Bicycle Mechanics - Small torsion/tension wrench?

Anyone know where I can get hold of a small 1/4 or 3/8 drive torsion/tension wrench?
There a a few items (carbon seatpost) on the bike I'm anxious to have at the correct tension.

No single torque wrench will have all of the ranges you need on a bicycle (they range from just a few inch-pounds for the head-tube cap bolt for a threadless headset, to may foot-pounds for the pedal into the crank, for example). Torque wrenches for the higher numbers are readily available at auto parts stores here in the US, but for the low numbers, the best one I've seen is the Park Tool TW-1 (http://parktool.com/tools/TW_1.shtml) (Pedro's sells this one (http://store.yahoo.com/pedrosusa/protorwren.html), but I think it's going to be too inaccurate for the low numbers). You might be able to get the Park tool from your local bike shop, unless we declared war on Australia last night and I haven't heard about it yet.

I haven't found a source for an affordable one out here. I ended up getting a new one off ebay. About AU$80 delivered. Park Tools have the magic words printed on them (Made In USA) so they're ridiculously overpriced here. My Park tool kit was AU$2,400.00 last time I checked.

Park tool link didn't work :(
I've got a big one (1/2" drive) but I need a smaller version to use with smaller allen head bolts etc.
I'll just keep looking.

Do you have Sears? If not try www.craftsman.com

They have several.

PJ

^
Exactly, the Sears beam-type are the same as the Park but they sell for about dealer cost on the Park.

^
Exactly, the Sears beam-type are the same as the Park but they sell for about dealer cost on the Park.

I like the Sears Microtorque series with the "clicks".

Personal opinion I guess.

Pj

I've got the Microtorque, but we have no Sears and Craftsman is not available here. Maybe Snap-On, but that's not cheap in the states.

Wow... that pedros one has 20-200 lb-in. I've never seen one with that much range.

I've got a big one (1/2" drive) but I need a smaller version to use with smaller allen head bolts etc.


Why don't you just stick a 1/2" to 3/8" or 1/2" to 1/4" drive adapter on the wrench you've got? If your range is OK, the drive shouldn't make a torque difference since it's on the axis of the drive. If I misunderstood and it is the range that isn't appropriate, excuse this post. Thanks.

Why don't you just stick a 1/2" to 3/8" or 1/2" to 1/4" drive adapter on the wrench you've got? If your range is OK, the drive shouldn't make a torque difference since it's on the axis of the drive. If I misunderstood and it is the range that isn't appropriate, excuse this post. Thanks.


Explanation fro another post a long while ago (sorry I didn't lok who posted this answer):

"An inch-lb is a force of 1lb acting on a lever at a point 1 inch from the fulcrum (the bolt in this case). Thus 12 inch-lbs is 1lb acting 12 inches from the bolt, which is the same as 1lb acting 1 foot from the bolt. As long as the force unit doesn't change, you can change the distance to any unit you normally would (but a metre-lb is a useless unit. Best stick to all metric or all imperial)."

PJ