Took me 10 years to realize I was over-torquing bottom brackets

I always cranked down bottom brackets as tight as I could get them, thinking tighter was better to prevent creaking. Then last month a frame builder at a local shop pointed out the crack forming around my shell and told me I was crushing the frame. How do you know when you've hit the right torque without using a fancy tool every time?

2 comments

2 Comments

carr.willow24d ago

How do you know when you've finally got it right? It's like that with everything, not just bikes. People think if a little is good, a lot must be way better, but that's how you snap bolts and crack frames. I see it all the time with people overtightening their car's oil drain plug or their lawn mower blade until they strip the threads. You don't need a fancy torque wrench every time, just get a feel for it by using a beam style torque wrench once or twice and pay attention to the sensation of the bolt stopping. That way you learn the resistance point without going full gorilla on it.

grant_perry23d ago

Heard a mechanic once say you should tighten until it feels like the bolt is kissing the surface, then give it just a quarter turn more for good measure. Your point about getting a feel for it with a beam wrench is spot on, that tactile feedback is something you can't get from a click type wrench alone. It's all about developing that muscle memory so you know when it's snug vs when it's getting into dangerous territory.