PRO BIKE TOOL 1/4 Torque Wrench Set - Maintenance Kit for Road and Mountain Bikes - Includes Allen and Torx Sockets - Torque Wrenches - Bicycle Torque Wrench - 2 to 20 Nm

Product Information

Torquing a bolt is a simple process with the bits slotting in nicely to the bolt heads. The bits seem to be well made and I can't see any wear on the S2 steel bits. And as an intermediate option, it has a price to match. You don’t have to break the bank to get this Lexivon Torque Wrench, but you’re also not spending pennies for something you know you’ll have to replace at some point down the road. Dialling in the torque is easy: you simply pull the adjuster out and turn until the dial aligns with the desired torque reading. The tool has increments of 0.4Nm in a range of 3-15Nm with an accuracy of ±4%. This is more accurate than the torsion bar wrenches and the cheaper style of torque wrench with the graduated scale along the handle. The struggle here is it can be hard to read the raised numbers, especially if you’re wrenching in a poorly lit hotel room, or adjusting a saddle bolt upside down. It’s comfortable to use, but the hollow plastic construction certainly feels cheap and can lead to clearance issues in rare cases. The good news is that keeping this from happening is easy. After you use the torque wrench simply lower the torque wrench to the lowest setting. You shouldn’t “bottom out” the torque wrench, put it on the lowest setting it has.

Knowing how to use a torque wrench is key, because it is still possible to under- or over-tighten bolts with one if you are not careful. This Capri Tools torque wrench is another ¼” drive torque wrench that you should consider for smaller jobs. It’s an outstanding mix of price and quality for a ¼” torque wrench. It’s not the most affordable option out there for a ¼” option, but since it’s a smaller torque wrench it’s still not all that expensive. The Pro Bike Tool set is 'calibration tested for accuracy to ISO 6789:2003'. That means that before it leaves the factory, it gets tested and you get a little sheet with your torque wrench's performance. This one I have here was no more than 0.3Nm out on the three set torque tests. Over time, you might want to get this recalibrated, especially if you're using it a lot and needing some low torque settings.Dial Torque Wrench: Dial Torque Wrenches utilize a dial or gauge with a calibrated scale and rotating needle to display the applied torque and indicate the torque value applied. Hey, that looks just like the LifeLine Professional or the Pedro’s Demi,” I hear you say. Yep, there’s a good reason for that – it’s the same. Sourced from Taiwan, this Shimano/PRO item is a rebadged tool, but there’s a good reason so many brands put their label on it – it does exactly what it should. Most manufacturers recommend calibrating a torque wrench yearly. This is not particularly expensive to get done and will ensure your wench is still operating in the correct range of torque. Breaking Torque Wrench (or break-over torque wrench): features a pivot point or hinge which ˈbreaks overˈ when the pre-set torque is reached. This allows the handle to move or rotate indicating that the required torque has been applied. It comes in a foam-lined hard plastic case, something we found tough to actually get the tool out of. However, it does keep it safe and all the bits together.

Some torque wrenches are electronic and some are mechanical. There's nothing that makes one inherently more accurate than the other but there are reasons you might choose one or the other. The main argument for mechanical is that they don't need batteries. You never run the risk of reaching for your wrench and finding it dead. Also, torque wrenches can last a very long time and LCD displays don't have the same staying power as a precision metal tool. Torque is the twisting force applied to an item. In the case of bike torque wrenches, that's the bolts and components that hold your bike together, but you'll also find torque numbers (much larger ones)mentioned in relation to the turning force delivered by the best e-bike motors. If you’re looking for the best deal on the market today for some torque wrenches, you won’t beat this deal. That’s because while it’s priced similarly to many of the other torque wrenches on our list, you’re not getting just one torque wrench. Bits included: 2, 2.5, 3, 4 (long), 5 (long) & 6mm hex, Torx 10, 15, 20, 25 (long) & 30, Phillips #2, 100mm extension Using your own feel when tightening bolts will get you pretty close (if said feel is decent), but we've seen plenty of heavy-handed riders strip delicate threads on parts, however.Made in Italy, the Pro version from Effetto Mariposa is positioned as the premium cycling-specific torque wrench. Testing showed reliable accuracy and ease of use. Nearly every bolt or fastener on a bike will have a torque rating specified by the manufacturer. Torque is the measurement of rotational force that is applied to an object. When we tighten down a bolt we stretch the threads creating friction, which prevents the bolt from coming undone. Too loose and the bolt or screw may work free, but too tight and we may damage the bolt or whatever it's attached to. If you do use the handle that comes with the system it comfortable in hand and gives good control. (Image credit: Josh Ross)

While nobody wants to spend a whole bunch for anything, this is one of those cases where the old saying “you get what you pay for” holds true. It’s not that the lower-cost tools won’t properly torque things down because they will, it’s that they won’t last quite as long. If you need a torque wrench for smaller bolts and jobs, then the BullTools Torque Wrench Set is an outstanding choice for you to consider. It’s a ¼” drive torque wrench set, which means it works in inch-pounds instead of foot-pounds. Smart Torque Wrench: Smart Torque Wrenches incorporate wireless connectivity such as Bluetooth or WiFi to connect to mobile devices or a computer network via an app or software Slipping Torque Wrench: Slipping Torque Wrenches disengage or slip once the pre-set torque is reached, preventing further torque application. Torque wrenches allow you to measure and limit the amount of force applied to a fixing. Every nut and bolt in your car will have a torque value. It’s particularly important that you have a torque wrench to hand if you’re working on the engine, gearbox or any crucial components in the drivetrain or suspension system.Now that you know a little more about some of the best torque wrenches out there, it’s time to figure out which torque wrench is right for you. Not only that, but too many people get an excellent torque wrench only to ruin it because they don’t know how to care for it properly. The only other torque wrench I have is Park Tool's ATD-1, and testing them together showed that they agreed with what torque each bolt was at. On the other hand, you have to carefully read the beam in relation to a scale to know that you have achieved the correct torque. This can be difficult if the unit you are torquing to isn’t printed on the scale or if you are aiming for a decimal. You’ll also need a steady hand. Most beam-style torque wrenches for bicycles tend to be aimed at the entry point of the market and are often made of plastic or more flexible materials.

And it’s also why it takes quite a bit to earn our nod as the best ½” drive torque wrench. This ACDelco ARM601 torque wrench is an outstanding mix of price and quality. While it’s far from the most affordable option on our list, it’s a great value considering it should last a lifetime. Torque wrenches are extremely sensitive pieces of equipment, and as such you need to store them properly to keep the calibration intact. Most torque wrenches come with a case, and we highly recommend storing them in this case whenever you aren’t using them.For instance, our top choice, the GearWrench Micrometer Torque Wrench, has a low-end torque setting of 30 ft/lbs. This is the setting you want to store the torque wrench at to keep the calibration correct for as long as possible. Storing Your Torque Wrench Take a look at all the jobs you need a torque wrench for and all the recommended torque specs, and then match those numbers up with the torque wrench you’re looking at. If you need a wide range of torque specs, there’s a good chance a single torque wrench won’t be able to handle it all. It’s not that we think the extension will affect the final torque spec, it’s just that all it takes is for you to get a little off-center to get an errant reading. If you use it properly there shouldn’t be a problem though. Just because you are tightening a bolt with a torque wrench doesn't automatically mean you are getting the correct torque. One of the biggest mistakes is holding the wrench incorrectly. Each wrench has a design that requires a specific placement of force against it. Park Tool has an excellent video covering the details but the bottom line is you should never choke up on the wrench or hold it at the very end; basically, hold it at the handle. This will help protect your torque wrench, keep the calibration intact, and help it last year after year. Calibrating Your Torque Wrench