Changed my mind about using a torque wrench on carbon seatposts

I always just went by feel, but after a customer's $300 post cracked at the clamp last week, I started using my 5Nm wrench every time. The difference is I'm not guessing anymore and I haven't had a single issue since. How many of you actually torque every carbon part, or is that just for the fancy stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

grantc8028d ago

Torque wrenches are a must for any carbon part, not just the expensive bits. The material doesn't give you the same feedback as aluminum, so it's easy to go way over. A lot of those clicks you feel are just the resin, and by then the damage is already done. It's cheap insurance against a very expensive mistake.

fionat5528d ago

Totally agree and it goes beyond just seatposts and stems. People forget about things like bottle cage bolts or small computer mount screws. I've seen a carbon frame get a nasty crack from someone just cranking down a mudguard mount. The torque spec for those tiny bolts is often stupid low, like 2 Nm, which is basically finger tight. A regular hex key feels like nothing is happening, so you keep turning.

ray56228d ago

Ugh, that's the scary part... people think they're being careful but that click can come way too late. The wrench is just telling you it hit the number, not that the carbon is still okay. So you still gotta go slow and listen for creaks, not just wait for the click.