One of the bar extensions on my HED bars worked loose on this evenings hill session and although I stopped in at a garage and tightened it I am not too sure what setting to use on it. I will use a torque wrench and loctite, but can anyone give me a recommended setting?
Come on wrenches, someone must know!
Mine rotate a bit no matter what I do. Particularly the left one. I didn’t torque it, but just tighten it and it works free on its own. The “JSG” (big fitter and bike seller) I bought it from was no help in giving me advice on what to do. I assume it is a design issue. But Hed would tell you.
Recommended torque on those size bolts is 40-45 inlbs. (5 nm). Those bolts are the same size/thread pitch as the Ritchey WCS and Thomson stem bolts, which also thread into Aluminum. Ritchey says 5nm, Thomson 40 in-lbs. (5nm = 44 in-lbs). If you are using Loctite, go on the lower end. I use 45 on mine w/o loctite and they don’t budge, but they is also minimal marring to the carbon. I use 45 all around on that bar (armrests too) as all hardware is the same size and going into the same grade of aluminium (I added that extra “i” in there so you would know what I was talking about…).
Barnett’s torque table is also listed online if you search.
50 inch lbs should do it, but if it takes more then make them tighter. I am not endorsing a cheater bar or tightening them til you are blue in the face, but I don’t want your bars to rotate either. When you tighten them, you will be pinching the socket for the armrest closed slightly, it will require some force. We left adequate material on the clamps so that you will not break them when they pinch down. If you use loctite, go with blue or purple - both are weak and made for small fastners. Red may be permanent on a bolt this small. -Andy (at Hed)
Thanks for that answer, Andy. I shall be using blue loctite to prevent the anti-slip factor.
Thanks also to Rappstarr for your response, both have been of great help.