Torque & Fastener Reference Correct torque prevents two opposite failures: fasteners working loose, and components being crushed or cracked by overtightening. Always use a calibrated torque wrench for safety-critical fasteners — axles, stem bolts, brake calipers and suspension mounts. Published torque values Fastener Torque Source Rear rack fixing screw 16 N·m CEMOTO owner manual Rear axle nuts Firm — wheel must be secure with correct chain tension Owner manual procedure Handlebar stem bolts (M8, D-series) Tighten with 8 mm hex; firm, in a cross pattern Assembly procedure Handlebar clamp bolts (M6, D-series) Tighten with 6 mm hex; do not crush the clamp block Assembly procedure Front axle nut (D-series) Firm; wheel must spin freely with no lateral play Assembly procedure Brake caliper mounting bolts Firm; recheck after the first ride Assembly procedure Front fender screws (M5, D-series) Firm with 5 mm hex; fender must not move under pressure Assembly procedure Front number plate bolt (M5, D-series) Firm with 5 mm hex Assembly procedure Throttle / brake lever clamp (M4, D-series) Firm with 4 mm hex; throttle must snap back freely Assembly procedure Pedals (eBikes) Firm — hand-start, then wrench finish Assembly procedure Seat post clamp Tight enough that the saddle cannot be rotated by hand Assembly procedure Note: CEMOTO does not publish a complete torque table for every fastener. Where a value is not published, tighten to the general guidance below and never exceed the marking on the fastener or component. General tightening guidance Fastener size Typical application Guidance M4 Lever clamps, small brackets, plastics Light — these thread into aluminum or plastics and strip easily. Firm by hand plus a short wrench M5 Fender screws, number plate, panels Firm, not forceful M6 Handlebar clamps, brake calipers, disc bolts Firm with a standard-length wrench. A cross pattern where there are multiple bolts M8 Stem bolts, larger brackets Firm with a longer wrench; use a cross pattern Axle nuts Wheel axles Firm. The wheel must spin freely with no lateral play, and must not shift under braking or drive load Suspension mounts Shock and fork mounts Follow the component guidance; these carry high loads Tightening technique Clean the threads and remove any grit. Debris in a thread causes false torque readings. Apply the correct lubricant or threadlocker if specified. Never apply threadlocker to a nylon-insert self-locking nut. Start fasteners by hand to avoid cross-threading. Bring multiple bolts up gradually in a cross (diagonal) pattern. Fully tightening one bolt first distorts the component. Use a torque wrench for the final pass on safety-critical fasteners. Never reuse a self-locking nut whose locking feature has worn, or a bolt that has stretched. Safety-critical fasteners These fasteners should be checked after assembly, after the first ride, and at every service: Fastener Consequence of failure Front axle Wheel detachment — loss of control Rear axle Wheel shift, chain tension loss, possible rear wheel lock Handlebar stem and clamp bolts Bars rotate or detach — loss of control Brake caliper mounting bolts Brake loss Brake lever clamp Inability to brake Suspension mounting bolts Structural failure Pedal spindles Pedal detachment and crank damage Motor mounting bolts Motor movement, chain misalignment, phase wire damage Re-check after the first ride Components seat and settle during the first 20–30 minutes of riding. Re-check every fastener above after your first ride — this is the single highest-value maintenance action on a new bike. Threadlocker and lubricant guidance Application Recommendation Brake caliper bolts, stem bolts, suspension mounts Medium-strength threadlocker is commonly used. Apply to clean, degreased threads Axle nuts with nylon insert No threadlocker. Replace the nut when the insert loses grip Pedal threads Light grease. Never threadlocker — pedals must be removable Seat post Light grease on the post, not on the clamp bolt General bolts into aluminum Anti-seize if the bike is ridden in wet or salty conditions Inspecting for loose fasteners A fastener check takes a few minutes and catches most emerging problems. Look for: Witness marks. Paint flaking or a bright ring around a bolt head indicates movement. Thread wear. A bolt that requires noticeably less torque to tighten is stretching — replace it. Corrosion. Rust on a structural fastener reduces its strength. Missing hardware. Nuts and bolts lost on the trail should be replaced before the next ride, not after. Elongated holes. A bolt hole that has become oval indicates the joint has been moving — the component may need replacement. Fastener maintenance intervals Interval Action After assembly Torque all safety-critical fasteners After first ride (20–30 min) Re-check all safety-critical fasteners Before every ride Visual check of axles, stem and pedals Weekly / after rough off-road use Full fastener walk-around Monthly Check suspension mounts and motor mounts Every 6 months Full fastener inspection with a torque wrench Related pages Unboxing & Assembly Pre-Ride Inspection Maintenance Schedule Spare Parts & Compatibility