Torque wrench, do most people use them.

[rollinstok]

I had a few misgivings about using an allen key to refit my stem on a new carbon steerer
I decided to use some medium grade threadlock on the stem bolts and after taking up the slack, just alternated each bolt with a quarter turn until the stem was secure..then a final quarter turn to tighten
A torque wrench would have been ideal but for a decent one that I could trust, and with a torque range suitable for bikes, they dont come cheap

 

[compo]

A torque wrench would have been ideal but for a decent one that I could trust, and with a torque range suitable for bikes, they dont come cheap

A very relevant comment. Most of the cheaper wrenches are not that accurate, but then at high torques they don't need to be. Mine came from work where it was regularly callibrated for the precision work we did. It's ranges are ideal for a bike. I also have a larger Norbar wrench for car or heavier jobs.

 

[Terry Kay]

I've got a couple of Clarke torque wrenches for the car but don't use them on the bike.. Hand tight with a multitool has done me so far..

 

[bicyclos]

I don't think you have to grit your teeth when tightening anything on a bike as most fixings are quite small and delicate especially threaded aluminium and the like. Steel items are more robust but I suppose common sense prevails. Don't bother with a torque wrench for the bike. Car and motorbike I do on certain parts.

 

[Hacienda71]

I bought one when I assembled my carbon bike. Having not built up a carbon frame before I was a tad paranoid about overtightening. Before that always used my own judgement.

 

[fossyant]

My own feel tbh. I had high end kit from a youngster, my own money. Shimano 600/ultegra from 16, and a hand built bike with dura ace from 20. I still have most of the ultegra bike, but all of the DA bike now. I only use small allen keys to adjust. No wrench monkey stuff.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

...or adjust it down a bit in winter (thicker tights)...

If I wore something so thick it affected my saddle height, I'm sure it would affect my ability to move my legs freely.

 

[vernon]

Tighten bolts until they shear then back them off an eighth of a turn.

 

[HLaB]

I use a mixture of both, I prefer the ratchet in the torque wrench for loosening tight bolts and when its there I might as well use it. If allen keys are more immediately to hand I sometimes use them. Sometimes because it is there though, it just remove the niggling doubt in the back of the mind. I dare say if though, I didn't have a torque wrench I could live without it even on carbon.

 

[slowmotion]

I'm faintly engineery in my work so I have a vague feel for what's OK. I still bought a torque wrench as a toy for my bike though...

.....I love the click.

 

[ultraviolet]

i normaly read what it says on say a stem [5Nm] and tighten the bolt with a allen key accordingly. i know alot of people read what its says and set there torque wench to that number; remember this is the max for that part

 

[Globalti]

I use a torque wrench sometimes but mostly I just go on my feel for the elasticity of the material. This is difficult when tightening a seatpost clamp on a carbon frame though.

 

[rb58]

Torque wrench for me. Once had the bars sheer on me on a ride due to over tightening. Won't make that mistake again....

 

[Smurfy]

It's best not to use a wrench or allen key to tighten threaded fasteners. Both of these tool designs have only one handle and so the force is applied asymmetrically. Far better to use a 'T' shaped wrench/driver, although I've never seen a torque wrench in that format.

I use one of these to avoid the asymmetry of allen keys and other wrenches that have only one handle.

 

[slowmotion]

If there are multiple fasteners, you absolutely must tighten progressively and either in turn or by opposites.