Torque Concept versus Torque Measurement

On 8 Apr 2004 06:21:16 -0700, [email hidden] (Calvin Jones) may

have said:

There is also a difference between working on your own bike, and
working professionally on other peoples bikes. Correct use of a
torque wrench is one more way a shop can stand fully behind its work.

This is true in more areas than just bike repair. In my experience,
the automotive mechanics who didn't use a torque wrench in enough
places also tended to be the ones who had the most comebacks and
customer complaints.

I stayed out of the other thread initially because it seemed to me
that advocating the *non*-use of a torque wrench is a religious
position, and as such, there was little point in saying anything. The
wise reader would see the fallacy, and the unwise would likely only
learn by experience. However, the issue here really *is* experience,
and I eventually had to make the point (obliquely) that a torque
wrench is, in many respects, a tool to add artificial judgement to the
actions of the inexperienced...and to provide repeatable results for
the experienced in conditions of fatigue or time pressure...and to
provide *accuracy* in places where organic measurement may not be
"good enough", few that those are on a bike.

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Calvin Jones said:

(This is a general reply to the topic as it began.)
There are different reasons for using a torque wrench. It must be kept
in mind, however, a torque wrench is only a tool, and will not replace
thinking. What a threaded fastener (nut & bolt) needs is an adequate
amount of tension, which is simply not-too-little and not-too-much. This
can be achieved by a truing the thread either by hand or by a torque
wrench. A torque wrench is then a measuring tool, much like a spoke
tensiometer, a tape measure, a caliper, or even a tablespoon or
measuring cup for a cook. You can make a great cake by grabbing hands
full of flour and pouring out the salt, but most people would not want
to purchase such a cake at their local grocery store. A torque wrench,
used correctly, makes a good mechanic better. However, if basic
knowledge is lacking, a torque wrench will not act as "magic wand"
making every component safe and secure.
There is also a difference between working on your own bike, and working
professionally on other peoples bikes. Correct use of a torque wrench is
one more way a shop can stand fully behind its work. A quick look at
various bicycle forums will show that the creaking bicycle is often an
issue, making lack of torque knowledge wide spread.
See also for threading and torque issues: http://www.parktool.com/repai-
r_help/thread.shtmlhttp://www.parktool.com/repair_help/thread.shtml
http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/torque.shtmlhttp://www.parktool.com-
/repair_help/torque.shtml

I agree, except I think you meant turning not "truing" by hand.

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