Bicycle Mechanics - torque wrench questions

How would you use a hex wrench with a torque wrench? Say on a stem bolt? Is there an adapter or something?

How would you use a hex wrench with a torque wrench? Say on a stem bolt? Is there an adapter or something?

Hex bit sockets are readily available (Sears, for example):

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Mechanics+Tools&pid=00942678000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Sockets&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

Once you use these with a socket handle, you'll find them much more friendly than loose hex keys.

if the Torque Wrench is a 1/4" you need a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter. Then you need hex sockets that are 3/8" drive and you can use them with any size of torque wrench needed for a bike.

I'm still trying to find a 1/4" drive set that doesn't cost the $54 that Sears wants. :(

I'm still trying to find a 1/4" drive set that doesn't cost the $54 that Sears wants. :(

go to the Auto parts store and buy a set of 3/8" and get a 1/4-3/8 adapter....less than $20

go to the Auto parts store and buy a set of 3/8" and get a 1/4-3/8 adapter....less than $20

Just be careful with some of the cheap tools, they're soft metal and round off and ruin the bolts. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy a $54 socket set then a $20 set and a $75 headset because you stripped the bolt out and had to replace the whole headset.

I'm using an adapter. It's a PITA. Always comes off with the socket.

+1 - don't use an adapter. Buy the right size wrench or bits.

On this note--which is more often usable, 3/8" or 1/2"? I'm going to get my first torque wrench, and I'm not really sure what I need.

I have 2 torque wrenches. 1/4" inch-pound (40-200) and 3/8" inch-pound (200-1000). A 1/2" won't go low enough for working on a bike.

On this note--which is more often usable, 3/8" or 1/2"? I'm going to get my first torque wrench, and I'm not really sure what I need.

Your first torque wrench should be 3/8. Probably something like 40 to 200 inch pounds.

On this note--which is more often usable, 3/8" or 1/2"? I'm going to get my first torque wrench, and I'm not really sure what I need.

Yup, you really need two torque wrenches if you're going to go this route. Torque wrenches tend to be most accurate in the middle of their range, so a model that you use to torque your stem bolts is going to be way too wimpy to torque a crank bolt and a wrench that's good for cranks and BBs is barely going to register on the fine stuff.

A 1/4" and a 3/8" drive torque wrench will cover the fine and the high torque items.

Park makes two beam type torque wrenches that are well suited (because of their operating ranges) for bicycle applications. The 1/4" has a 0-60 in/lb range and the 3/8" has a 0-600 in/lb (= 0-50 ft/lb) range.
Beam type wrenches are nice because you can calibrate themselves. But, you have to be reading the scale while doing the torquing. Click type torque wrenches are nice for manly applications as you can concentrate on grunting and just listening for the click and don't have to worry about reading the scale at the same time (people that have used both types for high torque apps will know exactly what this comment means). But, click type torque wrenches need to be calibrated from time to time depending on how much they are used.

1/2" drive is for big beefy sockets and bolts - car work. Go 3/8" and get the 1/4" later, when you're tired of not being able to use your 3/8" on the small stuff.