Torque wrenches

BBB Cycling momentsleutelset 2-14 Nm

The BBB Cycling torque wrench set has a 1/4 inch drive and a 2 to 14 Nm range, with Allen bits and more. It suits the small bolts on stems, bars and carbon parts.

What you get

Torque wrench with 1/4 inch drive
2-14 Nm range
Set with Allen and other bits

Why a torque wrench?

Tightening by feel often works, but not always. Too loose and a handlebar or seatpost can slip. Too tight and you snap a bolt, crack a carbon part or strip the thread. The gap between right and wrong can be small, and you usually notice only once it has gone wrong.

Torque is given in newton metres (Nm). Many bike parts have the value printed on them, for example near the bolts of a stem or seatpost. The value on the part always comes first. As a guide: bolts for handlebar, stem and seatpost usually sit between 5 and 8 Nm, rotor bolts around 5 to 6 Nm and a cassette lockring around 40 Nm. Heavier parts such as crank arms or a bottom bracket often need 35 Nm or more.

A useful home torque wrench covers roughly 2 to 24 Nm. That handles handlebar, stem, seatpost, rotors and most small bolts. The type matters too: a click wrench gives a clear click and a felt vibration at the set value, a preset wrench does a single value, and a digital wrench shows the value on a screen.

With carbon, the manufacturer often gives a lower value, sometimes 4 or 5 Nm. With a torque wrench you stay safely under it and use carbon paste to stop slipping without tightening harder.

How torque wrenches compare

The mechanism and range decide what the wrench is good for.

Type	How it works	Range	Watch for
Preset wrench	Clicks at one value, e.g. 4, 5 or 6 Nm	One value per wrench	Light and simple, one fixed value
Adjustable click wrench	You set the value, it clicks there	Usually about 2 to 24 Nm	Return to lowest setting after use
Beam or dial wrench	You read the value off a scale	Depends on the model	Reading takes attention
Digital wrench	Screen and beep or vibration at the value	Depends on the model	Needs a battery

Check the range the maker states.

Choose it if

You tighten bolts on bars, stem or seatpost to a specified torque
You work on carbon parts where overtightening causes damage
You have carbon parts, such as bar, stem or seatpost, that must not be overtightened.
You work on your own bike and want repeatable tightening.

Choose something else if

You need to tighten large bolts above 14 Nm, such as a bottom bracket or cassette lockring
You ride little and have a workshop service your bike. They already have the tools.
You want something for the road. A torque wrench is too big for a saddle bag.

How to use a torque wrench

Look up the value
Read the value printed on the part. If there is nothing, look up the maker’s data. The value on the part always comes first.
Set the wrench
Turn the scale to the value you want. Fit the right bit or socket on the wrench.
Clean thread and bolt
Use grease on aluminium and steel, carbon paste on carbon. Thread the bolt in by hand first.
Tighten until the click
Pull smoothly and evenly. Stop as soon as you feel the click. Do not tighten again. On a stem faceplate, tighten the bolts alternately in small steps.
Return the wrench to its lowest setting
After use, wind the spring back to its lowest value. That keeps it accurate.

Good to know

Return the wrench to its lowest setting after use to keep it accurate
Check the description for exactly which bits are in the set
Use a torque wrench only to tighten, never to free a stuck bolt. That damages the mechanism.
Do not drop the wrench and keep it in its case. A fall can shift the setting.
A torque wrench does not stay accurate forever. With heavy use, have it checked now and then.
Check that the wrench range covers the value you need. Below the minimum and above the maximum it is not reliable.

What you get

Why a torque wrench?

How torque wrenches compare

Choose it if

Choose something else if

How to use a torque wrench

Look up the value

Set the wrench

Clean thread and bolt

Tighten until the click

Return the wrench to its lowest setting

Good to know

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