Torque really necessary?

Just been looking through a couple of techy posts and noticed a lot of people seem to be saying 'make sure you tighten it to the correct torque' and things to that effect.

I don't have a torque wrench and neither has my Dad. He always taught me to tighten it by hand and with axles don't tighten them too tight and it's always worked fine for me.

So is a torque wrench really necessary?

With the cheesey fixings on the SV it is advisable but not 100% necessary

My Dad taught me it all on my 1980 DT125 and that didn't fall apart...












Well not entirely anyway

Depends how much of a guerilla you are - or depth of knowledge of lever law.



EDIT: Or different threads/materials.... For me I use one more to avoid overtightening

Well I could manage to tighten up everything fine at 16

I find biking is full of lots of conflciting information.

For example the torque thing, but also things like running an engine in.

I've always lubed the chain with the bike on paddock stand in first gear as has my Dad and nearly everyone else I speak to says that's a big no no.

I think if you find something that works for you then stick to it.

[timwilky]

Some things I would never bother about, sump plugs, spark plugs, clip on and lever mountings etc.

However, engine components such as cylinder heads,
frame&suspension, wheels/brakes all get properly torqued.

The torque value is a nominal figure that should ensure a fastener remains within the elastic range at optimum "tightness", in truth most experienced mechanics can "feel" a fastener. However, most have also experienced threads failing well below recommended torques and would combine experienced feel with manufacturers recommended torques and compromise.

As for lubing the chain with a turning wheel, that is asking for a serious accident, dont come crying if your sleeve etc gets dragged in and your hand/arm get mangled. I have seen enough real life serious accidents in workshops to advise anyone to take stupid risks. Put it on the stand and turn it my hand.

Your supposed to torque spark plugs Well I never

Originally Posted by MCN_LiamM

Well I could manage to tighten up everything fine at 16

I find biking is full of lots of conflciting information.

For example the torque thing, but also things like running an engine in.

I've always lubed the chain with the bike on paddock stand in first gear as has my Dad and nearly everyone else I speak to says that's a big no no.

I think if you find something that works for you then stick to it.

Well if you've had someone showing you that's one thing. If you've never seen a spanner before and are putting your brake calipers back on with the thought "Better do these up tight - don't want em coming undone" a Torque wrench could be useful.

RE Chains no one's going to say "pop it in first" because of the inevitable percentage of fingers in chains people.

[flymo]

I think torque settings are extremely important. Experience however allows you to tighten some nuts etc to roughly the right amount without the proper wrench.

Without a torque wrench you have no idea whether you are tightening too much or too little, especially on delicate parts or parts that require very high torque settings.

Watch any MotoGP tyre mechanic when changing a rear wheel, 'near enough' isnt accurate enough, thats why they use a torque wrench.

Personally, for some tings I wait till im with my dad because I dont have a torque wrench (like chain adjustment). My dad tightens almost everything by hand (since he has been a car mechanic for the best part of forever, he's very well calibrated) but I would prefer a torque wrench. Somethings I am ok with (caliper bolts and stuff) but other things i'm not so confident with (i have had rear wheels on mountain bikes slip forward because the axle wasnt done up tight enough...it was painfull then, i dont wanna try it on my SV!)

Some things I wouldnt use a torque wrench for, like doing up a sump bolt, because that dosnt need to be done very tight (just a nip)