Fitting new carbon bar & stem

Big dave 3
Big dave 3 Posts: 304
edited July 2009 in MTB workshop & tech
I have finally got a new Ritchey WCS 4-axis stem (non carbon)

http://www.ritcheylogic.com/dyn_prodfamily.php?k=98296

& WCS carbon low riser bar

http://www.ritcheylogic.com/dyn_prodfamily.php?k=98022.

Is there anything I need to know when fitting the stem? Do I need to do anything like adjust the headset or is it just a case of undoing the old stem bolts & sliding old stem off & then fit new one?

ALso do I really need to buy a torque key & use the Ritchey liquid torque grease stuff?

How hard can it be estimate 5Nm torque?
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Marin Team HT (customiosed commuter)

Boardman Team HT (customised commuter)

Giant Defy 1 2014.

Ribble Sportive Azzurro

Comments

  • solarflash
    solarflash Posts: 102
    I'd also like to know if it's easy enough to gauge torque for a carbon bar without a torque wrench. I recently bought a sunline v1, it doesn't come with any guidelines for fitting or torque suggestions.
  • pdid
    pdid Posts: 1,065
    Yoy need to adjust the headset so that it`s tight but not overtight as to crush the bearings, follow Park Tools guide.

    I bought a torque wrench but didn`t bother with the paste.

    If you`ve used torque wrenches in the past and have some experience of setting to certain torques then it may be possible to estimate.

    If you have no experience of torques then it`s pretty impossible to estimate, not tightening enough can be as dangerous as over tightening.

    The recommended torque settings will be with the stem rather than the bars.
    Commie Meta 5
    Rock Lobster
  • Zaskar20
    Zaskar20 Posts: 557
    I've just purchased the sunline v1 carbon bars together with a Hope DH stem.

    Do I tighten to the torque settings recommended by Hope regardless of material of bars or do I use a couple of Nm less for the carbon?
    Same question for the shifter/brake/grip clamps.
  • pdid
    pdid Posts: 1,065
    Zaskar20 wrote:
    I've just purchased the sunline v1 carbon bars together with a Hope DH stem.

    Do I tighten to the torque settings recommended by Hope regardless of material of bars or do I use a couple of Nm less for the carbon?
    Same question for the shifter/brake/grip clamps.

    Same
    Commie Meta 5
    Rock Lobster
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    5 or 6 Nm should be fine for everything on the bars. Given a Ritchey torq key is so cheap you'd be a fool not to buy one IMO (I have a normal adjustable torque wrench to but the Ritchey one is great for checking bolts). Hard to describe the tightness really, probably about as tight as you can comfortably get it using the short end of an allen key. Carbon paste is good to, gives you a bit more confidence things aren't going to start slipping when using low torques

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