Over tightened stem bolts cause big crash

[Wolfie1]

 

 

On the left hand side you can see a fairly large crack on the steering tube. Comes from over tightening stem bolts and with not enough meat to clamp on when the stem was fitted. Funny enough the owner had his bike serviced at a number of big bike shops in cape town and nobody seem to have picked up on this. Makes you think......

Edited August 22, 2014 by Wolfie1

[kosmonooit]

What I have seen is that sometimes people who have had no practical workshop or basic tools experience serious overtighten - like screws on a plug I had to fix recently that our ex-driver put on, I had to use visegrips to undo recently, they just don't have a 'feel' for what's right tight. Perhaps if you are a no0b in terms of tools and DIY, you should use a torque wench and you can learn from that?

[V12man]

Perhaps if you are a no0b in terms of tools and DIY, you should use a torque wench and you can learn from that?

Even the best Mechanics and engine builders use torque wrenches on critical nuts.... and where appropriate bolt stretch gauges. There is no reason to trust your "feel" over a torque wrench......... On the original problem - too loose nuts can also create a situation where there is enough movement to generate metal fatigue in the bolts, so it can be a fine line - never trust anything but a torque wrench and make sure you have the correct spec bolts.