Handlebar clamps, brake pads, shift brake levers: The Torx screw is fastening more and more parts on road bikes - and sometimes presents hobby mechanics with difficulties. Why is that? TOUR had the honour of conducting an exclusive interview.
TOUR: Torx is quite an unusual name, it sounds like a product. How did you come up with your name?
TORX: The name Torx is derived from "Torque", which means torque. It is actually a brand name of my parents (the company Camcar Textron, a US manufacturer of screws and nuts, editor's note), which is still protected today. However, the patent itself has now expired.
For some years now, they have increasingly been found on racing bike components. This development has been rather gradual; until now, you had hardly any significance in this sector. What did you do before?
I made my way in other areas. My decisive breakthrough came in the automotive industry, where I spread very quickly since I started working for General Motors in the 1980s. But I'm now also in demand in the woodworking industry.
How did this impressive career actually come about?
This is due to the design. I simply offer various advantages over my competitors.
Please explain the most important ones.
The decisive factor is that I can transmit the force better thanks to my round shaft profile. While my biggest competitor, Inbus, only transmits the torque via the edges of its six corners, I transmit the force via comparatively large surfaces (see diagram on the left). This means greater transmittable torque and lower surface pressure - so I can be tightened more firmly without causing damage.
However, with the sensitive carbon parts on which they are used, the torque is often limited to just a few Newton metres.
That is correct. However, for me, other materials can be used, especially lighter ones. An Allen screw made of aluminium cants quickly when you tighten it; this damages the screw head and makes it unusable. You can imagine the consequences of this. It won't happen to me that quickly.
Better power transmission thanks to larger contact surfaces - but a Phillips head screw can also...
Are you kidding me? You're probably forgetting the cam-out effect! The cam-out effect is caused by the strongly conical shape of a Phillips head screw. As a result, the tool is pushed out of the screw as soon as you start to turn it. This inevitably leads to damage to the screw.
So you combine the advantages of both competitors?
...and eliminate their disadvantages. That is precisely my capital.
How do you counter the argument of the significantly higher material and tool costs that you have to incur?
With my longer service life! As the risk of damage - both to me and to the associated tools - is significantly lower, the additional costs are somewhat relativised. I also help to save weight on the road bike. As you know, customers are happy to pay for that.
What do you recommend to road cyclists who entrust you with their safety?
First and foremost, the right tools, not only in the workshop, but also for travelling. If you want to be on the road with modern equipment in the future, you need to make sure that your minitool also has the important Torx spanners. Otherwise the fun on the road can quickly come to an end. I have an extremely allergic reaction to other people's tools.
