Customer Reviews

Park Tool TW-2 Torque Wrench (3/8- Inch Drive, 0-600 inch Lbs)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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).

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 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.

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.

excellent tool. wish it came with a hard case to protect it, but you can keep it in the cardboard box. good torque range for working on bikes and small engines. price and quality are great, highly recommended.

I had bought a cheap ratchet Torque wrench a month ago ( Tekton) that broke after the 4th use. I got the Park wrench today, and found out that the one that broke had allowed me to set the torque way too high on the components that I had used it on. The Park tool is well made, accurate, and should last forever since there is nothing to break. Well worth the money, and with todays bikes and on my Recumbent Trike ( Rover) there are a couple of components that should be torqued properly.

I quickly reset the torque on the nuts that I had overtorqued with the defective wrench. The scale is easy to see, and the tool is easy to use. All you need is some 3/8" sockets to work with it.

I am very pleased with your product. It was just the tool I was looking for to tighten objects to their specifications. It is a broad scale, so I can also use it to do many foot pound specifications. Thanks for making such a great tool. I also appreciate the promptness in which I received it.

Pro's:
+ Does not need to be sent off for calibration
+ Durable

Con's:
- The identical unit, under a different brand, is available at Sears for 1/2 the price
- Plastic handle feels cheap.
- Make sure you calibrate it out of the box - mine was about 1 nM off and the needle was pressed against the meter. Seems sloppy.

I have several other Park tools and they work well (usually not the best, but better than average). I expected something a little more tailored for bicycle repair - my fault (not sure what I was expecting I guess). It's as basic as torque wrenches get.

Docked 1 star for value, lack of calibration out of the box (just bend it back at the wrench head), and the cheap handle. Still, it works and most importantly with no worries about the calibration being off. The sound of carbon fiber cracking is not pleasant.

This torque wrench seems more accurate at heavier torque ratings, like bottom brackets etc.... Its proabbly best to check torque specss for your job(s) on park tools.com before you buy this one or the ratcheting type.

Basically, if you're buying this to do anything under 60 inch-lbs, you're probably better off with the ratcheting type torque wrench. This one seems better suited to heavier duty specs.

Seems to be made just fine, except it was a bit off calibration (zero) when I got it.