Torque Wrench Advice
 

I am intending to buy a torque wrench, mainly for the stem and handlebar components so I do not over tighten and weaken the bar.... also need it for BB install (if I follow the instructions to the letter)

Trouble is I am looking at available wrench's and you need to choose what torque range and also there does not seem to be adaptors for the hex head sizes, like with Park for example you have a choice of 2 wrenchs which offer a different torque range and seems you only get one hex head size ???

Can anyone offer me advice on this & maybe point me in the direction of what I need to get ?

Thanks..

Unless you have carbon bars, even then it's not necessary, you don't need a torque rench. Just do them up tightly, but don't play the hero and go at the screws full bore:p

For bike work, you'll probably want to look at the smaller wrenches that deal in inch-pounds rather than foot-pounds. The wrench should be 1/4" or 3/8" square drive and then you can buy set of hex head drivers in that size.

If you're going with Park, you would technically need both. The larger would be for things that need a lot of torque, like cranks, pedals, etc. If you only want to buy one for now, buy the smaller wrench. It'll work for the majority of stuff on a bike, and the bolts that require more torque typically aren't as finicky.

My smaller Park torque wrench came with an adaptor for larger hex head sizes.

riles,
i gave you torque wrench instructions in the other thread. you might want to save your money for now. don't buy "bike" torque wrenches. go to sears or homedepot. personally i don't like home depot...

they sell all sorts of drive adapters. you do need two. inch pounds and foot pounds. if you buy a beam style wrench it will be much cheaper.

if you don't plan on doing too much mechanical work in the future...i wouldn't buy one just for MTB. i rarely use one.

edit:
if you can afford them...get it. as a budding mechanic, there is only one way to become experienced with fasteners and appropriate torques. years ago when i was learning, i used one all the time...like anally. then as i got better only on things like cylinder heads and other warpable sensitive parts.

you will never gain the feel of torque unless you use a torque wrench repeatedly over time. then you check yourself with a regular wrench and see how a fastener "feels" right after the torque wrench with a regular wrench. grasp the regular wrench at different positions to see how leverage affects "feel"

the "feel" that you will gain with a T. wrench alone will be worth every dollar spent in your future mechanical skills....in my opinion.

You only need to tighten handlebar components tight enough so they don't move. You should use a torque wrench for things like the bottom bracket or cassette.

I agree. I never realized how much I used to overtighten things until I got a torque wrench.

P.S. beam wrenches suck - if you're gonna drop the money on a torque wrench, get the best one (or two) you can afford.

I have 3 Snap-on torque wrenches if that makes a difference:rolleyes: