Bought a torque wrench to “do it the right way” and set it to 25 in lbs - about 10 in lbs lower than specified on the P2C seat post clamp. Many, many turns into it the wrench never “gave away” so I stopped wrenching and decided to try it out on something else. So I cranked away on the seat clamp on an old road bike and “BAM!” it broke the bolt and again, never “gave away”.
WTF?
And BTW, what kind of unknown damage could I have done to my P2C frame or seat post?
The clicky wrenches need to be calibrated. Also, if you used too big of a wrench then it’s going to be wildly inaccurate for lower settings.
What kind of torque wrench was it? I always get a little conservative with my settings. If it’s 12 nm, I set it for 10 nm. I’ve had good luck with the Craftsman torque wrenches. It’s also important to have high quality bits, so you don’t strip the bolts.
Are you sure you didn’t mix up ft/lbs and in/lbs?
That’s why I don’t use clicker type torque wrenches. The other caveat is using any type of torque wrench at values below 20% of its maximum.
Hmmm…first it’s a broken Zipp aero brake lever…now a broken seat clamp on old road bike – anyone else see a trend here?
I kid I kid…
This a brand new torque wrench? What brand and drive? Only a couple of possibilities here: user error or a dysfunctional wrench. You’ve ruled out the former? 
Definitely an inch lbs wrench 20 - 200. I set it at 25 in lbs, locked the locking nut and started wrenching.
So the damage (if there is any) is done. I didn’t hear any cracking or odd sounds when I was wrenching away. No sign of physical damage (cracking or other stuff). So does this mean I’m okay?
25 was way to light for that wrench - purchase a beam style wrench. Make sure that you are no where near me on your maiden voyage…somthins gunna break…
I had this exact fear on my new P2C… so I brought it into the shop, and had them torque down the seatpost bolts with a “$600” Snap-on torque wrench. They also put on a carbon-to-carbon friction compound on the seatpost before tightening it to spec. I hope it stays in place.
Many of the dial a torque wrenches don’t actually “give way” like you would expect. They don’t stop tightening, rather the head shifts a little on the end of the wrench and that’s your clue you have reached the desired setting. You can continue to turn the wrench and snap the bolt head right off.
Set the wrench at its lowest setting and start tightening a bolt on somehthing you know can handle a ton of torque. You will see the minor shift in the position of the head of the ratchet on the end of the lever and that’s your torqe limit.
Hope that helps.
Dave
This is what you should use for bars,seatpost,brakes etc. Get rid of the “click wrench”