Customer Reviews

Park Tool TW-1 Torque Wrench (1/4- Inch Drive, 0-60 inch Lbs)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Here's the thing, this is the only torque wrench you'll ever need for the bike, since it covers the entire range of torques for 99.99% of all bicycles. The same range for the Park click type wrenches is at least $200.00, because you'd have to buy the TW-5 and TW-6.

These dial type wrenches are accurate enough for bicycles, without a doubt. For cars, I use the click torque type because the name brands really are more accurate, looking at a gauge is really difficult under the hood or car, AND you need better accuracy for cars because of the tremendously larger forces and various materials you work, eg, keeping water from getting through the heads into the engine.

Bikes just don't need the plus or minus 4 lb. accuracy. Nobody, not even Lance Armstrong pedals at > 1000 lbs. per square inch, on any bike part.

Save yourself $160. No worries. And save yourself the trouble of having to store two wrenches instead of one in your toolbox.

:)

I thought about the click torque wrenches but worried about the calibration, etc. This is a plain beam wrench so all you have to do is look at the pointer to make sure it is zeroed before you use it. Granted you have to be looking at the scale to use it which can sometimes be difficult. I like to be able to watch the torque value increase so I can increase it gradually.

My 150 ft lb wrench is not practical for my motorcycle which often requires inch pounds. I am so impressed I am going to order the 600 inch pound version. Sometimes low tech is the better way to go.

Being an avid cyclist, I love assembling, tinkering, and modifying all of my bikes. Four years ago, I added a full-monocoque carbon fiber road bike (2006 CFR-LE) to my stable. I bought the Park TW-2 Torque Wrench to correctly tighten all of the carbon fiber components (stem, seatpost, cranks, etc.) to manufacturer specs and to prevent damage from overtightening. The long handle provides plenty of torque even for the carbon crankset fixing bolt.

The scale on the TW-2 ranges from 0-600 in. lbs. (0-70 NM) and is appropriate for almost all bike components. This torque wrench is fairly easy to use (need to correctly use the swiveling handle) and includes clear instructions and a basic Torque Specifications table. More detailed torque specs can be downloaded from components manufacturers and parktool website.

The Park Tool TW-2 torque wrench has a 3/8" square drive. No sockets are included; I purchased a separate 10 piece Metric Hex Bit socket set that fits all of my bikes' hex bolts (available at local hardware, auto parts, or online stores). Make sure to use carbon assembly compound/paste for properly tightening carbon components (*paste not recommended for steering column-stem interface and handlebar-stem interface which can cause slippage).

I originall bought the 60 inch version and am happy with it so I bought the 600 inch version. As I said in my review of the 60 incher, I was concerned about the accuracy and mechanics of the click wrenches that many prefer. The downside of the beam wrenches is you have to be looking at the scale. In my opinion the upside is it is easy to check the calibration (set zero) and I like to be able to watch the torque build by looking at the scale rather than wondering when I am going to get there as with a click wrench. Sometimes simple technology is better in my opinion. Not much to go wrong with this one.

This is a great tool. As others have said, the simplicity of this tool is what is appealing. The only drawback is having to be able to see the needle and numbers while torquing. I have always had great luck with Park Tool products and feel good to see the Made in USA stamp.

If you're looking to torque smaller bolts you need a torque wrench that can measure in in-lbs and in newton-meters. This tool is sensitive and accurate. Not to mention you won't find a less expensive tool that can do this job.

This torque wrench works OK but it has a major limitation: it doesn't measure Newton-Meters. Yet most small bike parts seem to be specified by manufacturers in terms of Newton-Meters. Instead this wrench has inch-pounds and centimeter-kilograms. Maybe I'm buying the wrong bike parts (I buy Ritchey, Shimano, Campagnolo, SRAM, etc.) but I've never seen torque requirements of centimeter-kilograms for any commercial bike part. It looks like this tool design is old and Park hasn't updated it, though an update has been overdue for at least five years now. Your only recourse with this tool is to mark up the tool face with NM or keep a calculator around when using it.

This is a quality wrench (by feel) however on the one that I received the N/m and the inch/lb scales do not line up at 0. So this makes it impossible to properly calibrate the wrench for both scales. It isn't bad enough to send it back but it is annoying and shows poor quality control.

This, of course, makes me wonder how accurate the wrench is overall.

If you wish to be careful about the torque settings when you adjust various fasteners on your bicycle this is the right tool for you. I have been riding for 60+ years without one, but the recent addition of carbon fiber parts to my bike made me consider the importance just right bolt tightening. (Steel and aluminum are more forgiving over tightening.) This inexpensive tool will make you safer, if you confirm the correct tension has been applied to each fastener.

This Park Tool torque wrench is simply the best torque wrench. I have both TW-1 and TW-2 and they are hold very accurate torque specs.

The small little ball handle feels a little weird holding with your hand but I guess they designed it that way on purpose.