An old timer at the swap meet told me to always use a torque wrench on carbon seatposts

I used to think it was overkill for a simple part, but last month I cracked a customer's $400 carbon post by just going by feel. The guy said, 'Your hands lie, the wrench tells the truth,' and he was right. I felt pretty bad about it and had to eat the cost. Anyone else have a simple rule that saved them from a big mistake?

3 comments

3 Comments

blair3962mo ago

Learned that lesson the hard way too, but with a carbon handlebar clamp. That old timer's advice goes for any part where too much force turns money into dust. Bought a decent torque wrench and now it's the only tool that touches anything carbon on my bench. Saves a lot of second guessing and even more cash.

charles_barnes2mo ago

Honestly, how many people even check their torque wrench calibration? I got mine used and didn't think about it for a year. Tbh finding out it was way off made me sweat, all those parts I'd worked on. Ngl it's another layer of stress, like you need a tool to check the tool. Makes that "money into dust" thing hit even harder.

ruby_murphy26d ago

Man that's the brutal truth right there, a torque wrench is cheap insurance compared to replacing expensive carbon parts.