Mountain Biking - Torque Wrench?

A lot of parts for bikes have torque specs on the bolts. Is there a torque wrench out there for allen screws? I have one for normal socket wrenches or is that what I'm supposed to use (have to buy the sockets with allen heads on them)?

I would just get the sockets with allen heads. There ARE torque allen keys but they are industrial and very expensive :)

I just use the sockets with allen keys with them. Actually, it's about the ONLY time I use those sockets, but I diligently use my torque wrench for tightening bottom brackets, crank bolts, and handlebars (Easton Carbon Monkey Lites). Everything else, I go by "Feel".

L8R

Elbow torque is my preference. :D

Anyway, I might consider getting a set of these allen sockets as well.

I've never seen a wrench like that, although some obscure custom tool company may well make them for mucho denaro. I sold tools at Sears for a while though, and we did have the allen head sockets with a lifetime warranty. I believe Husky (Home Depot) and Snap-On make them as well.

My elbow torque wrench broke a bone and now I just use a torque wrench, it's safer!

Rick

If you only get one torque wrench, I suggest getting a quality 1/4" drive inch-pound wrench. This will cover the majority of bike tightening specs and will still be small enough to work with. A reasonably priced foot-pound wrench will not dial down low enough to be useful for anything but crank bolts, stems, etc. You will be surprised how far off your "guesses" have been the first few times you use a torque wrench. I found that I was way over-tightening things, and after I started using one of these I have never broken off another bolt. I have a in-lb wrench that I bought from Harbor Freight and it works great. If you want the specs I will run out in the shop and look...

Originally posted by MikeOK
If you only get one torque wrench, I suggest getting a quality 1/4" drive inch-pound wrench. This will cover the majority of bike tightening specs and will still be small enough to work with. A reasonably priced foot-pound wrench will not dial down low enough to be useful for anything but crank bolts, stems, etc. You will be surprised how far off your "guesses" have been the first few times you use a torque wrench. I found that I was way over-tightening things, and after I started using one of these I have never broken off another bolt. I have a in-lb wrench that I bought from Harbor Freight and it works great. If you want the specs I will run out in the shop and look...

When you have the opportunity please supply specs (including cost and where to buy). thanks

I'm using a Craftsman 3/8" torque wrench. It goes down to small Nm, but I'm not sure how precise it gets in this range. It's still better than nothing. Those sockets are expensive! I only bought a T25 Torx for the discs and the rest I'm going by feel.

Originally posted by descartes
When you have the opportunity please supply specs (including cost and where to buy). thanks

My 1/4" drive came from Harbor Freight and is a Pittsburgh brand. Harbor Freight is an overstock/ off-brand (Taiwan-like) tool store chain. If I remember right it was around or under $50, which is about half the price of a Craftsman. It is scaled from 20 to 200 in-lbs, which is approximately 1.5 to 17 ft-lbs. It's also compact enough to get in tight places. I also have a Craftsman 1/2" drive torque wrench but I rarely use it. I have used this generic 1/4" drive wrench a lot more than the other more expensive one, and the quality is good enough, especially for the price.

Here's (http://www.harborfreight.com/) a link for Harbor Freight, it's a national chain and their prices are excellent.

I guess I'm old fashioned, but I like using the swing beam better than the click stop dial to adjust torque wrenches. When using them, I know that the internal adjustment is not out of whack. I know of a couple of instances that the internal spring was off a bit and there was no way to adjust it.
I use the craftsman 3/8" drive with inch-pound and nm scales on it. I think it costs around $20 or so.


Rick

Originally posted by RHNiles
I use the craftsman 3/8" drive with inch-pound and nm scales on it. I think it costs around $20 or so.

That Craftsman swing beam model is the same as the one Park Tool sells, and it's at Sears cheaper than dealer cost. I was less than pleased when I found that a week after getting a new Park for the shop.

I also have a swingbeam torque wrench, but I've phased that tool out.

If you have a 1/4 inch wrench then the next problem is connecting an Allen wrench. I use ordinary sockets and use short hexagon inserts from a set of drive bits. An alternative is to butcher a set of Allen keys (which can be bought cheaply) by grinding them into straight pieces which can be inserted into sockets.

However, I wouldn't have thought that using an Allen wrench by hand would exceed the specs, no more than using a spanner would damage nuts and studs. A ten mm spanner for example is quite short compared to a 19mm spanner.

Dude...geoff...8 months? He's prob. already bought a torque wrench (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2696)by now. Give it a rest

Dude...geoff...8 months? He's prob. already bought a torque wrench (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2696)by now. Give it a rest

Dude...chelboed...8 months? How about 5 years?

Shut up man...I've had a long day!

;)

I wasn't answering the original poster's query, just added some advice for anyone else finding the thread. Incidentally does anyone know how to adjust a quick release lever to a specified torque setting? Or even if it's possible?

I've never seen a wrench like that, although some obscure custom tool company may well make them for mucho denaro. I sold tools at Sears for a while though, and we did have the allen head sockets with a lifetime warranty. I believe Husky (Home Depot) and Snap-On make them as well.

snap On, Mac, Craftsman, etc do not make their own tools, they are made for them to their own specifications. Allen sockets are quite common sockets, all tool brands have them.