torque key required for 6nm

Cymru Boy

Basically my Stem and a few other parts of my Scultura 904 Carbon have a torque recomendation of 6nm. I recently turned my stem round on the advice of my LBS as I was getting pain in my shoulders.

Anyhow, I have re tightened the stem bolts but havent a clue if they are tight enough or too tight as I did it by feel. As such I have been looking for a torque key that does up to 6nm. The only one I can find is this one which is made by Giant. However for some reason they only seem to be avalable in the US?!

So I am wondering
1) is there an alternative that I can get from here in the UK?
2) Ritchey do one identical but it is only rated to 5nm, will this make a difference in the real world?

I know I could buy a mini torque wrench but these range from £35-£150 and as most of the servicable bits on my bike are rated at 6nm I only really need a torqkey?

thanks in advance for any advice

DKay

I use a Ritchey Torque Key and find that 5nm is plenty. Especially if you use assembly paste too.

Pickled Pig

Buy a 1m length of http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16MM-OD-X-10MM-ID-3MM-WALL-CDS-STEEL-TUBE-X-400-MM-/321143635416?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item4ac5a6fdd8( or similar)

Slip it over the end of a hex key

Hang a 6kg weight ( 3 x 2l bottles of White Lightning in a Netto bag) on the end when horizontal

Tada - you have 6nm of torque, more accurate than any tool you will buy for £35

Cymru Boy

Basically my Stem and a few other parts of my Scultura 904 Carbon have a torque recomendation of 6nm. I recently turned my stem round on the advice of my LBS as I was getting pain in my shoulders.

Anyhow, I have re tightened the stem bolts but havent a clue if they are tight enough or too tight as I did it by feel. As such I have been looking for a torque key that does up to 6nm. The only one I can find is this one which is made by Giant. However for some reason they only seem to be avalable in the US?!

So I am wondering
1) is there an alternative that I can get from here in the UK?
2) Ritchey do one identical but it is only rated to 5nm, will this make a difference in the real world?

I know I could buy a mini torque wrench but these range from £35-£150 and as most of the servicable bits on my bike are rated at 6nm I only really need a torqkey?

thanks in advance for any advice

ben-----

One option:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_242558

imposter2.0

Pickled Pig wrote:

Buy a 1m length of http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16MM-OD-X-10MM-ID-3MM-WALL-CDS-STEEL-TUBE-X-400-MM-/321143635416?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item4ac5a6fdd8( or similar)

Slip it over the end of a hex key

Hang a 6kg weight ( 3 x 2l bottles of White Lightning in a Netto bag) on the end when horizontal

Tada - you have 6nm of torque, more accurate than any tool you will buy for £35

I'm crap at maths, but I can't help thinking that's not quite right. Surely hanging 6kg off a 1m bar will give you a lot more than 6nm....

In fact, going by my (probably wrong) calculations, that would give you more like 17nm...?

englander

I've just ordered the Ritchey 5Nm tool from Wiggle for £16 - how does this Topeak one compare? It's cheaper and does a range of torques... tempted to cancel the Ritchey order and go for this one instead.

desweller

Pickled Pig wrote:

Buy a 1m length of http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16MM-OD-X-10MM-ID-3MM-WALL-CDS-STEEL-TUBE-X-400-MM-/321143635416?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item4ac5a6fdd8( or similar)

Slip it over the end of a hex key

Hang a 6kg weight ( 3 x 2l bottles of White Lightning in a Netto bag) on the end when horizontal

Tada - you have 6nm of torque, more accurate than any tool you will buy for £35

You need to go and check your GCSE physics mate.

Anonymous

I would have though 6nm is the maximum, not the recommended.
Cannot see anything is going to fail if you tighten to 5nm, and just do a smudge more with an allen key if you feel the need.

Anonymous

DesWeller wrote:

You need to go and check your GCSE physics mate.

I think he should be more worried about owning three 2 litre bottles of White Lightning :shock:

lawrences

Pickled Pig wrote:

Buy a 1m length of http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16MM-OD-X-10MM-ID-3MM-WALL-CDS-STEEL-TUBE-X-400-MM-/321143635416?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item4ac5a6fdd8( or similar)

Slip it over the end of a hex key

Hang a 6kg weight ( 3 x 2l bottles of White Lightning in a Netto bag) on the end when horizontal

Tada - you have 6nm of torque, more accurate than any tool you will buy for £35

What a beautifully effective way to overtorque your stem to roughly 10x the recommended.

The same plan but using 600grams would work but you must factor in the weight of 1m of steel bar centered at 50cm from the axis and by this point you mareswell have just hand tightened it because that's all it needs, and you won't over torque it if you don't go crazy.

crankycrank

Ebay has several T-Handle choices here. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw= ... h&_sacat=0 Check out the Topeak version halfway down the page. Adjustable torque and various bits included.

desweller

Carbonator wrote:

DesWeller wrote:

You need to go and check your GCSE physics mate.

I think he should be more worried about owning three 2 litre bottles of White Lightning :shock:

Hey, that was the tipple of choice when I was a teenager and it never did me any harm.

Anyway, got to get back under the bridge - these billy goats ain't gonna scare themselves...

cycleclinic

The 1m bar by it self would apply a torque of more than 6 nm really bad idea. Torque keys are not very accurate. Tthere is no subsitute for à good quality torque wrench I use the park small clicker and the var one I now have.

ugo.santalucia

thecycleclinic wrote:

Tthere is no subsitute for à good quality torque wrench I use the park small clicker and the var one I now have.

Agree... torque wrenches are precision tools, people want to spend 20 quid for a torque wrench... you can't! A good torque wrench reliably calibrated has to cost money, like all quality tools do cost money