DIY Tools for your bike work
02-05-21, 05:15 PM
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DIY Tools for your bike work
There are a number of threads that show tools you didn't buy but did make at home. RJ the bike guy has several videos with making your own tools.
A new thread was started asking what unusual items do you have in your tool box that are not typically bike tool related.
This one is what tools do you have that you made. I only have two that I can think of. The first is the RD hanger adjustment tool. The other is a tool for removing the Drum of an Arai drum brake found on tandems.
A new thread was started asking what unusual items do you have in your tool box that are not typically bike tool related.
This one is what tools do you have that you made. I only have two that I can think of. The first is the RD hanger adjustment tool. The other is a tool for removing the Drum of an Arai drum brake found on tandems.
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Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
02-05-21, 07:31 PM
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Gonna put these here just because, part home made, part repurpose , AND the fixed cup always come off, everytime, period. 
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02-05-21, 08:48 PM
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French crank extractor, because I can't afford a JA Stein, but I do have access to a lathe and was doing some Stronglight crank threads for those dustcaps anyway. Since this photo was taken, I made a second fitting, slightly smaller for TA.
I bought a spoke rolling head, but then realized I should have bought the whole threading machine. So I made one instead.
That's how the spoke is held in place: v-groove and a slotted brass bolt. Wing nut from a hi-hat cymbal. Look at that fiiine machining!
Also found this wrench while exploring the abandoned equipment storage yard of a defunct excavation company. It is a very high quality Proto brand forged steel wrench, ground down to work on cones. Strong! The other end is ground into a shape approximating that of a tire lever. I pocketed it in a hurry!
I bought a spoke rolling head, but then realized I should have bought the whole threading machine. So I made one instead.
That's how the spoke is held in place: v-groove and a slotted brass bolt. Wing nut from a hi-hat cymbal. Look at that fiiine machining!
Also found this wrench while exploring the abandoned equipment storage yard of a defunct excavation company. It is a very high quality Proto brand forged steel wrench, ground down to work on cones. Strong! The other end is ground into a shape approximating that of a tire lever. I pocketed it in a hurry!
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Last edited by scarlson; 02-05-21 at 08:55 PM.
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02-06-21, 08:41 AM
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And this used to be my DIY headset press. I never worked well, so I eventually bought a real one.
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02-06-21, 10:44 AM
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Steerer thread chaser, Sheldon Brown style fixed cup extractor
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02-06-21, 10:45 AM
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I forgot about he HS tool. Pretty straight forward. I also have crown race PVC installation tool and the typical copper HS removal tool.
Unique assembly of normal tools for accomplishing a task is acceptable! I had a bent crank on a Tern. Used a couple of wood block, Hi Lift jack and a break in the foundation between garages to straighten it out!
Unique assembly of normal tools for accomplishing a task is acceptable! I had a bent crank on a Tern. Used a couple of wood block, Hi Lift jack and a break in the foundation between garages to straighten it out!
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Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Last edited by SJX426; 02-06-21 at 10:52 AM.
02-06-21, 10:47 AM
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Chain checker, tips are 12" apart
Right tip of chain checker, teeth are at 12" / 12 1/16" / 12 1/8"
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02-06-21, 11:00 AM
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Those two are practically professional quality! Well done.
I've thought of making a dishing tool myself, I think yours will be my inspiration.
I've thought of making a dishing tool myself, I think yours will be my inspiration.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
02-06-21, 11:07 AM
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This was used once. I highly doubt I'll use it again. For fun, guess what it is.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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02-06-21, 11:37 AM
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.
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02-06-21, 11:51 AM
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Bizarre! I'm going to guess some kind of spoke tension measuring device? You put a wheel in and shove some kind of probe through those holes that twangs on the spokes in some way that is meant to be informative of something?
02-06-21, 12:18 PM
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Here's my on-the-road freewheel remover, which is basically a functional and reliable version of the Pocket Pro from the 70's.
I think I have about a dozen of them. It makes me feel a little like Henry Thoreau, who had his first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, published at his own expense. Most of the copies went unsold and ended up in his attic. He supposedly observed "I have a library of 1,000 volumes, nearly 750 of which I wrote myself."
I think I have about a dozen of them. It makes me feel a little like Henry Thoreau, who had his first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, published at his own expense. Most of the copies went unsold and ended up in his attic. He supposedly observed "I have a library of 1,000 volumes, nearly 750 of which I wrote myself."
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02-06-21, 12:38 PM
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02-06-21, 12:39 PM
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I built this stand 10-12 years ago. I didn't have a workstand, but had a bunch of old copper pipe and fittings from plumbing and heating remodels. I've been meaning to put a coupling in the middle of it(for breaking it down), but laziness has won over.
I have a couple of proper workstands now, but this is what I always use for washing dirty bikes. I find it much easier to throw the bikes on the hooks, than to use clamps on on other stands, for simple tasks.
fwiw, it was a lot shinier ten years ago...
I have a couple of proper workstands now, but this is what I always use for washing dirty bikes. I find it much easier to throw the bikes on the hooks, than to use clamps on on other stands, for simple tasks.
fwiw, it was a lot shinier ten years ago...
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02-06-21, 12:48 PM
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Section of PVC pipe used to install crown races o fork.
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02-06-21, 02:18 PM
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02-06-21, 02:55 PM
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I bodged together this frame alignment gauge from aluminum u-channel, 1/4-20 t-bolts and knobs, and a plexiglass pointer.
DIY frame alignment gauge
DIY frame alignment gauge
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02-06-21, 03:22 PM
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@southpawboston
Here's some more including the right angle pick that I scribe the threads clean with before using the chaser and anti-seize.
The pipe brush was a very welcome addition to get the threads clean before scribing.
And one of three actual sets that have saved my azz many times.
Here's some more including the right angle pick that I scribe the threads clean with before using the chaser and anti-seize.
The pipe brush was a very welcome addition to get the threads clean before scribing.
And one of three actual sets that have saved my azz many times.
02-06-21, 03:45 PM
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My first bike repair stand from 2012, made to be installed in the end vise of my woodworking bench. I built up a bunch of bikes on it before getting a Park PCS-10.
Last edited by Paramount1973; 02-06-21 at 04:19 PM.
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02-06-21, 04:48 PM
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I made a locknut removal tool by notching a 3/8 pipe nipple when I took apart an Bendix yellow band recently. I didn't feel good about trying to properly adjust and tighten it when going back together so I had this one made from a 1/2-13 coupling nut that I can hold with a wrench instead of vice grips.
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02-06-21, 04:58 PM
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
02-06-21, 06:01 PM
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WOW, This is a great thread, I have made a list of tools that I will be making shortly....keep the hits coming! 
Best, Ben
Best, Ben
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02-06-21, 08:23 PM
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Quick 'n' dirty headset cup remover for the charity shop. Plenty of donor 25.4mm steel seat posts to sacrifice.
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