onm
■
- Sep 2, 2009
- 5
- 0
Hey,
So, I bought a new Deda stem last week, which came with Titanium bolts.
On the stem itself, the website, and also on Wiggle, the limit is set to 8Nm for all bolts on the stem (6 bolts in total).
Using my digital torque wrench set to 7.2Nm, I tightened the bolts on the back, connecting the stem to the steerer. All good.
Tightened the 4 bolts on the front, and approaching the 6nm mark on the final bolt...
POW!
I am blind.
Bolt snapped and hit me in the eye.
Cut to today, I am out of hospital, having been told I am a very very lucky boy not to have been blinded. I have a small cut on the inside of my left eyelid which is irritating as hell, and a headache.
And a knackered stem.
So, titanium bolts. I would recommend NOT using them on a stem. Only lose about 8 grams in total by using steel ones which don't have a habit of exploding when tightened.
So, I bought a new Deda stem last week, which came with Titanium bolts.
On the stem itself, the website, and also on Wiggle, the limit is set to 8Nm for all bolts on the stem (6 bolts in total).
Using my digital torque wrench set to 7.2Nm, I tightened the bolts on the back, connecting the stem to the steerer. All good.
Tightened the 4 bolts on the front, and approaching the 6nm mark on the final bolt...
POW!
I am blind.
Bolt snapped and hit me in the eye.
Cut to today, I am out of hospital, having been told I am a very very lucky boy not to have been blinded. I have a small cut on the inside of my left eyelid which is irritating as hell, and a headache.
And a knackered stem.
So, titanium bolts. I would recommend NOT using them on a stem. Only lose about 8 grams in total by using steel ones which don't have a habit of exploding when tightened.