Torque Wrench Recommendation

SprinterSacre

About do start my first bike build, can anyone reconnend a good torque wrench, apologies if asked already (last thread on search 3years old)

Cheers.

Smalltom

Hi-I was looking for one for ages too and when I bought bike number four I had to bite the bullet cause of all the carbon etc. I got a BBB one in a case with 6(I think) different size hex attachments. Cost me around €70 if I remember correctly. A couple of the lads in the club have the same one and all are happy with it. If you want to pm me your e-mail address ill send you on some pics. It's range it adjustable too btw. Another I should have left the credit card at home purchase !! Hope this helps a bit.
Regards

Indricotherium

Just get a huge vice grip and use it carefully.

TheBlaaMan

For bicycles, steer away from any torque wrenches that you see in the likes of Aldi/Lidl - they have too great a range and especially too high a minimum setting.

Something like this would be fine http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cyclo/torque-wrench-ec011439#features though for the likes of casette lock-rings, you need about twice the maximum torque (ie 40nM)

deandean

Here is the one I recommend, it goes right down to 2Nm. Lots of stuff on bikes is torqued to 4 - 6Nm.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-STW1012-Torque-Micrometer-1-47-17-70lb-ft/dp/B000RO1ZCG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1363865996&sr=8-3

Also get a set of sockets
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-AK219-TRX-Star-Spline-Drive/dp/B000O5X26A/ref=pd_bxgy_diy_img_y

Smalltom

Here's a pic of the one I spoke about earlier. Certificate of calibration with it. It's a 2-14 nm range which will sort most of the small fragile bits.

youtheman

Remember, with a Torque Wrench, it is essential that you back off the spring tension when you are finished using it. If not, then the wrench will go out of calibration quite quickly.

pprendeville

I'd recommend the Park Tool TW1 (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8071) and the 3/8" beam style torque wrench version as they don't need to be calibrated. By right, digital or click style torque wrenches need to be calibrated yearly which is an additional cost. I have these 2 beam style ones and they're great.

codie

I got this one last year for around the same price.Prob exact same as the BBB one but little cheaper.Does the job fine.
http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=20794&categoryID=722

TheBlaaMan

pprendeville wrote: »

I'd recommend the Park Tool TW1 (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8071) and the 3/8" beam style torque wrench version as they don't need to be calibrated. By right, digital or click style torque wrenches need to be calibrated yearly which is an additional cost. I have these 2 beam style ones and they're great.

Are you not mistaking the fact that click-type CAN be calibrated (and beam-style cannot) with the NEED to do so? I can't believe that a beam T/W is nearly as accurate as a click-type, there's surely far too much tolerance in them to equate to the accuracy of the newer click-type jobs.

pprendeville

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Are you not mistaking the fact that click-type CAN be calibrated (and beam-style cannot) with the NEED to do so? I can't believe that a beam T/W is nearly as accurate as a click-type, there's surely far too much tolerance in them to equate to the accuracy of the newer click-type jobs.

Valid points but each to their own I guess. I remember when buying these I researched it a lot and decided that the beam style would suit me better because I know I'd forget to recalibrate the click style, the beam type has a very basic operating principle and I like simple things, it can also show how much torque is required to loosen the bolt so it has a kind of double way of checking the bolt torque. The smaller of the 2 wrenches (1/4") reads from 0-7N and is accurate to +/-0.4% so that's pretty good for me. This is a good site for pros/cons of each: http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/torque-wrench-FAQ.htm

doozerie

Beam style wrenches can be re-calibrated, you just bend the bar straight. Not exactly high tech, but it is doable. I've not had to do it with my larger (Park) one though and don't expect I'd ever have to either unless I manage to hit it with a mallet some day. A torque wrench, or either style, shouldn't be used to open bolts though, it could damage it depending on how tight the bolt is to start with.

I don't think there is a clear winner in the debate of whether beam or clicky torque wrenches are better. They each have their pros and cons. As one example, when using a beam wrench you have to keep an eye on the needle so that you know when you've reached the desired torque, and this can be really awkward, but on the other hand with a beam torque you can tell when you are approaching your desired torque which is very handy and not possible with clicky types.

I have a Park clicky wrench for lower torques and I like it as much as I like the larger beam wrench.

pprendeville

Good points. I usually have a good idea of what Ive torqued the bolts on my bike to but on a different bike it would be another matter. Allen keys are definitely the ones to be using for opening bolts alright.

countrykid

bbb kit as mentioned above is excellent and great value.
most used bit of kit i have as the hex head are perfect ( when used on a small non torque ratchet) for all types of maintainence/building etc.

mossym

Smalltom wrote: »

Here's a pic of the one I spoke about earlier. Certificate of calibration with it. It's a 2-14 nm range which will sort most of the small fragile bits.

have the same one, it's excellent

SprinterSacre

Thanks for all the info lads, gona go with the huge vice grip, it's only carbon be grand...

P.S - BBB/Park options look good

Cheers

RobFowl

I've the BBB one but wouldn't recommend it. It can be unreliable and easy to use too much torque at times using it.

Konkers

Have had this for last few months. Already had the bits.

Easy to set clicky and works in both directions.

Cheapest I could find on net at the time.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11142