How do you torque parts requiring specialized tools?
 

I notice in looking over the Shimano tech sheets on the Ultegra bottom bracket assembly, that there's a torque spec for the BB adapters. These require a special wrench. I don't see any way to attach that wrench to a 3/8-inch torque wrench.

Is there a DIY way to torque those parts down? Is it important?

I assume you are referring to the wrench used to install Shimano HollowTech II bb cups. Park Tool makes a specific installation tool for these cups, the BBT-19, that is a large diameter splinded socket and can be used with a 3/8" square drive torque or ratchet wrench. Look here:

http://www.parktool.com/products/det...25&item=BBT-19

Ohterwise the more common type of tools for these cups (e.g. Park's BBT-9) can't be used with a torque wrench and you have to estimate how tight they are.

The torque spec is quite high and you can estimate it by how much force you put on the wrench's handle. Most home (and shop) mechanics under torque these cups so don't be afraid to really lean on the wrench.

When I got my first Shimano XT external crank I asked how I was supposed to torque the bb cups with the little hand wrench that came with it and the shop guy said he hadn't seen a tool with a ratchet attachment, that he just put an old handlebar grip on the metal handled tool and horked on it real good. Later on I saw that tools were available from others with ratchet wrench attachments, have one now (from enduroforkseals.com, believe Park sells them too, and I remember there was another nice one in the BTI catalog but can't think of the name). Not sure what you mean by bb adapters though...

On the spec sheet they're called BB adapters for some reason. But we're talking about the same part.

You can use a torque wrench on anything with wrench flats... you need to get an open-ended wrench attachment for your torque wrench ... at work we call it a "crow foot"

Then there is always Sheldon brown's invention:

The Tork-Grip Universal Torque Wrench :D

This works and with an adapter you can toque the caps.

Socket