Unpopular opinion: a $15 torque wrench from Harbor Freight is better than guessing with a regular Allen key

I used to think 'feel' was good enough for stem bolts, but after seeing a cracked carbon steerer from over-tightening, I bought the cheap wrench. It's not fancy, but it clicks at 5 Nm exactly. Do you guys actually use torque specs or just go by hand?

2 comments

2 Comments

murray.betty8d ago

Used to be a firm believer in the "wrist feel" method myself. Seeing a photo of a snapped carbon fork online was a real wake up call. That Harbor Freight wrench is a total game changer for peace of mind. It costs less than a pizza and saves you from a very expensive mistake. Torque specs exist for a reason, especially with modern lightweight parts. I won't touch a stem or seatpost bolt without one now.

robin6588d ago

Maybe, but a lot of us have been building bikes for years without one just fine.