Opinions on Chinese Hydraulic Brake Line Tools?
10-27-22, 06:18 AM
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Opinions on Chinese Hydraulic Brake Line Tools?
Hi everyone,
I'm looking to round off my home tool kit and I've been looking at some tools to handle hydraulic brake lines.
I already have Park Tool's HBT-1 in my favorites, but I'm having a hard time justifying forking out over $100 for a tool that I'll probably get to use once or twice in a lifetime. And it was just today that I found out that Shimano have their own tool, and though I have yet to hold one in my hands and it may be perfectly fine, it appears to be all plasticky and not very confidence-inspiring, especially given that it's just as pricey as the Park tool.
With that said, I've been seeing a lot of people on YouTube and elsewhere using tools of various Chinese brands and they seem to work. From a home mechanic's perspective, what would you recommend?
I'm looking to round off my home tool kit and I've been looking at some tools to handle hydraulic brake lines.
I already have Park Tool's HBT-1 in my favorites, but I'm having a hard time justifying forking out over $100 for a tool that I'll probably get to use once or twice in a lifetime. And it was just today that I found out that Shimano have their own tool, and though I have yet to hold one in my hands and it may be perfectly fine, it appears to be all plasticky and not very confidence-inspiring, especially given that it's just as pricey as the Park tool.
With that said, I've been seeing a lot of people on YouTube and elsewhere using tools of various Chinese brands and they seem to work. From a home mechanic's perspective, what would you recommend?
10-27-22, 06:43 AM
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I have this one. Only used it a couple of times so far but it works fine.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B07TW3...b_b_asin_title
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B07TW3...b_b_asin_title
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10-27-22, 10:27 AM
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I always recommend getting the best quality tool you can. If you really aren't doing it much maybe try the SRAM tool or if you know you want the HBT-1 go for it, it cuts hose and presses the barb and is a great tool.
10-28-22, 09:23 AM
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as a general statement I have never regretted buying quality tools.
one goof up caused by lesser quality often overrides the initial cost.
and you never know when N+1 or help a friend hits
ymmv
one goof up caused by lesser quality often overrides the initial cost.
and you never know when N+1 or help a friend hits
ymmv
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10-28-22, 09:29 AM
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Wow, that is fancy. I have the little one that came with my Tektro bleed kit and it's perfectly fine for home mechanic work. It's a chopper one way and clamps the tube and pushes in the barb the other way.
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10-28-22, 09:52 AM
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This one. It's about four inches long. The big arm does the cut and then you move the hose around to the hole and start the barb. The little inset lever clamps the hose while the big arm pushes the barb in.
https://www.tektro.com/products.php?p=104
https://www.tektro.com/products.php?p=104
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10-28-22, 09:55 AM
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Don't forget to slide the collet / olive on first and if it's Tektro don't forget to make sure it's the right direction... DAMHIK
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10-28-22, 04:36 PM
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I just used a high quality side cutter and large hammer. If I did several brake lines a month I would buy something install the olive/barb. That was kind of a pita with hammer and trying to hold the hose so it didn't slip but not squeeze it too hard you crush the line.
