Originally Posted by
jethro56
I tried unscrewing the endcap on my install and it is indeed very tight. I quess the clamp screws load the bearings up.
nonononono. The clamp bolts clamp onto the endcap, it's not preload you've been resisting, it's the pressure of endcap being clamped down upon.
That's why the park end cap tool is plastic and knurled for your fingers, you don't need more torque than that- it's like an aheadset- the endcap (topcap in a headset) sets the preload until you tighten the clamp in the crankarm (or stem in a headset). After the crankarm is tightened, you dont even need the endcap.