tools bike torque wrenches

swod1

I've recently bought some new forks for my bike and want to make sure the stem and starnut bolts are tigthened correctly when i fit them, so i've been looking at bike torque wrenches.

I've seen them on the various bike shops and superstar have one for £40, with park tools costing a lot more.

Does anyone have the superstar one or can they recommend another one with all the bits for allen key bolts etc.

I was looking at the superstar one as i'm buying some new disc brake pads so i thought, i would buy it at the same time.

thanks

Chunkers1980

Sfns are done by feel not torque.

Learn to feel, I really wouldn't bother.

cooldad

Chunkers1980 wrote:

Sfns are done by feel not torque.

Learn to feel, I really wouldn't bother.

This

poah

I've got a

Sealey 3/8-inch sq 2-24nm/1.47-17.70lb.ft Torque Wrench Micrometer Style Drive

from amazon £30 use it frequently and happy that bolts are not under/over tightened

stubs

The Superstar wrench is good a mate has one. I have a Norbar wrench that is about 3 times the cost and feels nicer in the hand but thats about the only difference.

swod1

Chunkers1980 wrote:

Sfns are done by feel not torque.
Learn to feel, I really wouldn't bother.

cooldad wrote:

Chunkers1980 wrote:

Sfns are done by feel not torque.

Learn to feel, I really wouldn't bother.

This

Interesting post there, so how do you know they are done up tight enough ?

I thought you had to use one with the marking on the bolts and stem saying what nm range to use.

nicklouse

i would start by reading parktools and understand what does what.

I thought you had to use one with the marking on the bolts and stem saying what nm range to use.

not SFNs.

Kowalski675

I have a Teng 5-25 Nm (purchased long before I ever had a mountain bike), which is a good quality bit of kit, for sensible money.

cooldad

The topcap bolt is to preload the bearings - there is no torque setting.
As for the rest, by hand works fine.

thelonegroover

I have a Sealey torque wrench. I used to take time to set it up and use it. I soon get a feel for how tight 5nm or 25nm is. The danger is, setting it at the wrong torque ! Not that I ever did that, but I can imagine someone doing up a 25nm bolt, forgetting to reset it and then doing a 5nm bolt!

swod1

cooldad wrote:

The topcap bolt is to preload the bearings - there is no torque setting.
As for the rest, by hand works fine.

I have done the stem bolts up by hand before and they didn't come lose, i just thought it might have been wise to buy one so i know the bolts were tight enough.

Great, more money for some new grips and brake pads

The Rookie

So are you talking the SFN bolt or the stem bolts? The top bolt is to preload the bearings and should be done up tight enough for that, there is no torque setting, once that preload is applied the stem boolts are done up to lock the stem to steerer to maintain that preload.

97th choice

swod1 wrote:

I've recently bought some new forks for my bike and want to make sure the stem and starnut bolts are tigthened correctly when i fit them, so i've been looking at bike torque wrenches.

I've seen them on the various bike shops and superstar have one for £40, with park tools costing a lot more.

Does anyone have the superstar one or can they recommend another one with all the bits for allen key bolts etc.

I was looking at the superstar one as i'm buying some new disc brake pads so i thought, i would buy it at the same time.

thanks

I have the superstar one, and whilst good I don't actually use it, as probably like most people I just end up using an allen key and do it by feel.

Happy to do a deal on it, PM me if interested.

Kowalski675

Thelonegroover wrote:

I have a Sealey torque wrench. I used to take time to set it up and use it. I soon get a feel for how tight 5nm or 25nm is. The danger is, setting it at the wrong torque ! Not that I ever did that, but I can imagine someone doing up a 25nm bolt, forgetting to reset it and then doing a 5nm bolt!

You should always reset a torque wrench to zero after using it anyway (unless you want to bugger up the calibration), so if you're using it properly there's no chance of using it set wrongly. If you use one regularly you automatically reset it to zero after each use out of habit.