Torque tightening (with an Allen key)?

[mart]

In the owners manual that came with my road bike (cycle), there were torque settings for most if not all of the allen screws. Basically the bike is held together with them, except the wheels which are quick release skewers.

Today I went out on the bike, and after going over a patch of uneven road I noticed the handlebars had turned slightly one way and the fork had gone the other way.Could have been very dangerous at speed.

I came home and found that the 4 clamping screws at the steering head had come loose. I obviously did not tighten these up enough about 5 weeks (150 miles) ago, or if I did they have worked loose. At the time I didn’t want to over tighten them and damage the aluminium. The allen screws just screw in to a threaded bracket/clamp-there is no nut that goes on the end.

Is there a way to torque tighten allen screws?

 

[the snooper]

yes with allen bits that have an adaptor such as these

 

[mart]

Snooper do you know what the correct name is for a set of these straight type of allen keys?

 

[the snooper]

Snooper do you know what the correct name is for a set of these straight type of allen keys?

allen socket sets

 

[mart]

ok-thanks.

 

[the snooper]

ok-thanks.

or hex socket sets

 

[Maker]

I've personally never given it any thought, just use allen keys. Get them tight but don't go stupid and you won't have a problem.

 

[the snooper]

I've personally never given it any thought, just use allen keys. Get them tight but don't go stupid and you won't have a problem.

he did
he did
he did

 

[Simon-]

Just a thought. Add a smear of low strength loctite thread locker. Something like 222.

 

[mike os]

If you use thread lock and it is not specified you will need to determine the wet or lubricated torque... its a lot lower than the dry torque

 

[grim_d]

As above. Bit of threadlock and maybe even some torque seal then you would know at a glance if they had loosened.

 

[711jrp]

You might need a special torque wrench as well as most won't go low enough, mine are 4lbs/f which is very low on my bike.

 

[hotrodder]

It's a bike stem. It doesn't need loctite or torque wrenches and both ARE more likely to result in damaged parts than a bit of common sense and some feel unless it's a very good quality torque wrench or torque screwdriver; as said with most bike stuff we're talking very low numbers in the grand scheme

Aluminium bike stems have existed for eons. Pratting about with torque wrenches is a relatively new concept that's more about CYA (cover your ...) in todays 'compensashion init' culture. Back before common sense became extinct stems, bars, seat posts, brake and gear levers would be nipped up just tight enough that they wouldn't move when smacked firmly with the palm of a hand. That way when some cretin in a car who's too busy twitfacing to look where they're going knocks you off everything can move instead of getting bent and/or breaking

 

[chunkolini]

For pushbikes I do them up fairly tight, but not too tight.
Enough that is starts to hurt for the larger or more important bolts.
You need a special low reading torque wrench for bikes as they are usually measured in inch/pounds.
Just go tight enough and a tiny nip more. And check them now and again.

 

[mart]

or hex socket sets

ok

 

[Spark plug]

You will probably find that the correct torque will be less that you tightened them to in the first place.

 

[rikrobson]

just nip em up every week or 2 when you service your bike.

 

[normspanners]

I call em cap head drivers

 

[the snooper]

I call em cap head drivers

slacker that's the type of fastening not the method of driving them

 

[normspanners]

No-- they are------ socket cap heads----- the driver------- drives them hence------ cap head drivers .