Park Tool ATD-1.2 Adjustable Torque Driver: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

Park Tool is known for being the best in the business when it comes to high-end mountain bike tools. Not only that, but they have a YouTube channel with tons if valuable content that will really help you improve your mechanic skills. In this review, our customer Karli reviews the Park Tool ATD-1.2 Torque driver. Read on for more!

Overview

This along with all other Park Tool products is of high quality. I like this particular torque driver because it comes with different bits and is adjustable. It comes with a 3mm, 4mm, and 5mm bit, as well as a T25 which I find really useful to tighten a clip for my brake cable on my fork. With these 4 bits, there isn’t much else you’d need on a regular day. The bits are stored on the opposite side of the adjustment knob and are easy to pop out. I like this feature because everything you need is kept together. The bits are so small and would be so easy to lose if it weren’t designed to store them together inside of the actual tool.

So this is a 4 in 1 since it is adjustable. You could buy 4 separate torque drivers, which cost around $40 each, or you could buy this one for about $70. The choice was easy; spend around $160 or $70 for essentially the same thing. I’m by no means a bike mechanic, but if I want to adjust anything in the cockpit, I feel comfortable doing it knowing the bolts aren’t too tight or too loose.

How Does it Work?

It’s fun doing things myself as well, so I’ve been working on adding tools where I can have the resources I need to be able to fix or adjust things on my own. To adjust the Newton meters, all you have to do is turn the metal knob. It’s very easy and clicks into place and you can even put an allen key into the knob to turn it if your hands are slippery. It goes from 4 Newton meters to 6, with .5 Nm increments, so there are 5 different options. It has an internal metal design, so it’s very sturdy and I expect it to last a long time. The T shape of the tool makes it easy to hold and has enough leverage to loosen a tight bolt.

The Only Drawback

 It is advertised as having a magnet inside where the bit you’re using is attached. This magnet is very weak. I’ve had this torque driver for a little over a month and the limited use it’s gotten, the bits fall out frequently. I wish the magnet was stronger because it is a bit of a pain then the bit falls out and I have to search for it. The magnet is the only drawback, however.

Final Thoughts

All in all, I’m glad I have this tool in my garage because it is such a useful tool. I don’t like guessing if I’m tightening my stem or my seat post too tight since those could collapse if they’re too tight. It is a little pricey for a tool, but I think it’s worth it.