Update: How a stripped bolt changed my approach to bike assembly

I was putting together a custom fixie from spare parts in my garage. I always tightened bolts by feel, thinking it was good enough. One day, a seatpost clamp bolt sheared off during a ride. That moment made me realize how critical proper torque is. Now I check every bolt with a wrench, and it has saved so many headaches.

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3 Comments

patkim7mo ago

A torque wrench is better for that, since regular wrenches can still over-tighten.

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margaret2297mo ago

A torque wrench is just another tool that adds cost and complexity for most jobs. Plenty of mechanics have done perfect work for decades using feel and experience with a regular wrench. Over tightening often comes from rushing, not the tool itself. For a lot of general work, the extra precision isn't worth the hassle or the money. You can get very consistent results by just being careful and paying attention.

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charles_black246mo ago

Guess my car's the one they learned on.

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