alxsmlv

Hello, I will be flying with my bike and plan to remove brake rotor discs to avoid bending them. The mechanism to lock them is Shimano center lock ring which needs to be tightened to 40 nm.

I have a cassette removal tool with a handle which also fits the lock ring. I don't have a torque wrench which would fit into the center lock mechanism. What is your opinion on using this to tighten the lockring? I was just thinking of applying (enough?) force so the brake rotor lock ring is tightened well. How much force by feel would be 40nm? Perhaps you could recommend a nice and not too big/expensive tool for this? Thanks

FBinNY 

Assuming you use a torque wrench at home, try using it to "calibrate" your hands. This won't be precise, but with a bit of practice you'll be able to reliable get close.

Unca_Sam

40 Nm is VERY TIGHT. You'd need quite the lever to have to worry about making these too tight. The good news is that you'll only need to be in the ballpark if it's a little less that 40 Nm.

Barry2 

Because I don't use a 40NM (29 lb-ft) torque wrench very often, and it's not like it needs to be super accurate for this purpose $20 is all I spent.

Barry

Koyote

That looks pretty useful for attaching rotors and cassettes and such -- something that I, too, only do occasionally.

OP, if you don't have the appropriate torque wrench, just use a long-ish (12-14 inch) crescent wrench on the lockring tool and crank it pretty hard. That's what I do, and a lockring still occasionally comes a bit loose on me.

Barry2 

For another hobby I have that uses some weird socket type devices, I've used a crescent wrench and a luggage scale to set the torque.

Barry

maddog34

use a good hard down-push and two solid bounces. ;-)

Kontact 

This is not an important item to worry about torque. Like pedals, make em real tight.

Camilo

Like others have said, like a cassette, it's "really tight". FWIW, 40nm = about 29 ft lbs, or 29 pounds pressure at a 1 foot handle.

Hondo6

Word of advice: if the tool you're planning to take is more than about 8" long, make sure you put it in your checked baggage vice your carry-on bag. Otherwise, if you're embarking at a US airport TSA may confiscate it.

The precise length specification for allowable tools in carry-on baggage is on TSA's website somewhere. Be forewarned it can be a bit hard to find, though.

I found this out the hard way a few years ago when I had to leave a pretty nice 1/2" drive ratchet at a TSA security checkpoint.

Troul 

if the leverage feels like it could lift your bicycle up off the ground, that would likely be too much torque.

rosefarts

??

This amount of torque will easily lift a bike. I’d be surprised if you can get more than a couple nm or ft/lbs before the bike lifts.

Kontact 

Does your bike weigh 80 lbs?

jadmt

it is about the amount that you would tighten your oil pan drain plug.....so pretty snug but not king kong tight lol.

Atlas Shrugged

I always remove my rotors when traveling with my bike and found a nice hollowed out rotor/cassette removal tool and a fairly light Japanese Lobster brand adjustable wrench. What is also great a 4” wrench (I think) opens enough for the rotor tool which is rare.

Hybrid adjustable angle wrench?UM - Wrench - General handtools - Products - LOBTEX CO.,LTD.

As for cassette removal in case a spoke breaks or something I use dt Swiss hubs which allow you to remove the freehub by pulling it off no tool required.

I don’t bother with torque just make sure it’s snug and check one or twice mid tour. You can tell when it starts coming loose and can’t completely unscrew because of the frame.

Barry2 

THE EASY WAY

Tighten it til the thread strips, then back it off half a turn.

😉

Barry

Troul 

more closer to 20. IIRC most cassettes are torqued to 21 to 29 Ft-lbs. I'd risk using my bicycles weight as enough applied force if I didn't have proper means elsewise.

Kontact 

I don't know why you'd risk anything when you can simple tighten it down normally.and get it to a proper tightness. If you have a wrench and two hands you can get it tight.

Most everything bad that happens with cassettes, pedal threads, etc is from people flaking out when it comes to tightening stuff like it should be.

Troul 

There's the answer.

tFUnK

Without reading the entire thread, I will just contribute that not all cassette removal tools will fit over the hub cone nut and engage with the splines. My really old Park Tool cassette remover wouldn't clear due to the tool body not being deep enough, but a newer model clears fine.