torque wrench
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 1
From: Clinton, Ohio
RE: torque wrench
A torque wrench should be a very important tool in the tool box. Don't cheap out and get one at AutoZone (trust me, I know). I ended up getting a really nice one at Sears. One of the best investments you can make. I wrench my bike and my truck both, and couldn't live without it.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
RE: torque wrench
on one hand, it can be very easy to over-tighten and strip the threads off a sensitive fastener like the primary drain plug
on the other hand, you will be amazed how much more then just "snug tight" you need to close a critical fastener like the muffler clamp bolts or the fork tree pinch bolts
get a cheap-to-avarage-priced wrenches. two of them. one 10-100NM with a 3/8" drive.
the other a 30-200NM with a 1/2" drive. use them regularly.
on the other hand, you will be amazed how much more then just "snug tight" you need to close a critical fastener like the muffler clamp bolts or the fork tree pinch bolts
get a cheap-to-avarage-priced wrenches. two of them. one 10-100NM with a 3/8" drive.
the other a 30-200NM with a 1/2" drive. use them regularly.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 534
Likes: 35
From: Western Australia
RE: torque wrench
If ya know what ya doin' ya can get away without havin' one. If ya still learnin' about doin' ya own service and maintainance work, buy a good one and look after it. If ya dont buy one and things come loose or fall off, ya not doin' em up tight enough. If ya start strippin' threads and breakin' stuff, ya really should buy a torque wrench.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 582
Likes: 50
From: South Park, CO
RE: torque wrench
You should buy three torque wrenches (1/4", 3/8", & 1/2"). I never trust any torque wrench at either end of its scale. Short of that, use the right length rachet for the job. A long 12" rachet really should not be used for small fasteners.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
From: Pickens, SC
RE: torque wrench
It won't take but one time to over tighten something and strip some threads, then the time and cost it takes to fix it and you'll be wishing you had just gotten the torque wrench and done it right the first time. If it is something that you don't get tightened down to the right torque and it works it's self loose should be very dangerous depending on what it is. so yes go ahead and get one for inch pounds and one for foot pounds. you want regret it.
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
RE: torque wrench
Ask my wife how important a torque wrench is:
Her bars dropped loose in her hands at 60+ mph on a twist mountain road. Less than 500 miles on a new bike. Apprarently the dealer's guys thought "snugging 'em up hand tight" was safe enough.
Wife is a good rider and a really good wrench so she got it to a safe place and fixed 'em right. Get and use a torque wrench, and be religious about snugging 'em down to the specs laid out in the SM. I agree with ssis6 - never trust the 10% of the scale at either end the the wrench.
Her bars dropped loose in her hands at 60+ mph on a twist mountain road. Less than 500 miles on a new bike. Apprarently the dealer's guys thought "snugging 'em up hand tight" was safe enough.
Wife is a good rider and a really good wrench so she got it to a safe place and fixed 'em right. Get and use a torque wrench, and be religious about snugging 'em down to the specs laid out in the SM. I agree with ssis6 - never trust the 10% of the scale at either end the the wrench.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
RE: torque wrench
A torque wrench and loctite are essential safety tools for properly securing critical fasteners on a motorcycle. In other words there are some fasteners that you definitely don't want coming loose at speed. Small investment in safety and reliability. 