If you are the type who likes to work on their own bike then you know how important it is to have the right tool for the job. And when it comes to mountain bike tools, there are a lot to choose from! Just like there are specialized tools for auto mechanics, the same thing applies to mountain bike mechanics. So when it comes to getting the done job right, you can't do it without the right tool! |
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Most of us have the basic tools such as an Allen key set, tire levers, chain tool and a shock pump etc. But once you get into the more advanced mountain bike repairs you will need more advanced tools such as a spoke wrench, bottom bracket wrench, cassette removal tool and a torque wrench.
If you do decide to take the plunge and buy a torque wrench, it is important to get a high quality model since having the correct torque specs on your bike components is essential to how the perform and also to your safety. Nobody wants an important bolt falling off their bike while blazing down a steep hill!
You will also need to make sure the torque specifications of the tool match up with what you plan on using it for since torque wrenches will have limits as to how much torque they can apply to a bolt and you bike will have various torque specs on different components. Torque specs will vary and are usually measured in pound feet, inch feet and Newton meters (Nm). If your torque wrench is measured in inch pounds and your bolt has a Nm torque setting then you can find a conversion calculator online to do the conversion for you. For example a bolt that needs to be tightened to 20 Nm converts to 177 inch pounds.
For many bike components the Newton meter measurement is used so it's a good idea to find a torque wrench that uses the Nm measurement. For this article we are going to be discussing one such torque wrench that uses this setting and offers a lot of bang for the buck.
The Pro Bike Tool torque wrench set if a complete kit that you can buy that will take care of most of your bike torque needs. Keep in mind that to torque down something like your crank bolts you will need a higher torque rating since many crank bolts need to be tightened to around 55 Nm while other things such as brake rotor bolts have a torque spec of around 5 Nm so its hard to find a wrench that will cover all of your needs and if you are really serious you will have more than one.
The Pro Bike Tool torque wrench has torque settings from 10 Nm to 60 Nm giving you a fairly broad range of torque settings and will work in both clockwise and counter clockwise directions. It uses the typical click method to let you know when you have reached the proper torque spec on the bolt you are tightening. It also features a 72 tooth rachet mechanism for improved precision.
The kit comes with the torque wrench, an extension adapter, 3/8" to 1/4" adaptor, 3/8" to 1/2" adaptor and a nice hard shell case to keep everything in one place. It comes in a chrome finish, but we found it a little hard to read the numbers with "faulty" eyes but if you have normal people eyes or reading glasses then you should be ok. The website shows the numbers in black on the but ours is a little lighter making it a bit hard to read.
When using the Pro Bike Tool torque wrench it operated very smoothly and it was very obvious when you were at your torque setting thanks to the easy to hear and feel click. It feels like a very solid wrench and appears to be very well made and we should be able to get many years of use out of it. You can read more about it, watch some informational videos or buy your own set online on their website.
