Can we talk about using a torque wrench on every bolt vs. just feeling it out

I used to just tighten everything by hand on my bikes, like I had a built-in feel for it. Then last spring I snapped a derailleur hanger bolt trying to snug it up on a trailside repair in the rain. Now I use a Park Tool TW-5.2 torque wrench for every critical bolt, especially on carbon frames. Has anyone else had a similar moment where a broken part made them change their whole approach?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_nancy22d ago

15 bucks for a replacement derailleur hanger? That's wild, I've seen them go for 40 or more on some newer frames. I had a similar wake-up call when I over-tightened a seatpost bolt on my old aluminum road bike and it actually cracked the clamp. Did you go straight for the Park Tool or did you try a beam style torque wrench first?

avery_roberts6722d ago

Went straight for the Park Tool after I snapped that bolt actually... my train of thought was I already failed at the cheap and easy method so why waste more money on a beam style I'd probably break too. The TW-5.2 lives in my saddle bag now like some kind of overpriced talisman against my own stupidity. An embarrassing 27 dollars for the new hanger plus 60 bucks for the torque wrench really hit different.