IceTee2

I have a chance to buy a Park PCS-1 (pre6/96 model) off CL for $100 and it appears to be in very good shape. I am rebuilding/restoring a couple of Trek 520s and I'm hoping it will make these projects a little easier on my back. For $100 I could get something off Amazon that would have a more convenient clamp. Feedback please!

Crankycrank

Well, I'll say the advantage of the Park is that it's practically bombproof if you plan on keeping it a few years. Not the easiest and most compact to fold up and not real lightweight if that matters and they do also have spares for anything that does break/wear out. $100 is a fair price but more on the higher end of the scale for what those can be found for but not always easy to come by either.

_ForceD_

$100 seem like a good deal if it’s working properly. I have the PCS-1 and I think it’s pretty versatile. It takes a little cajoling to adjust the clamp for various tube sizes. But if you’re using it at home…where you can set it for your frame tube size and leave it…it’s all good. The only drawback is clamping on CF frames. In those cases, I clamp to something like the front of the seat.

Dan

cyccommute 

I have a pre96 PCS-1 and have been using it since the early 1990s. It is an excellent stand and far better than any stand that you can get for $100 anywhere, with one proviso…it’s short. I had a tube added to mine that moved the clamp up to my eye height and haven’t regretted doing so. The spring clamp can be a bit hard on frames but I seldom clamp the frame anyway. I clamp the seat post since seatposts are far cheaper than frames.

I also upgraded the clamp in the last 5 or so years to a 100-9C clamp.




If I were to do the extension again, I’d probably try to use the PCS-EXT stand extension and have it welded. That would make the height adjustable. I did that with another stand I got for my daughter in Tucson.

Russ Roth

I'd have to evaluate the level of wear, if its someone who always thought they would work on bikes and its mostly been used to showcase a bike or stored in the closet its worth every bit of 100. If the owner is someone more serious about their repairs and it received regular use for the last 25-30 years I'd move on, I find these stands do a decent job of most bikes till the heavier mtbs when you have to keep readjusting, but if worn from regular use it'd be annoying and not worth the cost.

cyccommute 

The PCS-1 (and most any Park stand) isn’t a stand that “wears out”. Mine has been in constant use for 30 years and shows zero wear. I replaced the spring clamp because I wanted to but not because I had to. The original clamp is still in very good shape. I use the clamp I have now at my co-op in the professional version of the stand and those get far more abuse than mine will ever get. They are used tens of thousands of times per year and they get severely abused. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a used one from them because the clamp can be rebuilt.

Even if the stand were is extremely bad shape, it’s a far better stand than anything you can buy off Amazon for $100.

Russ Roth

That has not been my experience, glad it has for you. This is why I traded mine in after about 15 years for a PRS 3.3 which I much prefer. I've worked in, and helped set up, bike clinics. We used them due to the level of thefts that were happening but they would still wear enough with very regular use to not optimally hold the bike the way I'd like. No different from the pro stands, which can take many decades, but I have seen them with clamp arms that wore through at the pivot and one that wore too far where the rotating clamp was.

_ForceD_

Since we’re talking about work stands, just pointing out that Aldi grocery stores occasionally carry a work stand. I have a PCS-1 so I haven’t used this one. But other discussions here in the BFs have indicated that they’re really pretty good quality…and for less than $100 U.S. If there is an Aldi near you…maybe check it out.
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/anyone-...stand.1103525/

Dan

sdmc530

I have the stand motioned from Aldi's and its actually a really good stand. I paid $22 for it or so and its been a solid stand. Its not my primary use stand but seriously if I only had this one stand to do work on it would be just fine.

sdmc530

I would personally pass on the used one for $100. For that money you can probably do better for something better off branded.

IceTee2

Thanks as always for the input. I went to see the stand this am and it looks like new...original owner. I mentioned to him that it was not height adjustable and offered him $50, he countered with $60 and it was in the back of my VW Alltrack in a couple of nano-seconds. We'll see if I made the right decision. Stay safe.....Jerry

veganbikes

I have a vintage Park stand and it works fine, it has been replaced in usage by a new PRS-25 but the old stand still works and I got a great deal on it. It can be upgraded to new clamps and such generally and is good long lasting quality. I think you made a good decision and will at least get you a stand to start with and you can see what you like and don't like and then upgrade as needed like I did (though now a newer stand came out after I bought my new one this year that I want but I am holding off due to price it is way more than my Park Stand and while it will save my back from lifting I don't need it enough yet to justify getting rid of a brand new stand to buy another brand new stand and also one that isn't Park.

sdmc530

yeah, for $60 thats probably a good deal. AND I would be Park would still have parts to help you out with they have great CS

cyccommute 

Good job. Check with a local welder and see if they could add the Park extension to your stand. That will make it a great stand instead of a really good one.

IceTee2

I'm thinking that I might call/eMail Park Tool to see if they can tell me the ID of the vertical portion of the tubing. I'm kinda hoping that the extension piece (park #927 will fit inside of that original tubing with the clamp to made it adjustable. I don't know if Park Tool will be eager to have me do mods to a 25+ year old stand instead of buying a new one.

If anyone has a later model PCS-1 with the adjustable vertical tubing could you let me know the OD of the tubing. A quick caliper check showed 1-5/8" OD for my pre-96 stand..

cyccommute 

Park’s customer service is excellent. They have been very helpful to me in the past. If they give you the dimensions, please share.

bikemike73 

GREAT price !!!!

Cannot go wrong for 60.00 !!!

And ALWAYS....clamp the seat post.....never the frame