[BKQuill]

How many here actually follow the manufacture's recommendation and torque all the bolts to spec?

I asked because this is the first DH bike that I'm building from the ground up, I've always had "out-of-the-box" bikes before. Any upgrades that I made I just tightened until it was tight, for this build I was thinking if I should be a little more precise and anal about it and go and buy a torque wrench for the build.

Out,
Brian

 

[Biffff]

I've never torqued any bolts, just used feel........... We were talking about it at my LBS the other day and I think I'm going to get a torque wrench. I'm anal with everything else so I may as well be anal with torquing bolts.

 

[IH8Rice]

i always torque every bolt that is needed. it might be tedious, but it really doesnt take that long to take a torque wrench to the bolts before every ride and after a ride.

tightening till its tight might be too tight per manufacturers recommendations.

 

[jonKranked]

There are certain things I'll follow torque spec on (crown pinch bolts, stem bolts, stuff for internals of shocks), but some stuff I just go till I think it's good - rotor bolts, stuff like that.


But I can definitely say that a torque wrench is a good investment.

 

[BKQuill]

Thanks, kind of was my thought as well. Any rec's on a torque wrench to get? 3/8" drive, 1/4" drive? The kind with the pointer "thingie", or the clicker or a digital?

I know I read a thread on here about wrenches, but it just came to me just now and I have already type this much.

 

[jonKranked]

go with a 3/8" drive and pick up a set of allen sockets. Mine is a craftsman so its a clicker model.

 

[*Pepe*]

There are certain things I'll follow torque spec on (crown pinch bolts, stem bolts, stuff for internals of shocks), but some stuff I just go till I think it's good - rotor bolts, stuff like that.


But I can definitely say that a torque wrench is a good investment.

this...

after i first started using my torque wrench i was amazed how much i was generally over-tightening the bolts on my bike. while i still geek out with the torque wrench where and when it makes sense (to me), if i don't have one kicking around or i'm in a rush, i at least have a better sense of how tight things need to be.

 

[Capricorn]

if you actually design mechanical devices, you get a good appreciation for how long it can. Designers pass this know-how onto to the lay person by prescribing a set of rules to follow when using the item. He made the complicated simple by giving you just a number. Get a torque wrench, listen to the designer. Have fun. For a long time.

 

[FullMonty]

I find the click type most convenient. I actually use a 1/4" drive park model at work primarily. I think it maxes around 15Nm, which covers pretty much everything you might need on a bike. fork crowns, axle clamps, stems, shimano/fsa cranks, suspension guts all get a clickin'... they either keep your face or junk intact, or are really expensive to crack a casting on.

 

[IH8Rice]

1/4" drives for bikes really are generally useless since they dont go up that high. a 3/8" is the best except for some pivot bolts that are generally higher than most 3/8"s go.
clicker torque wrenches are a lot more durable than a torsion bar

 

[BKQuill]

a torsion bar

For the life of me, I couldn't come up with torsion bar trying describe that model. Thanks for the input guys, looks like I'm getting a 3/8" torque from my Snap-On neighbor.

 

[IH8Rice]

For the life of me, I couldn't come up with torsion bar trying describe that model. Thanks for the input guys, looks like I'm getting a 3/8" torque from my Snap-On neighbor.

pointer thingy is also another acceptable name

snap on stuff is nice, a bit pricey even if your neighbor is a salesman. i cant find any under $230 on their site! thats a lot

craftsman stuff is great and cheap
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10153_12605?keyword=torque+wrench&x=0&y=0&vName=

 

[BKQuill]

$230!!! Whoa, didn't realize the Snap-On's were that much. I'll have talk the neighbor and see what he can sell it to me for. I have no problem with Craftman, about 95% of my hand tools are Craftsman.

Damn Rice, I just checked out that link you sent, and for $70, I'm getting a Craftsman.

Let me you ask something else then, I see a few choices, some with in/lbs some with ft/lbs, and just several different choices. Is there one you prefer or recommend over another? I don't mean to be a pain in the arse.

 

[joelsman]

the difference between ft/lb and in/lb is just size, in. being smaller and for smaller torque values.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

$230!!! Whoa, didn't realize the Snap-On's were that much. I'll have talk the neighbor and see what he can sell it to me for. I have no problem with Craftman, about 95% of my hand tools are Craftsman.

Damn Rice, I just checked out that link you sent, and for $70, I'm getting a Craftsman.

Let me you ask something else then, I see a few choices, some with in/lbs some with ft/lbs, and just several different choices. Is there one you prefer or recommend over another? I don't mean to be a pain in the arse.

Snap-On tools are super nice and stupidly expensive.

 

[sanjuro]

With aluminum parts, I eschew the torque wrench. I seem to tighten parts fine.

Anything with small bolt heads or carbon, I bring out the wrench.

 

[IH8Rice]

$230!!! Whoa, didn't realize the Snap-On's were that much. I'll have talk the neighbor and see what he can sell it to me for. I have no problem with Craftman, about 95% of my hand tools are Craftsman.

Damn Rice, I just checked out that link you sent, and for $70, I'm getting a Craftsman.

Let me you ask something else then, I see a few choices, some with in/lbs some with ft/lbs, and just several different choices. Is there one you prefer or recommend over another? I don't mean to be a pain in the arse.

if you look at most ratings for your parts, they are in in/lbs. you can get a ft/lbs wrench, just divide it by 12 obviously but they usually dont go down to the low values bike parts need...except maybe for pivots

 

[johnbryanpeters]

0-200 inch-pounds is a good range.

 

[DirtyMike]

If I can fit a socket on it, I use a torque wrench

This is one of my favorites, but in all reality, you really should have two......

One for your Handlebar components, one for larger components
3/8's
http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=13&item=TW-6
1/4's
http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=13&item=TW-5


Oh and BTW, a 230 dollar TW from snap on.... thats a cheap one, some of the TW's you find on the tool trucks are 3 bills plus.....


My torque wrench I use at the auto shop ran me 335, goes from 30 foot pounts to 300..... Matco FTMFW over crap on anyday.