Norbar torque wrench

Dr M
Dr M Posts: 171
edited August 2008 in Workshop
Need a torque wrench for my carbon fibre frame, whats the Norbar one like. I'm mainly wanting to know what the scale setting is like.

I have a cheapo one at the moment with a vertical line and numbers on the shaft, and then more numbers on the ring, and none of the numbers line up correctly like they should in the instructions so i'm not sure if i'm setting it correctly. I'm hoping the norbar one should be better made and more accurate. It looks like the scale is just a linear ne with no numbers on the ring, is this correct?

Thinking of either of these:
http://www.norbar.com/Products/tabid/54 ... fault.aspx
http://www.norbar.com/Products/tabid/54 ... fault.aspx

probably the 1-20nm one asit should do everything on a bike.

Comments

  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    Unfortunately the range of torque specified for bike fastners is quite wide, and you need fine control in the 0-10 Nm range, with the ability to go to around 50-60 Nm at the top end. This effectively means two torque wrenches.
  • Dr M
    Dr M Posts: 171
    ah well i forgot to mention i already have 2 higher range ones for my motorbike, so am just after one for the stem / seatpost and various other lings like gear / brake clamps on the mountain bike
  • st199ml
    st199ml Posts: 63
    I have the Norbar wrenches.

    I was taught using them so it made sense to me to buy. They are expensive but supremely lovely to use and highly accurate (I am led to believe).

    Yes scale is linear.

    But you might find you need above 1-20nm for quite a few jobs, not least BBs, etc.
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    I've got the Norbar 4-20nm which covers all jobs except the crank installation (Campag UT needs 50nm). Very easy to use and it comes with a calibration certificate, so you know it's spot on. I can't see the point of buying one without
  • djaeggi
    djaeggi Posts: 107
    I have one of these for the 2-24Nm range:

    http://www.pvrdirect.co.uk/productinfo. ... ef=STW1012

    Nothing fancy but well made and functional - same accuracy as the Norbar for about half the price when I last looked.

    The adjustment mechanism on any of these micrometer style wrenches is the same and are not hard to use - you just need to add the number on the ring to the first "covered" number on the shaft.

    Dan
  • Dr M
    Dr M Posts: 171
    djaeggi wrote:
    I have one of these for the 2-24Nm range:



    The adjustment mechanism on any of these micrometer style wrenches is the same and are not hard to use - you just need to add the number on the ring to the first "covered" number on the shaft.

    Dan

    yeah thats what the instructions for mine said, but it seemed to be seriously overtightening as some small allen heads were rounding off when i used it on my old bike and motorbike. Hence the decision to get a more accurate one for the carbon fibre stuff. Might have just been crappy bolt heads, but it did seem to be tightening a *lot* before any click
  • djaeggi
    djaeggi Posts: 107
    Dr M wrote:
    yeah thats what the instructions for mine said, but it seemed to be seriously overtightening as some small allen heads were rounding off when i used it on my old bike and motorbike. Hence the decision to get a more accurate one for the carbon fibre stuff. Might have just been crappy bolt heads, but it did seem to be tightening a *lot* before any click

    In which case the issue is the accuracy/calibration of the wrench, not the adjustment mechanism :-) Look for a wrench with a calibration certificate - +/-4% is typical for these wrenches and both the Sealey and the Norbar meet this.

    Again, you can broadly test the accuracy of the wrench by hanging weights off the end, sounds like your old one is well off!

    Dan
  • allezscotia
    allezscotia Posts: 278
    djaeggi wrote:
    I have one of these for the 2-24Nm range:

    http://www.pvrdirect.co.uk/productinfo. ... ef=STW1012

    Nothing fancy but well made and functional - same accuracy as the Norbar for about half the price when I last looked.

    The adjustment mechanism on any of these micrometer style wrenches is the same and are not hard to use - you just need to add the number on the ring to the first "covered" number on the shaft.

    Dan


    Could you tell me if this would fit in a 9 inch toolbox? If not could you give me an idea of the length please?
  • AcademicX
    AcademicX Posts: 152
    allezscotia wrote:
    Could you tell me if this would fit in a 9 inch toolbox? If not could you give me an idea of the length please?

    # Model No: STW1012
    # Drive: 3/8Sq
    # Length: 275mm
    # Torque Range: 2-24Nm
    # 1.47-17.70lb.ft
  • allezscotia
    allezscotia Posts: 278
    AcademicX wrote:
    allezscotia wrote:
    Could you tell me if this would fit in a 9 inch toolbox? If not could you give me an idea of the length please?

    # Model No: STW1012
    # Drive: 3/8Sq
    # Length: 275mm
    # Torque Range: 2-24Nm
    # 1.47-17.70lb.ft

    Ahh completely missed that must be needing glasses thanks :oops:
  • normanp
    normanp Posts: 279
    The Norbar 2-20 is great for most jobs. You do need a 2nd wrench for higher torques - I regret not buying one that can toque in both directions (for one pedal and one side of the BB shell)... You will need some allen key ends and sockets - I have some chunky ones that fit a 12mm socket for the Norbar.

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