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Old 04-19-12 | 10:15 AM
  #4  
HillRider
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Pittsburgh, PA

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Originally Posted by dsbrantjr
You will probably need two, actually; a lower-torque one in 1/4" drive and a higher-range one in 3/8" or 1/2" drive for bottom brackets and the like. If I had to choose I would get the smaller one first as you are less likely to damage a larger fastener by overtorquing.
I fully agree on the 1/4-sq drive torque wrench to protect fragile small fasteners and carbon components. However, I also highly recommend a 1/2-sq drive one. Here the problem isn't to protect the fasteners from over torquing but to be sure they are tight enough. Without the torque wrench, most new mechanics will badly under torque bottom bracket cups and crank arm bolts.
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