Which torque wrench?

just bit the bullet and went for the draper
will report back in detail on my findings !

I still like my park tw2

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-essential-torque-wrench/

Any reviews/recommendations on this torque wrench? £35 is pleasingly cheap compared to some other offerings but not if it's rubbish.

I think the Tester answer to this question was "get one with a certificate of calibration"

That one looks identical (apart from the case shape) to the Condor branded one I have (which is a rebranded tacx one) - its great.

Or get a friend with a torque wrench calibrating tool. FWIW, my friend's calibrating tool has always shown my Draper torque wrenches to be pretty reliable.

I had a draper one- it broke the seat clamp on my s-works :(

I had a draper one- I broke the seat clamp on my s-works :(

ftfy

Torque wrenches don't do anything unless someone is hanging onto them..

Go with feel and common sense, also check household cover.

Does anyone know if there is a difference between any of these, they all look pretty similar?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-torque-wrench-2-24n-m/rp-prod11142?_$ja=tsid:46412|cgn:X-Tools+-+Tools|cn:Chain+Reaction-UK-PLA-PLA-All-DT-SE|kw:34294UK_X-Tools+Torque+Wrench+2-24N.M&gclid=COvlrrS86boCFSEOwwodd0UAJw
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-essential-torque-wrench/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bbb-btl-73-torqueset-torque-spanner-set/

is 3-15NM not just hand tight?

I have the BBB one, its pretty good does the job

Yep. And if you have a calibrated hand, you don't need a torque wrench. However, unless your hand can tell the difference between 5Nm and, say, 8Nm then you'll still need a torque wrench if you want to do things properly.

I ended up getting the Madison/M:Part wrench from Ribble which most people (including road.cc) seem to reckon is in fact a rebranded BBB wrench. Seems decent so far but I've not had much chance to put it to the test.

Yep. And if you have a calibrated hand, you don't need a torque wrench. However, unless your hand can tell the difference between 5Nm and, say, 8Nm then you'll still need a torque wrench if you want to do things properly.

At around 6.5Nm there is a cracking noise which is a bit of a giveaway.

Nobody has mentioned a Norbar TT20. Its range is 1-20Nm, which is all you'll ever need for over 90% of bike applications (I can only think of the nut on the back of a rotor 3D which holds the spider to the crank, this is 40Nm). I have one and find it excellent.

Quite a lot of stuff is 40Nm, although you can usually get away with doing those things "pretty tight".

IIRC GXP crank bolts are 42Nm and complain loudly if it isn't correct. Two torque wrenches, one for the light stuff and another for the 40-50Nm range, is the only real answer.

I have 2 X Norbar- one is the TT20, I can't remember the name of the other one but it handles 20Nm upwards.

Very nice kit.

Edit: just noticed I'm repeating myself upthread.

I've got some Draper and some Snap-On torque wrenches, as I bought them originally for working on cars rather than bikes. They're still torque wrenches though, just without the Bike Tax.

Bloody cyclists, not paying tax.

i use "garant" mechanic torque wrenches. they are precise and made to last.

I'm getting a torque wrench from Mrs Sparky for my birthday. Which one do I point her at? Would like a nice one, that'll last. For up to 15nm... May also need to borrow a heavy-duty one when I fit my Omniums if anyone can help out?