I was wrong about skipping torque specs

Thought it was extra hassle until a crank bolt sheared. Now I torque all critical bolts. Customer bikes stay dialed in longer.

4 comments

4 Comments

taylorshah2mo ago

Honestly I've always used torque specs as more of a guide for the really critical stuff. For a lot of non structural bolts, a good feel from experience works just fine and saves a ton of time. The trick is truly knowing which bolts are critical and which ones just need to be snug. That crank bolt is a perfect example of one you can't skip, but I wouldn't torque every single bolt on a bike.

anderson.piper1mo ago

Wait, you just go by feel on caliper bolts? That's wild after what happened to @joseph_kim. Honestly, that's a part I would never skip the torque wrench on, because a leak or a loose wheel is just not worth the risk.

joseph_kim2mo ago

Stripped a cheap caliper bolt once by going by feel. Ever since then I just use the wrench for anything that holds fluids or keeps wheels on. Learned that lesson the hard way.

stellaperry2mo ago

That's how bolts get forgotten or over-tightened. Even non structural ones need consistent pressure, and a torque wrench gives you that. It really doesn't take that much longer to do it right.