Carbon bike and torque wrench

Terre

Bought my first road bike which is carbon and I'm a complete newbie. It's Giant TCR Advanced. I have been reading from previous posts that a torque wrench is ideally needed for adjustments. In the first instance I will need to attach the handlebars and tighten the stem. Also, I will need to adjust the seatpost.

Would I be wasting time and money (despite being cheap) on this: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lifeline-x-tools-t-bar-torque-wrench-1-12nm/rp-prod175042?utm_expid=.ckkRuxI9QieiYxXQHS8d3A.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chainreactioncycles.com%2Fs%3Fq%3Dtorque%2Bwrench%26cat%3Ddirect

As a side question: my seatpost (7nm), handlebars (6nm), and stem (5.5) require different torques. Is it fine to tighten all of these to 5nm?

fatbhoy

I wouldn't be skimping like that on one myself. They're handy things to have, and a worthy tool to add to your collection.

I got this one, from China. Takes a few weeks to arrive. It's class.

https://www.banggood.com/XITE-15-in-1-2-20Nm-Torque-Wrench-Repair-Tools-Set-For-Bicycle-p-958155.html?cur_warehouse=CN

magicbastarder

i would be wary about trusting a nice bike to such a cheap tool.
no harm in trying 5nm on the seatpost, but beware it might slide down a little on rough roads.

flatface

I got one similar with my canyon and it worked grand when i tried it a few times. Better than nothing at all. But I also have a more trusty one and I would recommend it for the few quid extra.

I can’t find the one I got but This seems good price wise https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lifeline-x-tools-essential-torque-wrench-set/rp-prod155414

jack of all

Way too cheap for a torque wrench, a decent screwdriver should cost you more! I don't have a fancy carbon fibre bike but I did buy a decent "Bike hut" 1/4" drive torque wrench from Halfords for doing work on the family bikes. It cost bout €50 (still cheap for this type of tool) but does the job really well. I tested it against another (Teng) torque wrench I already had and found it to be bang on as regards calibration.

cletus

Those beam torque wrenches tend not to be overly accurate. Having said that, most people who buy a click torque wrench never have the calibration checked afterwards

xDerp

You can get a Teng 5-25nm for 40 sterling on Amazon.

fatbhoy

flatface wrote: »

I got one similar with my canyon and it worked grand when i tried it a few times. Better than nothing at all. But I also have a more trusty one and I would recommend it for the few quid extra.

I can’t find the one I got but This seems good price wise https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lifeline-x-tools-essential-torque-wrench-set/rp-prod155414

I considered buying that when I was looking for one, but reviews turned me off it, if I remember correctly; can't remember specifics. I suppose you get what you pay for, and a torque wrench nearer to 100e would be better.

Effects

I use this one from Rose bikes, which seems the same as the chain reaction one.

https://www.rosebikes.com/rose-2-24-nm-torque-wrench-688275?product_shape=standard&article_size=Standard

devonp

^^
same here

Terre

Effects wrote: »

I use this one from Rose bikes, which seems the same as the chain reaction one.

https://www.rosebikes.com/rose-2-24-nm-torque-wrench-688275?product_shape=standard&article_size=Standard

Yeah looks like the exact same from wiggle (LifeLine X Tools)...seems like same supplier but just re-branded

triggermortis

OP, that torque wrench isn’t worth shed room. You’ll have to spend a little more for one that will do the job adequately. The Rose one linked earlier is quite good.
If you have a carbon seat post, it might slip even after being tightened to the correct torque. There is carbon paste you can get but hairspray is as good (and cheaper). Just spray the post, let it dry and then fit and torque it.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I bought a Lifeline tool about 4 years ago and have used it countless times since then without issue.