions a Britool wrench.

So, any advice on what to look out for or recommendations would be most welcome.

Cheers!

Matt

 

[e-rider]

if you want one for low torques that isn't going to cause damage and is totally reliable you'll have to spend big - £200.

The cheap ones are useless at low torques for bike components and often apply way too much force even when they've been set correctly.

IMO it's safer not to use one - just use common sense and be careful when tightening stuff

 

[jimboalee]

if you want one for low torques that isn't going to cause damage and is totally reliable you'll have to spend big - £200.

The cheap ones are useless at low torques for bike components and often apply way too much force even when they've been set correctly.

IMO it's safer not to use one - just use common sense and be careful when tightening stuff

I got blasted for saying this. Non Engineering types have sod all idea of nut/bolt tensile strengths. And sod all idea of how much difference a blob of grease makes.

 

[jimboalee]

When I started my engineering career, we were given M5, M8 and M12 nuts and bolts. We were given pieces of steel with the appropriate holes in them and a set of spanners.

We were told to snap the bolts.

 

[trj977]

Britool had a very good reputation in the past. This may well be the same today but I am no longer in the know as they say.

 

[HJ]

I use this one...

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Big bolts (not on bikes!), tighten till elbow clicks

Little bolts, tighten until little finger clicks

Nature's torque wrench

Seriously, I agree with the note above about the budget ones which are fine for M12 and upwards bolts, and I've successfully installed a cylinder head with a Draper needle-type torque wrench without problems, but the accuracy on M5 bolts and the like is way off (given that a small degree of tolerance on a large bolt is a small %age, but the same degree of tolerance on a smaller bolt is a much larger %age)

 

[Doug.]

Hello.
If I may offer an opinion...make sure that the torque settings start at a low enough value..i.e. from about 4N.M. and upwards. to approx. 25 .
It is unlikely that the average car Torque spanner will be much good to you .
They often go from 0 straight up to (starting) at 20 N.M. and above ,so nothing below this torque (20) can be applied.
The last one I bought was from the e.bay and it has proven accurate.
The price was a most reasonable ? less than £20 .
Good luck.
Doug.

 

[Doug.]

The Torque spanner "H3" uses looks highly suitable (Above)
Yours
Doug.

 

[Doug.]

Re. above.
Pardon.
Having put on my spec's I can see it's H.J. and not H.3.
Doug.

 

[henshaw11]

You can get a decent one without spending 200 quid.
The norbar SL0 does 1-20Nm (bear in mind there's also a 4-20 Nm version, I think I've found some fasteners needing 2.5Nm) and is just over 80 quid mark.
More money may get you more precision/accuracy, but the Norbar's close enough, and a *lot* nearer than fingers and guesswork.
I only bought mine after about 20+ years of bike fettling, but having a little concern over getting some small bolts torqued correctly, since they were relatively low torque into a section of frame. Now I've got a recumbent it's handy to check the seat fastener torques, since it's fibreglass.

Having checked assorted other fasteners I suspect I tend to under-torque them, tho' don't recall anything ever coming undone. The one thing I *have* managed to strip in recent years was the inside of a hex bolt on a hope master cylinder cap - I'd not pushed the allen key home far enough. Interestingly they now ship them with torx bolts...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

sealey do decent ones e.g. STW1012 for a lot less than £200. I have a 2Nm - 20+ Nm for general bike fasteners (3/8" drive) and a longer, higher torque, and ironically cheaper one, for cranks and things.

 

[youngoldbloke]

sealey do decent ones e.g. STW1012 for a lot less than £200. I have a 2Nm - 20+ Nm for general bike fasteners (3/8" drive) and a longer, higher torque, and ironically cheaper one, for cranks and things.

Here is a post from early 2009:

Recently, after considerable searching/research, I finally bought two torque wrenches from PVR Direct, both Sealey, and both with calibration certificates. A STW1012, 2-24 Nm, and an AK623, 27.1 -108.5 Nm. Also Sealey S0533 Hex Bit & Holder set, and a couple of adaptors/sockets. All for about £60. I am no expert but I think they are pretty good - as I said I did a lot of research, and was looking for certificated kit - and they were discounted by more than 50% when I bought them. Best prices around at the time. Also relatively difficult to find 'light' torque wrenches anyway. The S0533 Hex bit and holder set is really worth having.

- still well priced - see PVR tools

 

[Fattman]

Hey everyone,

Many thanks for all your input and helpful comments!

Sealey STW1012 it is!

All the best,

Matt