In the days when everything was aluminum/steel, wrenches would know how tight bolts just by feel (supposedly). Metals were pretty forgiving when it came to overtightening. Carbon ain’t so much. Turn a bolt too far and…crack…there goes a $250 handlebar. Nowadays, tightening bolts to the proper torque is a big deal. So, what does that mean to you? Well, you could go out and get a fancy Span-On torque wrench for $300, but not everyone is that crazy about tools. Here are some of my tips for tightening bolts:
- Know what the recommended torque is for a bolt. Good companies usually post this right on the stem, seatpost, etc (eg, 5 nM). Most put the correct values in the instructions. If you can’t find it, I’ve included a link to a great tutorial from Park Tool that includes general torque specs.
- Get a torque wrench! The great news is that you have lots of options. Park Tool, Pedro’s, etc. all make good ones for <$100 (on sale). There’s also nothing wrong with Craftsman either. If that’s still a little too expensive, there are preset torque wrenches for most bolts like the Ritchey Torque Key. You can often find these starting at $15-$20, and are way cheaper than ruining a $200 seatpost!
- Use carbon fiber paste. This is basically grease with fine particles in it. You spread a light area on the areas you’re clamping. It provides extra protection from slipping. When you tighten bolts, it may sound like the carbon is cracking, but it’s usually the sound from the particles in the carbon paste.
- Tighten until they feel tight, then torque. I actually tighten bolts with a regular hex wrench until they feel tight. I then use a torque wrench and tighten until I get a click.
That’s pretty much it! I could go on explaining Newton meters of force, etc., but you probably don’t want a physics lesson…:)
Here’s the link to the Park Tool Guide on Torque
