Essential tools for bike maintenance

SkyBlueKangaroo

In a recent post the point was raised about following a basic maintenance regime to ensure you do not invalidate any warranties.

To avoid taking the bike down to your LBS after every ride, what do people recommend is the bare essential tools we should all have and be able to use, to keep our bikes in good general running order between services?

All I have at the moment, specifically for my bikes, is a multi-tool, and a pedal spanner that came gratis with my Focus Cayo.

pittpony

Just off the top of my head:

Multi tool (and/or allen keys and screwdrivers)
Pump and puncture repair equipment (patches, tyre levers etc)
Cleaning equipment
Chain lube
Maybe a chain breaker tool

That's all you probably need for basic maintenance, however the longer I've had my bike the more overflowing my tool box has become! I can't ever imagine getting a shop to service it now though. Its really not hard at all to do it yourself and saves a lot of money in the long run!

allthegearnoidea

i second that! wheni fist got m,y bike i had s#d all tools! just a puncture repair kit and some tyre leavers!
although specific bike tools i have a few but general car related tools i have quite a lot! but they are useable!
a chain splitter is a very handy tol although my bike multi tool has one! maybe a cassette tool and a crank extracter/ bb tool will help?? a good set of allen keys are a must though! obviously cleaning kit (all purpose cleaner is very good!), frame and a chain cleaner and lube!

i wouldnt give my bike to a shop for a service now, i'd just put the money towards bike tools!

Marjory Stewart BAxtor

Yeah, I second the above two comments. Servicing is easy (with the right knowhow - don't try things without reading up first, that's how I put brake housings on my back mech and by putting wax lube on top of dry lube with a layer of wet lube my chain all but siezed up).

But Servicing yourself also gives you a better knowlege of your bike which is good for the trail.

As for tools, I have allen key set and screwdriver seperates (multi tool is good for trail but a decent set is good for home servicing), cleaning chemicals, pump (with guage ifyou're not experienced).

For my 3 month/500mile service I have a chain whip and cassette tool to take my cassette off for a proper clean, chain splitter to clean chain properly, crank extracor for cleaning cranks properly, housing clippers for replacing housings as required, and a decent degreaser.

Dan67

park tool reccomend these

uk_mr_brownstone

For a 'home mechanic's' needs (I'm in this category), you can pick up a fairly cheap bike tool kit with bottom bracket tool/ cassette tool/ chainwhip/ chain breaker/ etc, it'll come with tyre levels and basic allen keys as well. As long as you're not using them everyday I personally don't think you need to buy top-brand kit (although I will admit that on occasion this does show up false economies if the tools break!). Most online retailers have some basic kits for about £40

Add in a good set of allen keys, spanners and one of those screw drivers with the interchangable heads (so you can use star heads too) and that'll allow you to service pretty much every component that's easy to service at home.

Just my personal view, but mult-tools are really annoying (except the good allen key ones) compared to separate tools. They're obviously way more practical on the trail though

SkyBlueKangaroo

One point in particular about crank arms - I understand these should be checked and tightened every ride, and preferably with a decent wrench to advised torque, as opposed to with a multi-tool which isn't going to give the necessary leverage..

Therefore, if this check needs doing a few times each week before a ride, would anyone recommend getting a torque wrench? Do these normally come with a selection of hex heads, or would you get these separately?

pittpony

Torque wrenches can be pretty expensive, and tend to either cover the lower or higher torque range required for a bike. I must admit i just do my crank bolt up as tight as possible and don't check it as much as i should, but i've never had any problems. There we go - fate tempted :roll: