How do you know if it's tight enough?

[d.vader123]

If you don't own a torque wrench (like me), then how do you know if your seatpost and stem are tight enough onto the bike?

I know that if a seatpost or stem moves around during a ride with my weight on it then it's not tight enough, and I would need to make it tighter.

However, I'm afraid of over tightening it and possibly damaging my parts. What rule of thumb do you go by if you don't have a torque wrench?

Thanks!

[Kontact]

In any case like that, use a carbon paste to provide extra traction for the parts, and grease the bolt threads so the resistance you feel is only from clamping pressure.

One helpful way to do things is to use normal allen wrench keys, not the extended type. If it is difficult to turn the key with your hand, then you're probably more than tight enough.

[guyintense]

You tighten until just before you strip the threads or crush the carbon fiber.

[cmg]

buy a torque whrench and quit angonizing over it.

[ahumblecycler]

Ritchey torque wrench ... $20 ... small investment, lots of value!

[cody.wms]

Originally Posted by cmg

buy a torque whrench and quit angonizing over it.

CMG nails it. This stuff is expensive, it's worth investing in the right tools.

[AngryScientist]

i personally have a highly calibrated wrist. i just think about torque numbers, and my wrist pops when i achieve that value.

seriously though, Kontacts advice is good - go with that.

[d.vader123]

FYI. I'm working with steel parts not carbon fiber. Thank you for the comments. I guess I can invest $20 in something that will be worth it. I was just thinking how people do it by feel?

[AgilisMerlin]

Originally Posted by cmg

buy a torque whrench and quit agonizing over it.

support your local shop,

or http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?...jor=6&minor=13


just a thought

i have carbon bits, no wrench. I tighten everything until i can barely move it, and tighten my seatpost just to the point where it does not move.

i am not a zealot for over tightening. Have seen some consequences of others putting the meat to the nut/bolt.

[martinrjensen]

Steel parts? Don't worry about it. If it creaks, it's not tight enough (in almost all cases). You should be carrying the tools for this on any bike ride so you can tighten it just enough to stop creaking as necessary.

Originally Posted by d.vader123

FYI. I'm working with steel parts not carbon fiber. Thank you for the comments. I guess I can invest $20 in something that will be worth it. I was just thinking how people do it by feel?

[old_fat_and_slow]

If it's a carbon frame or seatpost, then a torque wrench is a must. Get a good one too. You have too much invested in that carbon frame to screw it up.

If its a metallic frame and seatpost, then what Kontact said is probably sufficient.

[thinpin]

I read an article in a cycling mag that tested several team wrenches on their torque "feel". The were given a range of components they had to install by hand (no torque wrenches) and the manufacturers torque specs. No one got it all right. Most were out by a significant amount.
Whether this has any bearing on the equipments functionality and safety is another matter of course.

[maunahaole]

If you have carbon bits, get a torque wrench or two or three. First, the wrenches, like the parts have torques specs in different ranges. Second, over torque can be just as bad as under torque.

[d.vader123]

Originally Posted by thinpin

I read an article in a cycling mag that tested several team wrenches on their torque "feel". The were given a range of components they had to install by hand (no torque wrenches) and the manufacturers torque specs. No one got it all right. Most were out by a significant amount.
Whether this has any bearing on the equipments functionality and safety is another matter of course.

Interesting comment. I wonder then if feel is better than recommended torque specs. I mean, if they were off they were probably off in the sense that they had applied too much torque than too little I would guess. Perhaps the recommended torque specs are conservative values provided by the manufacturers and one could afford to go over it (not intentionally of course). Just a thought.

[hockeybike]

Ok, for those who've got torque wrenches they like, which ones are good/bad and don't cost an arm and a leg like park? Any good automotive ones? I guess the big consideration is that it does both left and right hand torqueing (english bb...).