1/4"Torque Wrench

[dink]

I am looking into buying a 1/4" Torque wrench for strictly working on bicycles only....perferably el cheap.....HF's is like $22 but the reviews are horrible....Looking at spending no more then $40 on one.....got any good recommendations?

 

[jmm]

I am looking into buying a 1/4" Torque wrench for strictly working on bicycles only....perferably el cheap.....HF's is like $22 but the reviews are horrible....Looking at spending no more then $40 on one.....got any good recommendations?

The HF 1/4" torque wrench is the 3/8" model with a 1/4" drive piece. Way too bulky. It's the only HF torque wrench I wouldn't recommend. The rest of them are proportioned nicely and are fairly accurate.

 

[dink]

okay? and who are these others you say are better?

 

[SMKS]

The HF one is also too high in torque for some bike jobs.

I would recommend a 1/4" drive beam type. I have an older Indestro, but there's a USA made model that is sold under the brand Park, KD and a bunch if others. It's made in the USA, I think by whatever company in Apex Tools makes their torque wrenches.

 

[jmm]

The HF one is also too high in torque for some bike jobs.

I would recommend a 1/4" drive beam type. I have an older Indestro, but there's a USA made model that is sold under the brand Park, KD and a bunch if others. It's made in the USA, I think by whatever company in Apex Tools makes their torque wrenches.

I agree. If you only have 40 dollars, you're not going to find much other than the HF model as far as micrometer style torque wrenches go. A deflecting beam wrench is simple, accurate, and durable, provided you take care of it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NVCI1U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[zkling]

^ I can't see too many applications on a bicycle where a beam type wrench would be limiting.

 

[jmm]

okay? and who are these others you say are better?

I was referencing the other HF torque wrenches; 3/8" and 1/2" drive models are the best value on the market. I own both, and I'd own the 1/4" if they made it smaller and with a lower scale.

 

[jmm]

You might also look into torque screwdrivers, depending on how much torque you need. Many of them have female square drives on the end of the handle for drive tool attachment. I have a Stahlwille Torsiomax which is very handy and is probably the most accurate torque tool I own (for that accuracy, I paid a handsome price).

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012AXR4S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I saw this torque wrench in my search:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00811WQT8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[LXCam]

All though its not a 1/4" drive. I have a proto 3/8 that goes from 0 to 250inch pounds that I use on electrical breakers that is money. But again it was pricy. Like the others suggest, look for a beam style for the price range. GL

 

[6-Speed]

Park makes a small beam type that works well for bicycles.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

x2 on the KD/apex clone

I used it for years until I bought a dial torque wrench with memory needle

 

[retrobuilder]

Park Tools makes both beam and a small clik pro type in 1/4 drive.

 

[air]

I'll second the idea behind a torque screwdriver type. I know that some of the tools that cater to gunsmiths (like Wheeler Engineering) make stuff like that. You can check the Midway USA website...

I'm happy to have a Snap On 1/4 drive torque wrench, although it was a lot more than 40 bucks...it comes in REAL handy with stuff, like valve covers for example...

 

[SMKS]

Check out ebay item 161073058940. It's the torque wrench I have. It goes to 90 in-lbs, if memory serves. I'm ready for bed, so I'm not going to go to the garage and double check.

I also have owned the park/KD version. It goes to 60 in-lbs, I believe. The indestro is better quality, but the Parl will do what you need to do and probably has a lifetime warranty.

 

[CWP1616L]

What kinds of parts on bicycles require a torque wrench?

 

[agpatel]

What kinds of parts on bicycles require a torque wrench?

If you have a carbon fiber frame body many of the parts will require bolts to be torqued to a specific value so you do not damage the carbon structure.

I have a few of the CDI pre-set t-handle driver and they work pretty well if you need 3,4,5 Nm values. They are also inexpensive at around $20/ea and take any 1/4 hex bit.

 

[agpatel]

Check out ebay item 161073058940. It's the torque wrench I have. It goes to 90 in-lbs, if memory serves. I'm ready for bed, so I'm not going to go to the garage and double check.

I also have owned the park/KD version. It goes to 60 in-lbs, I believe. The indestro is better quality, but the Parl will do what you need to do and probably has a lifetime warranty.

The Indesto goes to 120 in-lbs.

 

[CWP1616L]

If you have a carbon fiber frame body many of the parts will require bolts to be torqued to a specific value so you do not damage the carbon structure.

Thanks for answering my question, I appreciate it.

 

[jvitez]

Check out this Toptul 1/4" torque wrench:

http://www.thetoolchest.ca/products/1{47}4"-40%2d250-in%2dlbs-Torque-Wrench.html

I bought one last year. It's excellent quality, has a calibration certificate included, and works very smoothly. I love the sliding locking collar. If I didn't already have a 1/2" Armstrong torque wrench I would definitely be getting the 1/2" Toptul one.

This is above your price range, but they ship to the US, and I've bought from them a couple of times with no issues. Cheap torque wrenches don't make sense to me. You're buying a torque wrench for a critical issue, and they'll last a very long time if cared for.

 

[reptilezs]

my bike torque wrench is made by gedore. goes from 3-25NM which is a good range. most stems abotu 5NM and pinch bolts on shimano cranks is 12NM or so

 

[SMKS]

To people recommending all the 250 in-lbs click torque wrenches. That's really too big for bike work. The vast majority of click torque wrenches are only accurate from 20-100% of scale, even if they claim a lower number below that, like the Toptul. So all these 250 in-lbs torque wrenches are probably only considered accurate from 50 in-lbs and above.

Lots of things on bikes need to be tightened to 5 nm (44 in-lbs), so a torque wrench that isn't accurate below 50 in-lbs is not very useful.

I have a 50 - 250 in-lbs torque wrench and I use it a lot, but almost never for bikes.

 

[6-Speed]

I do have a 1/4" HF torque wrench that scales from 20 to 200 lb-in so it's usable from 40 to 200 lb-in. I've used it and the Park for bicycle work ... never had a problem. I did have issues with a 1/2" HF model, but not the 1/4". The instructions that come with many bicycle components now-a-days provide torque specs so it's advisable to use them. I built-up a bike with a titanium frame and torqued all the components to their specified torque if it had one. Park offers a chart with some general guidelines for torquing each component on a bicycle.

 

[retrobuilder]

Another option for carbon parts is the Ritchey Logic dedicated torque drivers.

Tuned and sized for titanium. carbon..with small metric fasteners in mind. maybe a little pricey but worth a look..

 

[cbracer]

There's numerous 1/4" torque wrenches for bicycles that are cheaper than Park. Shop around at bike stores or online and you should be able to get one at a good price.

 

[Roju1985]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-4-in-Torque-Wrench-H4DTW/203541509#.UfgAoayDknU

Just saw this in the store today. May be worth looking at.

 

[Givl Reggin]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1-4-in-Torque-Wrench-H4DTW/203541509#.UfgAoayDknU

The specifications say:
Maximum torque (ft.-lb.) 100
Minimum torque (ft.-lb.) 20

Is that accurate?

Shouldn't it be INCH-LBS?

 

[SMKS]

The specifications say:
Maximum torque (ft.-lb.) 100
Minimum torque (ft.-lb.) 20

Is that accurate?

Shouldn't it be INCH-LBS?

It also says this:

The Husky 1/4 in. Drive Torque Wrench covers a torque range of 40-200 in-lbs.