PSA: don't let your buddy borrow your torque wrench for a group ride

Ngl, I learned this the hard way at a group ride out in Golden Gate Park last Saturday. A buddy asked to borrow my Park Tool TW-5 to tighten his stem after some trail bumps, and I figured sure, no big deal. Turns out he cranked it way past the click and threw the calibration way off. I didn't notice until I was torquing down my brake calipers at home the next day and it was reading like 3 Nm higher than normal. Had to send it back to Park Tool for recalibration, cost me $45 and a week of waiting. Has anyone else dealt with a borrowed torque wrench coming back messed up? I'm thinking of just locking mine in my toolbox from now on.

2 comments

2 Comments

the_joseph9h ago

Caught my buddy cranking my TW-5 past the click" is why I put a lock on my tool chest now. Some folks just don't respect precision tools. A torque wrench is a measuring instrument, not a general breaker bar.

ryan_stone4h ago

Man come on. Its a torque wrench not a holy relic. Yeah clicking it past the stop isnt great but its not like he was using it to pry open a paint can. These tools are built tough most of them can handle a little extra twist now and then. Locking up your whole tool chest over this seems a bit much honestly.