Talking about Torque

McBain_v1

My new Dura-Ace group set all seems to have the torque settings marked on it (discreetly). The only problem is that I don't have a torque wrench. I know that there are some who decry their use, and others that are evangelical about their use.

If I was to get one - and it does seem a good idea in my humble view - can anyone make any recommendations? The prices (and torque ranges) seem to vary enormously. A look at www.toolbank.com reveals a bewildering array of models and prices. Do I really need to pay £95+ for the wrench and then extra for the hex keys :?:

Some of you professional bike fettlers out there must have a view :?

Monty Dog

No, you don't need to buy the most expensive one and some online dealers are often cheaper than places like Halfords and tool shops. If you haven't had enough mechanical assembly experience to have 'calibrated' your wrist, then look at in terms of how much a stripped bolt on a crank or stem would cost - probably a lot more than the cost of a torque wrench. For bikes, you only really need one that goes up to 20Nm - for delicate parts like stems and clamps. For high torque parts like cassette lockrings and BB's a firm shove will do. Also worth investing in a wrench handle to go with the hex bits - makes working on the bike easier and less likely to round the heads than with old, worn allen keys. I have the Norbar 4-20Nm with 3/8" drive - which I've also used in a professional capacity. Halfords do a decent 3/8" drive hex bit set for about a tenner

campagsarge

I started a similar topic on this McBain and found a cycling specfic Torque wrench from BB. You can get this from Parker-International amongst other places for about £50. Not sure on the quality though.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12543614

McBain_v1

Thanks for that Campagsarge, it just goes to show that it's good to talk / torque!

I'll give the BBB wrench a look over. I like the idea of the keys being included. The Britool one from toolbank express certainly looked the part but for the money I could buy two BBB wrenches :shock:

campagsarge

No worries. Yep, torque wrenches are not cheap! I have yet to buy one but will probably do so in time. If you have a punt, let me know what you think of it.

Cheers.

maddog 2

The Halfords ones are good. I paid £50. Only use it for crank bolts though. Everything else by feel.

nferrar

The Park ones get my vote. I'd start by getting the the lower torque version http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=8071 which is accurate for the little stuff (where you can easily do damage with not too much force if just guessing) and then think about getting the 'bigger' version http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=8072 which you'd use for stuff like bb, headset, cranks etc. Don't just buy the big one thinking it says 0-600 (as opposed to 0-60 for the little one) so it should do the job of the other little one to, it's not accurate enough to do stuff much under 100 inch pounds.

Aravis

I made a simlar enquiry on this forum about a month ago. A net search on e-bay (Buy Now) showed wrenches available for prices ranging from £10 -£200. I paid £20 and it was fine.