Carbon Bars

Foll Zofalot
Foll Zofalot Posts: 204
edited March 2009 in MTB workshop & tech
Hey,
Just taken delivery of a pair of Easton MonkeyLite Handlebars :D Reading the destructions it says I need to use 'Easton Friction Paste' and 'Torgue' the stem bolts.
Question is should I buy some Carbon Paste and do I REALLY need a torque wrench? I would hate to wreck them but don't want to waste any dosh unnecessarily. Cheers :)
White Beastie
The Treks
Moi

Comments

  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 3,983
    I've got monkey lite bars and didn't use the friction paste. I did however use a torque wrench to tighten the face plate and controls. You can do it by hand just don't over tighten.

    I've also got an Eastern stem. Main thing is to makesure there are no sharp edges on the stem as they will cut into the bars forming a weak point.

    A torque wrench is a useful biking tool so worth buying anyway.
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • adb1006
    adb1006 Posts: 938
    Invest in one of these bad-boys http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/112117.html

    They're brilliant - my mate bought one for his carbon bars and it's a great piece of kit. It's set to 5nm which is what's recommended for stems and controls going on to carbon bars.
    Rock Lobster Team Tig SL Custom
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Yep, you can get by without a torque wrench if you know what you're doing, but you tend to learn how to do it by doing it wrong and breaking stuff ;) They're good tools to have, mtbs have lots of weenie little bolts and crush areas so it's very easy to mess up. If you do get one, make sure it's built for low torque- lots of torque wrenches say, frinstance, "10-70nm" but they're mostly quite inaccurate at the ends of the range, it's far better to get one built for the low torques MTBs actually use.
    Uncompromising extremist

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