Favorite Bike Tools?
11-04-18, 02:10 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Favorite Bike Tools?
Mine is a 8,9,10mm three-sided wrench. Found it in an old handlebar bag I bought off CL years ago. Probably gets more use than any other tool, excusing the hex wrench set.
11-04-18, 02:50 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,485
Mentioned: 102 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1639 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 829 Times
in
538 Posts
My favorite tool is something I just put together myself, about a year and a half ago.
My headset fork crown race setter.
Just a trip to the hardware store for some PVC plumbing items (About 6 bucks worth) and some thick silicone rings (To center the steerer tube in th PVC tube) I salvaged from empty prescription bottles a few years ago.
Works a treat and is now a veteran of five headset race installs it is a surprisingly effective tool that just cost me a few bucks.
The bonus was my Park headset race remover tool fits inside it for storage, so all the headset tools I need are in one place, except for the lock ring wrenches....
My headset fork crown race setter.
Just a trip to the hardware store for some PVC plumbing items (About 6 bucks worth) and some thick silicone rings (To center the steerer tube in th PVC tube) I salvaged from empty prescription bottles a few years ago.
Works a treat and is now a veteran of five headset race installs it is a surprisingly effective tool that just cost me a few bucks.
The bonus was my Park headset race remover tool fits inside it for storage, so all the headset tools I need are in one place, except for the lock ring wrenches....
__________________
72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
84 Peugeot PSV
84 Peugeot PY10FC
84 Gitane Tour de France.
85 Vitus Plus Carbone 7
86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
88 Pinarello Montello
89 Bottecchia Professional Chorus SL
95 Trek 5500 OCLV (Project)
Last edited by Chombi1; 11-04-18 at 02:54 PM.
11-04-18, 06:34 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 2,433
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Raleigh/Legnano
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 983 Post(s)
Liked 632 Times
in
403 Posts
+1. Working in a bike shop in the mid-1970's a wholesaler's sales rep was showing the owner of the shop one of these, and I suggested he buy me one -- and, if he didn't see me using it every day, I'd pay him back out of my own pocket. Never had to pay up. That said, I bought one for home use, still have it, looks like the photo.
__________________
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
11-04-18, 08:42 PM
#5
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,634
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4678 Post(s)
Liked 5,795 Times
in
2,281 Posts
1. Oxy-acetylene torc
2 . Big vise.
2 . Big vise.
__________________
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.
11-04-18, 09:14 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,595
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 608 Post(s)
Liked 352 Times
in
225 Posts
Since this is the Classic and Vintage Forum, my favorite tool is my Cinelli Work Stand that I purchased 33 years ago and still use it to this day. Even though I bought the Feedback Ultimate and Sprint stands, I keep going back to the Cinelli because it just is sturdier and sure footed than the Feedbacks. Some of it is starting to fall apart and disintegrate but it still works good enough. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of the other stands but it has stood the test of time.
11-04-18, 09:34 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,038
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4511 Post(s)
Liked 6,377 Times
in
3,667 Posts
Sugino BB tool, never fails, never damaged any cups or frames.
11-04-18, 09:37 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,054
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3015 Post(s)
Liked 3,797 Times
in
1,408 Posts
A good cone wrench makes me happy.
11-04-18, 09:45 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,038
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4511 Post(s)
Liked 6,377 Times
in
3,667 Posts
11-04-18, 09:46 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,038
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4511 Post(s)
Liked 6,377 Times
in
3,667 Posts
11-04-18, 09:55 PM
#13
Senior Member
I like those 8-9-10mm Y wrenches too. Also indispensable is the corollary 4-5-6mm Park Y allen wrench tool.
My personal favorite tool when I was wrenching was the Hozan 4th hand tool. Still have one.
My personal favorite tool when I was wrenching was the Hozan 4th hand tool. Still have one.
11-04-18, 10:25 PM
#14
CL Addict
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Evanston, IL
Posts: 1,067
Bikes: '50s Leon Cattrysse - late 50s Raleigh Lenton Sports - 1960/61 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix - '72 Canadian Tire Company Supercycle - '74 Raleigh International - '83 Nishiki Cresta - '84 Centurion Turbo - '86 v. Herwerden (Chesini) - '87 Specialized Sirr
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 85 Post(s)
Liked 96 Times
in
59 Posts
Park Tool HHP-1 headset press.
Used it to press in new rear polyurethane bushings on my 2004 Mini Cooper as well.
Used it to press in new rear polyurethane bushings on my 2004 Mini Cooper as well.
11-04-18, 11:05 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,536
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 930 Post(s)
Liked 1,291 Times
in
487 Posts
No contest. The Campy "T" wrench was the original "multitool". Not so many tools, and it could have been better designed with perhaps two different hex keys, but a lightweight tool that met many needs and was elegant to boot.
11-05-18, 12:44 AM
#16
Full Member
Bikesmithdesign cotter pin press.
11-05-18, 07:22 AM
#18
Some Weirdo
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Rexburg, ID
Posts: 502
Bikes: '86 Schwinn Prelude, '91 Scott Sawtooth, '73 Raleigh "Grand 3"
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 223 Post(s)
Liked 141 Times
in
92 Posts
Third hand tool for brakes. Not really bike specific, but a little 1/4" non-ratcheting driver with a 90 degree bend in the shank. Great for brakes and whatnot where having to switch ratchet directions can be annoying or difficult. Hard to overtorque with.
__________________
Somewhere, a village is missing its idiot.
Somewhere, a village is missing its idiot.
11-05-18, 09:48 AM
#20
HarborBandS
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Chicago Western Suburbs
Posts: 477
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 266 Post(s)
Liked 104 Times
in
57 Posts
I recently got a Pedro's Vise Whip in lieu of a traditional chain whip, and I love it. It's like a chain whip and vise grips combined, and it makes cassette/freewheel removal quite a bit easier.
11-05-18, 09:57 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,038
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4511 Post(s)
Liked 6,377 Times
in
3,667 Posts
11-05-18, 10:10 AM
#22
Senior Member
There were at one time chain whip alternatives for freewheels that were somewhat similar to the Pedro's tool. They didn't have the strength of a simple chain whip though, and for cog removal, you need all the strength you can get.
11-05-18, 01:30 PM
#23
Senior Member
I broke a chain for the first time the other day and was able to use a chain tool to remove the bad link and reconnect and keep climbing. That is my favorite tool so far. The one I used was a nice solid one made in England. Started with "R" I forget the name.
11-05-18, 01:40 PM
#24
Senior Member
Here is my favorite tool from all those years ago, when I used wrenching to help pay for college:
11-05-18, 01:41 PM
#25
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,464 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Cyclo Rivoli.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.