Just realized my old boss was wrong about torque wrenches

I was talking to a frame builder at the Philly Bike Expo, and she said 'A click wrench is a promise, not a guess' when I mentioned just going by feel. That stuck with me because I've been doing it wrong for maybe ten years. Do you guys think a cheap torque wrench is better than no torque wrench at all?

3 comments

3 Comments

christopherwilliams3mo ago

Oh man, that quote is perfect. A cheap torque wrench is absolutely better than nothing, because at least it gives you a reference point. Going by feel is so easy to mess up, especially on carbon parts or small bolts. Just make sure you store it at its lowest setting so the spring doesn't wear out. It's a simple tool that can save you from a very expensive mistake.

oscar_hunt613mo ago

My old shop teacher always said a click is just a suggestion, @christopherwilliams. I've never torqued a stem bolt and my bikes are fine.

kelly_coleman612mo ago

Those low torque settings on carbon bars and stems are where going by feel really falls apart. A cheap click wrench that's off by a couple newton meters still beats guessing because guessing on a 4mm bolt can either strip it or leave it so loose something shifts on you. Store it right and check it against a beam type every once in a while if you're worried about accuracy. The frame builder had it exactly right, it's a promise you make to yourself that you're at least in the ballpark.