I have an '04 Specialized Allez Pro with carbon forks/stearer tube, carbon stem & carbon bars. My LBS where I bought the bike said, "Stop by anytime and we'll give you a fitting." Well, when I stopped by they said they were too busy and I should make an appointment even though no one was in the shop and only the NJ hardcore have been riding! I love how they do that after I fork over $2,600.

Anyway, I've done a lot of my own wrenching so I've taken matters into my own hands. My question is, how tight should I tighten all of these bolts. I'm asking for feel, not torque as don't have a torque wrench.

Basically, after taking everything apart, I tightened the threadless headset bolt until it just started to get fairly tight. No grimacing faces or anything - probably 1/4 to 1/2 turn away from that. Then the same with the 2 stem bolts and same at the handlebar end.

Does that sound ok? Thanks.

I would tighten just enough to avoid slipping. Tighten some, then try to move the parts. Pull or push pretty hard. If they don't slip, then you should be ok, right? If they do slip, then tighten just a little more.

You get better and smoother tightening if threads are lubed or anti-seize is applied.

Not as much an issue with the steer tube clamp, but on the bar clamp, you need to get tight enough that they won't slip if you hit a big pothole or bump. Once in a race while in a big pack I hit a big bump I couldn't see really hard, and this rotated my bars down about 45 degrees (I was on the hoods).

I'd guess that undertightening is always better than over, right?

Doug



I have an '04 Specialized Allez Pro with carbon forks/stearer tube, carbon stem & carbon bars. My LBS where I bought the bike said, "Stop by anytime and we'll give you a fitting." Well, when I stopped by they said they were too busy and I should make an appointment even though no one was in the shop and only the NJ hardcore have been riding! I love how they do that after I fork over $2,600.

Anyway, I've done a lot of my own wrenching so I've taken matters into my own hands. My question is, how tight should I tighten all of these bolts. I'm asking for feel, not torque as don't have a torque wrench.

Basically, after taking everything apart, I tightened the threadless headset bolt until it just started to get fairly tight. No grimacing faces or anything - probably 1/4 to 1/2 turn away from that. Then the same with the 2 stem bolts and same at the handlebar end.

Does that sound ok? Thanks.

I'm still old school with a Ti stem and post and Al bars, so I don't have to worry about this sort of thing. However, my wife is about to take delivery on a bike with a CF steerer fork, and I plan to get a torque wrench. For the cost of a decent wrench, why take a risk on getting this wrong? I never used a torque wrench anywhere on a bike until I got a BB that needed to be torqued to 70 nm. Now I use the big bar every time I do the BB. I'll do the same with the new bike, but with a small (not yet purchased) wrench.

[QUOTE=goldsbar] I love how they do that after I fork over $2,600.
I'm asking for feel, not torque as don't have a torque wrench.QUOTE]

After dropping $2600 on a bike, you'd be retarded not to go to Sears and get a $60 Torque Wrench. Besides, if you do more "wrenching" you'll NEED ONE.