Mountain Biking - torque wrenches

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geminus1982
05-21-07, 11:46 AM
I am about to attach these new speedplay frog pedals to my bike and it calls for a certain amount of torque while tightening the pedals...I have a normal torque wrench like one would use for spark plugs on a car bit how do I measure torque when I can only use an open end 15mm wrench...how does one measure the torque? are there special torque wrenches for bikes?
misterC
05-21-07, 12:04 PM
If it takes an allen wrench in the back of the spindle use an allen socket. Just be careful, the torque setting of the pedals may be in inch pounds, not foot pounds that your torque wrench is.
Honestly, just tighten until snug with a regular 15mm wrench. Ever notice that a 10mm wrench is shorter than a 15mm wrench? Thats to limit the amount of torque you can put on smaller bolts.
I agree with misterC. There is a way to do it with a torque wrench, though: you'll need a 15mm crowsfoot. The drawback is that 1) most crowsfoot wrenches are not narrow enough for pedals; 2) the torque reading will not be completely accurate.
Honestly, just tighten until snug with a regular 15mm wrench.
+1. Just snug it - need not be gorilla tight. Also, place some grease on the threads for easier removal. I also crack and retighten those threades a few times a year, just to keep that joint from freezing. I've had one or two pedals that were a b*tch to get off.
_beaver_
05-22-07, 03:56 AM
I am about to attach these new speedplay frog pedals to my bike and it calls for a certain amount of torque while tightening the pedals...I have a normal torque wrench like one would use for spark plugs on a car bit how do I measure torque when I can only use an open end 15mm wrench...how does one measure the torque? are there special torque wrenches for bikes?
Just grease the threads & tighten them with a regular open end. you don't need to gorilla wrenchem.
_beaver_
05-22-07, 04:02 AM
the torque reading will not be completely accurate.
Yes be extremely careful to get a correct 100% reading with zero loss or else you risk death & injury when the threads fall out from an incorrect poundage reading.
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