The "tool that you don't know what it is" thread
07-15-22, 08:15 PM
#26
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Oh that's easy. I just used it the other day. When reinstalling a Campy freehub you slip this under it to compress the pawls as it (the freehub) drops into place you remove the tool. Works great. I almost had someone mangle it before though. I was helping out at a bike event and someone needed a small piece of wire and took this out of my tool box and was just about to bend it for their use and I had a hard time keeping my composure about never touching a persons tools with out asking.
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07-16-22, 12:31 PM
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This one is in the one-off category, but it’s very useful:
07-16-22, 12:38 PM
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Looks like a hammer jack thingy to pry two things away from each other...not sure what though...
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
07-16-22, 01:17 PM
#29
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07-16-22, 01:32 PM
#30
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I'm guessing I'm not alone in possessing tools that I have no idea what they are for, right? About six months ago, I bought a bunch of tools on the sales forum here. There was one tool in particular that I wanted. I conned @gugie into splitting the lot with me. He took a few that he wanted, and I tossed the rest in my tool box. There was one tool in particular that I've looked at several times since and scratched my head trying to figure out what it could possibly do. I bet a bunch of you will recognize it, but it was a complete enigma to me. It's an older version of this:
It screws onto something. I thought maybe it was meant to hold a splined tool like a freewheel remover in place, but it looked to me like it would completely cover it. I was stumped. I even discovered today (looking at the old sales thread) that at the time I had looked it up and had at least the name of it, but it turns out that it you don't apply information soon after you learn it your brain discards it.
Then today I was trying to remove a stubborn bottom bracket fixed cup. My 36mm fixed cup tool is a little munged, so I couldn't really apply much force without it slipping. I needed something to hold it in place. I tried to think what I had in the garage that might work for that. Suddenly....
Clever guy that J.A. Stein.
Anyone else have an experience like this? What tool did you have around for a while before realizing what it was for?
It screws onto something. I thought maybe it was meant to hold a splined tool like a freewheel remover in place, but it looked to me like it would completely cover it. I was stumped. I even discovered today (looking at the old sales thread) that at the time I had looked it up and had at least the name of it, but it turns out that it you don't apply information soon after you learn it your brain discards it.
Then today I was trying to remove a stubborn bottom bracket fixed cup. My 36mm fixed cup tool is a little munged, so I couldn't really apply much force without it slipping. I needed something to hold it in place. I tried to think what I had in the garage that might work for that. Suddenly....
Clever guy that J.A. Stein.
Anyone else have an experience like this? What tool did you have around for a while before realizing what it was for?
https://steintool.com/portfolio-item...-wrench-clamp/
07-16-22, 01:57 PM
#31
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I was hoping to hear similar stories from other people on this thread, but apparently @RustyJames and I are the only people here who have tools that we don't know what they do.
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07-16-22, 02:23 PM
#32
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If it sounds like I have already hit the "Hammer Jack", it is incorrect, I am usually this flighty.
Dave
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
07-16-22, 02:29 PM
#33
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There used to be a bar in Baltimore called Hammerjacks. I was once mistaken for Glenn Danzig while attending a concert there.
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07-16-22, 05:22 PM
#34
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Yeah, I figured it out. As soon as I needed it, its purpose was clear.
I was hoping to hear similar stories from other people on this thread, but apparently @RustyJames and I are the only people here who have
tools that we don't know what they do.
I was hoping to hear similar stories from other people on this thread, but apparently @RustyJames and I are the only people here who have
tools that we don't know what they do.
I have many tools that get used for other than their intended purpose as I suspect many here do and a few that were bought for some obscure job that only got used once.
But 99% percent of them I know what to do with, I have been wrenching on things on my own since about 12 yr. old.
This is my biggest "storage unit", one of 5 or 6 and lots of smaller boxes, bags and buckets for specific work.
Lots of tools, many duplicates and different versions of the same thing for more leverage, tighter access, longer reach, etc.
You never know when a tool might save your azz on something it was never intended for, or was.
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07-16-22, 06:36 PM
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Oh that's easy. I just used it the other day. When reinstalling a Campy freehub you slip this under it to compress the pawls as it (the freehub) drops into place you remove the tool. Works great. I almost had someone mangle it before though. I was helping out at a bike event and someone needed a small piece of wire and took this out of my tool box and was just about to bend it for their use and I had a hard time keeping my composure about never touching a persons tools with out asking.
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N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
07-17-22, 06:21 AM
#36
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Since I was called out by Andy_K I have these things;
I looked up the top 2 Perry tools at one point but I can’t remember the results of my “research”.
I’m clueless (again!) about the intended use of the unbranded bottom 2 wrenches.
I looked up the top 2 Perry tools at one point but I can’t remember the results of my “research”.
I’m clueless (again!) about the intended use of the unbranded bottom 2 wrenches.
07-17-22, 03:23 PM
#37
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I'm looking at that and thinking it's used to fix a bent rim.
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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.
07-17-22, 03:47 PM
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07-17-22, 03:58 PM
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07-17-22, 05:14 PM
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It's a tool used by a proctologist.
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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.
07-17-22, 06:06 PM
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The nut on the left side provides some scale I hadn't noticed before. It's quite a bit smaller than I initially imagined. Is it a chainstay dimpling apparatus?
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07-17-22, 06:14 PM
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Maybe your proctologist, but that’s what you get when you seek medical care on the street corner.
Nope.
Ding, ding, ding! Crude but effective. It came from the first shop where I worked. When the owner decided to be done with the bike business, he let me take any tool I wanted and this is the one I chose. Guess I hadn’t heard of cold setting at that time.
Ding, ding, ding! Crude but effective. It came from the first shop where I worked. When the owner decided to be done with the bike business, he let me take any tool I wanted and this is the one I chose. Guess I hadn’t heard of cold setting at that time.
07-17-22, 06:21 PM
#43
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The tool that you don't know what it is thread
- At sea on the giz-mo
- Befuddled by this here gadgetry
- Fuzzy instruments
07-17-22, 06:25 PM
#44
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thread V2: what thread is on the tool that you know
What is the correct threading on the thumb screw for this model VAR 3rd hand tool.
Last edited by clubman; 07-17-22 at 06:28 PM.
07-17-22, 06:32 PM
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The title of the thread was inspired by the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy computer game which features an item described as "a thing your aunt gave you which you don't know what it is." When you try to examine the "thing" in the game, it gives you this description, "Apart from a label on the bottom saying "Made in Ibiza" it furnishes you with no clue as to its purpose, if indeed it has one. You are surprised to see it because you thought you'd thrown it away. Like most gifts from your aunt, you've been trying to get rid of it for years." It turns out to be very important in the game because of two properties: (1) you can put things in it, and (2) you can leave it anywhere and later you'll discover that you have it again with its contents intact.
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07-17-22, 06:48 PM
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Perhaps not a tool, but I’ve never been able to figure out what these things are. They came in a cabinet of small parts that I acquired some years back:
07-17-22, 07:02 PM
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Those are Friday afternoon chain links from the Raleigh factory.
It got harder and harder to read the drawings correctly the more pints they drank at lunch time.
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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.
07-17-22, 07:18 PM
#48
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Like this one (in steel so it won't break as easily):
Which I made for a fellow a while ago but he never wound up taking it.
So it's surplus to my needs, send me a pm if you want it.
Last edited by oneclick; 07-17-22 at 07:23 PM.
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07-17-22, 07:27 PM
#49
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