Torque wrenches

**CookMySock** · 9th March 2010, 15:34

You don't really need a torque wrench for doing up wheel nuts and other larger things.

What you mainly need a torque wrench for, is not destroying little things by over-torquing them - particularly important if you are working on bike engines, as the tiny little M4 and M6 bolts will just twist right off or else strip their little alloy housing.

So it depends what you are doing. Take a look at what range torque settings you require, and that will tell you what to buy. Most torque wrenches have an upper and lower useful limit, so one size definitely does not fit all.

Steve

**slofox** · 9th March 2010, 15:41

Originally Posted by dipshit

I trust you guys have had them calibrated from time to time..???

Not much to calibrate Mine's just a steel bar with a pointer to measure the degree of bend...to be honest, I have used it once in about the last thirty of those years...and that was to do up a steering stem nut a couple of weeks ago...65lb/ft as I recall...

**dipshit** · 9th March 2010, 16:02

Originally Posted by slofox

Not much to calibrate Mine's just a steel bar with a pointer to measure the degree of bend..

Those things are horrid!

**slofox** · 9th March 2010, 16:05

Originally Posted by dipshit

Those things are horrid!

When I bought it (in the olden days y'know) it was all I could get!

**quickbuck** · 9th March 2010, 17:01

Originally Posted by dipshit

I trust you guys have had them calibrated from time to time..???

Yup,
Every month

**2wheeled Gasman** · 9th March 2010, 17:15

seeing as we are talking about calibration..... who does it and how often should the wrench be calibrated?

**dipshit** · 9th March 2010, 17:20

Originally Posted by quickbuck

Yup,
Every month

I was more meaning the guys that have 30 - 35 year-old ones.

**CookMySock** · 9th March 2010, 17:27

Originally Posted by quickbuck

Yup, Every month

You must surely work for the airforce!

Steve

**Logpot** · 9th March 2010, 17:38

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

You don't really need a torque wrench for doing up wheel nuts and other larger things.

What you mainly need a torque wrench for, is not destroying little things by over-torquing them - particularly important if you are working on bike engines, as the tiny little M4 and M6 bolts will just twist right off or else strip their little alloy housing.

So it depends what you are doing. Take a look at what range torque settings you require, and that will tell you what to buy. Most torque wrenches have an upper and lower useful limit, so one size definitely does not fit all.

Steve

The first job is to put my front wheel and brake calliper back on.

The front brake calliper uses 8mm bolts and is tightened to 2.4-3.0 kg-m. The front wheel axle holder uses either an 8mm or 10mm nuts (can't recall) and is tightened to 1.8-2.5kg-m.

Is it that important to get it spot on or is 'tight enough' good enough?

**CookMySock** · 9th March 2010, 17:46

Originally Posted by Logpot

The first job is to put my front wheel and brake calliper back on.

The front brake calliper uses 8mm bolts and is tightened to 2.4-3.0 kg-m. The front wheel axle holder uses either an 8mm or 10mm nuts (can't recall) and is tightened to 1.8-2.5kg-m.

Is it that important to get it spot on or is 'tight enough' good enough?

Nah you are right. I was thinking of the rear axle nut when I wrote that.

As you were!

edit: yes it is important to get those bolts right.

Steve

**Ixion** · 9th March 2010, 18:41

Originally Posted by Logpot

The first job is to put my front wheel and brake calliper back on.

The front brake calliper uses 8mm bolts and is tightened to 2.4-3.0 kg-m. The front wheel axle holder uses either an 8mm or 10mm nuts (can't recall) and is tightened to 1.8-2.5kg-m.

Is it that important to get it spot on or is 'tight enough' good enough?

I got three. The important one being the 1/4" drive. But mainly I use my precision calibrated hands. Caliper bolts are tight as buggery , axle bolts tight as a sailor on payday. Works for me. Mainly use the torque wrench for things like BMW flywheel bolts which have to be as tight as a Scotchman in a synagogue, and easy to underestimate, my hands are only calibrated to about 30 lb-ft.

**CookMySock** · 9th March 2010, 18:56

Hrm, my hands are calibrated from about 20nm to about 80nm, and my right boot from about 60-200nm.

Anything under 20nm, use a proper tool for, or I use my calibrated wrist or thumb .

Steve

**gatch** · 9th March 2010, 19:04

I made a torque wrench when I was at poly tech. Pissed me right off when the instructor used a factor of 10 instead of gravity (9.81) to convert kg to N. Then a whole bunch of other short cuts leading to a nice looking but ultimately shit tool.

All that work for a hammer with a 1/2" drive in the end.