I need to get one of these so I can start following mnfg specs vs doing things by feel. Where can I find a torque wrench that mates with an allen wrench? Do I need to get one at a bike shop or should any tool shop have it?
You can get hex heads for a 3/8th socket…works every time…head to Sears.
My only gripe is that bike stuff is measured in Neuton Millimetres, and most U.S. hardware stores have them in inches or foot pounds, maybe ounces. It is slightly maddening, as these torque ratings are very important on carbon widgets that need it just tight enough or you will crush it.
yes, you must get socket heads with allen fittings to put on a traditional torque wrench.
I need to get one of these so I can start following mnfg specs vs doing things by feel. Where can I find a torque wrench that mates with an allen wrench? Do I need to get one at a bike shop or should any tool shop have it?
Get the Syntace one.
You can buy the two Syntace torque wrenches directly from their website, but they are cheaper elsewhere.
For example at this German webshop:
Syntace Torque Tool 1-20 Nm (92.90 €) https://www.starbike.com/php/product_info.php?lang=en&table=tblTool&id=31
Syntace Torque Tool 10-80 Nm (99.00 €) https://www.starbike.com/php/product_info.php?lang=en&table=tblTool&id=32
For orders outside EU 16% VAT will be subtracted from the price.
Btw. I think the scale is base on the SI units, so it’s Newton meter, not Neuton millimeter.
Get the beam version and not the rotary clicker. The rotary clicker types have to be calibrated annually. The beam version is available from Park Tool - better bike shops will have it. There are high and low range torque wrenches. You may need both. You need hex nut drivers that are the right drive size to use with your torque wrench, typically 3/8 or 1/4, possibly 1/2 for really high torque applications.
I own two torque wrenches, best investment ever. I picked up a 1/4 socket from performancebike.com and a 3/8 from Sears Hardware. It is a good idea to have both. The smaller one is for smaller parts, wile the larger one is obviously for larger parts such as bb. If you are going to buy just one, go with the smaller wrench.
“Neuton Millimetres”
Actually, it’s Newton-meter.
The torque wrench I got at Sears has both foot-pounds and Newton-meters, and is sensitive enough to work as low as 8 N-m, but not high enough for, say, a cassette which is looking for 50 N-m. Most torque wrenches that I have seen start at closer to 50 N-m and go up from there - they are really meant for cars, I guess.