PSA: Saw a stripped crank bolt at the Portland bike co-op that changed my torque wrench habits

I was helping a new volunteer at the co-op last week, and they cranked down on a Shimano Hollowtech II bolt with a regular hex key until the aluminum threads just gave out. Now I keep a cheap torque wrench in my portable kit and show it to every customer who brings in their own work. What's the most common part you see people over-tighten in your shop?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim_patel891mo ago

My first carbon seatpost still haunts me.

leow9012d ago

And honestly I had the exact opposite experience with mine. I get why @jessica_miller mentions the creaking issue with carbon paste, but once I figured out the torque spec that seatpost was rock solid for years. Some of those early aluminum ones I had would slip down no matter how much I tightened them. I think a lot of people blame the material when it's really just a setup problem. Give me a carbon post with some friction paste over a heavy alloy one any day.

jessica_miller1mo agoTop Commenter

Oh man, tell me about it. That creaking noise from mine still gives me flashbacks. Learned the hard way about carbon paste.