Low range Torque Wrench

[ADKmike]

So in re-installing my crank pre-load bolt today, I stripped out the allen key hole...my fu*king torque wrench must be out of calibration, or it doesn't work well on the low end of the range (it's a larger automotive use style, was trying to dial up 1.2 Nm).

Currently waiting on epoxy to dry on a bolt I set in there to try and extract this damn thing.

So - I may be in need of a torque wrench that can do the low range bike stuff (like the FSA ML140 0.7-1.5 Nm crank preload bolt).

What do you guys use to do low range torque specs? I know there are bike tool brand torque wrenches, but anyone have a suggestion on something more generic and cheaper?

I'm assuming setting pre-load on crank bolt not goof to do by hand? I can already tell it's overtightened, as crank is grabby on rotation right now...

[N1CK.]

I have the Pedros ... small and low in/lb. Came when a bunch of useful bits as well.

[mfa81]

for such low torque you wanna have a beam wrench not a click one, I have an old park but some other brands make the same like gearwrench and craftsman, but I think craftsman only has the 3/8 not the smaller 1/4 version

9point8 has one but only 4mm hex, kind of a bummer

[El Chupacabra]

Harbor Freight has an inch pound torque wrench that is cheap. I use it (with a conversion table to figure out newton meters) on bike stuff.

[ADKmike]

Harbor Freight has an inch pound torque wrench that is cheap. I use it (with a conversion table to figure out newton meters) on bike stuff.

I checked this - but I believe it starts at 20 in-lb, when I need around 1 Nm which is approx. 8.8 in-lb. Seems like most of the small torque wrenches start at 20 in-lb

How does the average bike wrencher adjust the pre-load on this bolt properly?

[N1CK.]

How does the average bike wrencher adjust the pre-load on this bolt properly?

German standard.

[Meadow Skipper]

Not cheap, but a really nice set:
https://silca.cc/collections/the-new..._ti-torque_kit

[ADKmike]

German standard.

Went over my head...

[Tech Tonics]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/u...prd%7C129412US

[LightRanger]

Not cheap, but a really nice set:
https://silca.cc/collections/the-new..._ti-torque_kit

Cheaper than the bike brand options (see above). I may pick one of those up. Thanks.

[El Chupacabra]

Cheaper than the bike brand options (see above). I may pick one of those up. Thanks.

While you're at it, pick up one of these for me too.

https://silca.cc/collections/the-new...-richard-sachs

[N1CK.]

Went over my head...

Gudentighte !

[Gunder]

Buy a CDI torque wrench. They are the best and are pretty reasonably priced. They actually make most the of brands torque products, I.E. Snapon, Park, etc.

[Eluder]

What Gunder said.

I prefer the CDI 2502MRMH It has the low torque you want but also has a 3/8 head so you probably already have sockets that fit it. I have one at home and at the shop.

[ADKmike]

If some bike components have such low torque values, why do most of the bike brand torque wrenches start off above these values, i.e. 3/4/5 Nm +?

[El Chupacabra]

The only bike stuff I worry about for torque tightness are where carbon is involved -- seatpost, handlebar, fork steerer -- and those seem to be 5 or 6 Nm, which is in the usable range of the cheapy Harbor Freight torque wrench I suggested.

The crank preload (the bottom bracket bearing side load) at 1 Nm is finger tight. I mostly have Shimano cranks, which used to come with this little plastic tool:
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Hollo.../dp/B000F5JOT8

[jqualls]

I like the tight enough wrench.

[ADKmike]

This one looks interesting:

https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-TRQ211.../dp/B01M12284X

[teledad]

You want a 0-80 in-lb 1/4" beam wrench. I have one from Park but they discontinued them for some reason (switched to ratchets which aren't as reliable especially at low torque). You can find them pretty easily from non-bike sources though - e.g. here's one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XKIIKOM

[N1CK.]

If some bike components have such low torque values, why do most of the bike brand torque wrenches start off above these values, i.e. 3/4/5 Nm +?

Bontrager makes a series of "torque keys" that are preset tools for a specific bit and preset Nm.
for example: 4mm hex @ 5Nm for stem bolts. They're cheap too.

[ADKmike]

The only bike stuff I worry about for torque tightness are where carbon is involved -- seatpost, handlebar, fork steerer -- and those seem to be 5 or 6 Nm, which is in the usable range of the cheapy Harbor Freight torque wrench I suggested.

The crank preload (the bottom bracket bearing side load) at 1 Nm is finger tight. I mostly have Shimano cranks, which used to come with this little plastic tool:
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Hollo.../dp/B000F5JOT8

Yeh I'm starting to wonder if I should even bother. Already own three larger torque wrenches...don't really need to spend all this money to tighten one frikin bolt.

[El Chupacabra]

This, frequently on sale around $11:
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-qua...ench-2696.html

[VTskibum]

Really don't trust the harbor freight click style especially at low values. Use the ritchey/bontrager pre set one for stem/seatpost instead. Will probably try a beam style next

[ADKmike]

Posted this a few posts back - but this looks like a really good deal. Made in Taiwan too, not China...to me that's an upgrade based on some other Taiwan tools I own. 1.1Nm low end is much lower than a lot of the other wrenches I've seen, even bike specific.

Just can't see spending $120 on the CDI one...too much dough for my infrequent needs...

https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-TRQ211.../dp/B01M12284X

[teledad]

The beam wrench I posted is half that price, more reliable, and doesn't require calibration (you guys with click wrenches have them calibrated every year, right?). But pick whichever one you want.