Ask any mechanic what one of the most important tools when building a bike is and they will say, a good torque wrench. Why do you ask? Well, make sure all the bolts on your bike are tightened to manufacturer specifications, which means that important fasteners aren’t too loose and come loose, or too tight and cause the bolts to break, or worse, your Parts may break.
So while it’s undoubtedly important for anyone who uses their own bike to use a torque wrench, we think it’s also important to understand how to use a torque wrench and what to look for when buying one. A good example of a torque wrench is Feedback Sports Range Click Torque Wrench.
(Image source: Feedback Sports)
It features a roll-up TPU sleeve that also houses 13 high-precision S2 tool steel drill bits. There are a variety of popular Allen head sizes, as well as three main Torx heads and three extension bits for hard-to-reach areas. Despite its metal construction, the tool, tool roll and bits weigh less than 300 grams, making it a highly packable bundle. Plus, the tool itself is plastic-free and packaged in 80% recycled cardboard
This compact and lightweight kit can easily form the centerpiece of a portable tool kit, making it ideal for those who need to reassemble their bike in a hotel room. Likewise, it works great for home mechanics who need to do any kind of bike maintenance.
(Image source: Feedback Sports)
This torque wrench falls into the “click head” category, which means the head simply clicks back slightly when you reach the desired torque. This particular torque wrench features dual-sided torque settings ranging from 2NM to 14NM. There are even numbers on one side and odd numbers on the other side. By doing this, it makes the numbers larger and easier to read – perfect for accurate day-to-day usability.
(Image source: Feedback Sports)
To operate, you simply rotate the tool base until the indicator lines up with your desired torque setting. In this case I need 4nm and I can see it’s printed next to the bolt so I can go ahead and install the required 4mm allen head. I then make sure the drill bit is spinning in the correct direction, if not I can use a toggle switch. From there I could use the tool to tighten the bolt until it was torqued correctly. To get the most accurate torque value when tightening, place the wrench on the bottom of the tool and continue working until you hear and feel the head snap back.
Once done, I can remove the tool and perform the all important final step. That is, rotate the base of the tool so that it reads zero and reset completely again. It’s important to do this because if your torque wrench is in a non-zero position, it will no longer read correctly.
So that’s the lowdown on how to use a torque wrench, if you need a torque wrench we recommend checking out Feedback Sports Range Click Torque Wrench.
