flyfisherbob

"I will build things of odd sizes and that need special tools to work on them"? Evidence to date, and I am just beginning. 1. Delta brakes - cable release with a 3.5mm hex, not a 3 or a 4 (yes, the 9/64 worked, but I have made my point) 2. Headset - thanks to the mechanic at Billy Goat bikes, who had the wrench that fit the flats. 3. Freewheel - I have been to 4 different lbs, none of whom have the "special" 2 prong freewheel tool. 4. The seals over the wheel hubs that have the special tool to remove. 5. Axles that require 2 14mm cone wrenches, not 13 or 15, but 14.

GRRRR Bob

mtnbke

It's a different 2-prong Freewheel tool than normal, or they just don't have freewheel removal tools?

repechage

Yes, it is specific and of a neat design, the two prongs slowly twist, basically as you try to remove the freewheel the prongs engage more firmly. A good but unique solution.
As to the other complaints, for a long time the Campagnolo headset wrenches were useful for many vintage headsets, save French.
The cone wrenches used to always come double ended two sizes, don't see a problem there.
The Corsa Record dust shield removing tool was clever, unique and worked, every decent shop in the mid 80's had one.
More elegant than taking dust caps off any other loose ball bearing hub, including the previous Campagnolo offerings.
As to the unique Allen key required for the Delta brake clamp, I agree completely, why not 4 mm or even 5 mm (maybe too much torque could be applied?)

You want awkward unique nobody hardly has tools? Think Mavic ensembles.

oddjob2

Raleigh threading and bolt head size quirks, Campagnolo tool quirks, Swiss quirks, Italian quirks, Schwinn quirks, yet in this forum too many rants about French threading. Too many Sheldon Brown disciples if you ask me!

J T CUNNINGHAM

Shouldn't it go without saying: Those Mechanics who know what they are required to do have the Correct Tools,

whereas those "mechanics" who do not know what they are about to perform use "other tools"?

Case in point: (I not knowing whether this still holds true.)

The mechanic has just topped-up your Rolls-Royce's brake cylinder; if he didn't use Girling Brake Fluid,

your hydraulic system has just been destroyed.

An old axiom: "Use the right tools for the job, or go home."


Regards,
J T

miamijim

I have that special Campy freewheel tool, freehub pawl retainer, 7mm crank Allen key, 3.5mm Delta wrench and at least 2 of every cone wrench size.

I even gave the ultra rare 6 prong Suntour Microlite freewheel tool.

Citoyen du Monde

I have a couple freewheel removers, they are the very best freewheel removers ever made. The headset tools are likely the most commonly used size back in the day and I cannot imagine any even half decent shop not having them. This therefore leaves the 3.5 mm allen key which was supplied with the brakes (I still have a few of them that came with the brakes originallu). Where can the problem be?

CroMo Mike 

The C-Record hub bearing dust shields can be easily removed with a gentle twist of an ordinary flat-tipped screwdriver. The beautiful Campy-supplied dust cover removal tool is elegant overkill. You don't need it.

J T CUNNINGHAM

"Where can the problem be?"
Citoyen du Monde.

He forgot the Campy Corkscrew and cheese.


Regards,
J T

Soody

I put some wine corks in as bar ends and now i need a campy corkscrew to take them out??? It's cheaper to just get new bars every time.

J T CUNNINGHAM

Let me try this again with a small addition:

He forgot the Campy Corkscrew and cheese to go with his wine. [whine]


Regards,
J T

Road Fan

How about the Shimano 600 and DuraAce headsets that used the wavy nut with a special pair of wavy wrenches? I don't know how they price now, but a few years ago the pair of tools was over $100 on Ebay.

Furthermore for the cone wrenches, Park has single-ended ones (more comfort, more leverage) in every millimeter size, at least 13, 14, 15, 16,17.

What I don't get? Use of Torx heads on bicycles. I can see dumping external hex, but what does Torx do that Allen doesn't?

Road Fan

How did you get a bike with so many odd Campy parts (C record hubs and freewheels!) with no awareness that they would need servicing.

I totally agree with you on the Deltas. I'd like to try some, however. I tend to like finnicky machines as well(missed out on the Norton Commander and Vincent Black Shadow, however) and usually can tweak them into functionality.

Thing is, now you have the bike, right? You've sunk money into it. You either have to sit on it and not use it, make it work and see if you like it once it can move properly, ride it as-is for whatever condition its in, or sell it and get something more maintainable. What kind of frame is all this good stuff on?

JohnDThompson 

Yes, it's different. Instead of straight prongs, they are helical so that the torque of removal drives the tool more firmly into the freewheel, discouraging slipping and stripping the slots. This is the Bicycle Research version of the tool:



Why Campagnolo didn't just use a splined tool like most other freewheel manufacturers were moving to remains a mystery.

rootboy 

Campagnolo makes cheese?

repechage

the "Atom" spline, picked up by many over time was a pain until the Phil Wood remover. Atom's version required taking apart some or most of the axle to fit the removing tool. Some hubs were set up so the outer lock nut and spacer was independent of the hub bearing adjustment but many were not, so the Phil tool allowed in most cases for the axle to remain in place. Downside of that tool was the wall thickness. We had a mechanic at the shop who killed off more than one Phil tool where a freewheel was on too tight.

There were other spline patterns and diameters for sure, Campagnolo made the choice as they did to get all to fit. A good system. I think the error was as typical Campagnolo patented it, in this case it might have been better to not and let others copy to make the design more universal. It works quite well.

I have the tool in two versions, one as an insert that fits in the "Regina" style Campagnolo freewheel spanner and the other as a dedicated Campagnolo freewheel spanner. No Campagnolo freewheels, never could put the money down on one as I viewed them as consumables. They were and are finely crafted mechanisms though. (bought the tools with a Campagnolo tool case +, got all the threading options with it save Swiss) A big purchase with no regrets as it is such a pleasure to work with the tools.

Homebrew01

Do you have the early batch of C-Record headsets with oversized flats ?
Our team got a batch of those, so I put them in a milling machine and cut the flats down to the correct size.

OldsCOOL

Those dust covers must be chromed gold for the prices being asked at the Fleabay.

OldsCOOL

No, but they do cut it now and then.

Michael Angelo 

All you need are a few tools.

J T CUNNINGHAM

"Campagnolo makes cheese? "
rootboy.

"Let me try this again with a small addition:
He forgot the Campy Corkscrew and cheese to go with his wine. [whine]"

Let me try this again with ANOTHER small addition:

He forgot the Campy Corkscrew and cheese to go with his wine. [WHINE]

As in "Do you want WHINE with that Cheese?"

Wine & Cheese; WHINE & CHEESE.

Now quit your Whining and eat your Cheese!
(And you do now know just what to do with that newly removed Cork!)


Regards,
J T

keidal

Reference R-R brake fluid; he should be alright if he used GIRLING brake fluid.

rootboy 

Could you be more specific, J.T. ?

J T CUNNINGHAM

"Reference R-R brake fluid; he should be alright if he used GIRLING brake fluid."
keidal.

"The mechanic has just topped-up your Rolls-Royce's brake cylinder; if he didn't use Gerling Brake Fluid "

Error within spellin'; now Korrected on original. (Girling)


Regards,
J T

J T CUNNINGHAM

"No, but they do cut it now and then. "
OldsCOOL.

Never forget the mustard!
(KEEN'S Mustard.)


Regards,
J T