What tools?

naefearjustbeer

I am looking to be able to do a bit of maintenance on my bike myself. I consider myself fairly handy with hand tools and would probably tackle most routine tasks myself. However I notice that a lot of tools are fairly specific to bikes. I already have plenty screwdrivers, spanners, allen keys, socket set, torx bits etc so I dont see the need to buy a purpose made "bike" tool kit as I would be duplicating a lot of tools I already have. So I am looking for recommendations of the individual "specialist" tools to buy for my already overflowing tool boxes to allow me to do most routine maintenance, strip down, lube up and reassembly's jobs. All at a reasonable price of course. Recommended brands and online shops to buy them from.

nicklouse

Looked in the FAQs?

or done a search?

ride_whenever

buy tools as you need them, to start:

good chain tool
good cable cutters
bb/crank tools
pedal spanner
cassette lockring tool
torque wrench

that's all i use regularly, just about everything else is either an lbs job or you need the tool so rarely buy it when you need it.

naefearjustbeer

:oops: :idea: Just on my way to look now .

naefearjustbeer

Why do some cassette lock ring tools have a pin sticking out the middle and is that the same tool I would need to undo the discs on my bike as I have centre lock type discs?
or should I be asking this in the workshop area of the forum?

supersonic

The pin just helps it locate and not slip out sideways. Can be a pain actually!

Some centrlock uses a cassette tool, others the HT2 BB tool.

naefearjustbeer

Shimano M495 Centre-lock Disc is the type my bike has would How can I tell if its the same tool as the cassette tool?

hoathy

try it!
what hubs do you have?

PBo

ride_whenever wrote:

buy tools as you need them, to start:

good chain tool
good cable cutters
bb/crank tools
pedal spanner
cassette lockring tool
torque wrench

that's all i use regularly, just about everything else is either an lbs job or you need the tool so rarely buy it when you need it.

If using a cass. lockring tool, don't you need a whip too? or is their a work around?

grumsta

You can do it with an old bit of chain, but it's not as easy.

Northwind

ride_whenever wrote:

buy tools as you need them, to start:

good chain tool
good cable cutters
bb/crank tools
pedal spanner
cassette lockring tool
torque wrench

that's all i use regularly, just about everything else is either an lbs job or you need the tool so rarely buy it when you need it.

Not convinced that's good advice, even without the torque wrench buying decent quality tools along those lines seperate will cost you about the same as buying a decent quality small toolkit. The wee Lifeline kit in the briefcase frinstance comes with all that stuff and costs less than you'd likely pay for your shopping list, it's all decent enough, and you get extras as well.

Torque wrench... Mmm. Depends on the user really, I only use mine inside engines where the torque settings are critical, everywhere else I use my highly calibrated torquehands But then, that's because I know what I'm doing, ironically torque wrenches are a tool most people don't buy, and only more serious DIYers tend to get, but it's the knobbers that need it most.

hoathy

if i didn't already have a load of tools i'd buy a lifeline kit

wasn't there a test on a buch of them in one of the mags recently?