Originally Posted by
satrain18
...unless the headset comes loose in the middle of a ride, which can only be fixed with two huge spanners instead of a single Allen key. And who carries these on a ride?
Quill stems do need a torque wrench to avoid bulging the steerer while still being tight enough to the grip the steering despite the seizure-preventing grease.
...and a hacksaw and a pair of Vice-Grips:
...and a cable winch, a metal pipe, and a 2x4:
...and Drano:
Properly tightened, headsets rarely come loose enough to be a ride stopper. I don't know if I have ever seen it. (I knew a lot less 50 years ago and that was pre-head-injury so I 'won't swear to that.) I've certainly never needed the spanners to get home. (And if you have a keyed washer and greased threads, odds are that any large crescent will do for the adjustment. So any farmer, many garage mechanics, etc.
Never used that torque wrench in 50 years. Hasn't been an issue. (It only has to be tight enough so you can steer and it doesn't slip down, A short allen key and mediocre strength works fine.
...and a hacksaw and a pair of Vice-Grips:
...and a cable winch, a metal pipe, and a 2x4:
...and Drano
Good tools to have (if you own the property you live in. For headsets and stems? Yeah, for that $20 as-is beater. Not my bikes.
Sorry about taking so long to see your reply.
Ben