A YouTube video from a shop in Portland convinced me to start using torque wrenches on every bolt

I always thought I could feel when a bolt was tight enough. Been working on bikes for about 15 years and never had a problem. Then I watched a video from this repair shop in Portland where they tested hand tight vs torque wrench on carbon handlebars. They showed that hand tight can be off by 30% or more. That surprised me. So I picked up a beam style torque wrench for $35 last month. Started using it on stem bolts and crank bolts. Honestly feels slower but I figure it is worth it for safety. Has anyone else made the switch later in their career?

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miles547d ago

dude the "hand tight can be off by 30%" stat really hit me too. i saw that same video and it was the first time i felt like an idiot for just going by feel for so long. i got a digital torque adapter for like 40 bucks and it is definitely a pain in the ass to set up every time but i figure it beats snapping a carbon steerer tube someday.