Tool set?

Paul057

Hi All,
First time i've posted in the maintenance section - i feel like i'm becoming a "proper cyclist" and i want to have a bit of fettle. With this in mind i'm looking for a starter tool kit but i don't want to pay the earth. I don't want cheap and nasty but by the same token i don't need top of the range. Any ideas?

I've seen this one at CRC:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=40997
...but i've never heard of X-tools, and that's not normally a good sign. Anyone used them?

I'm looking to pay about £40/£50 if poss?

Thanks

letap73

Was in he same position. I am still a complete cretin with regards to bike fettling, however,I have a cheap Halfords kit which does certain things fairly well -ie Allen keys to tighten/loosen fittings such as seatpost collar. Chain whip and shimano tool for cassette removal work well. Cheap toolkit is not a bad way to start, replace tools when you are more certain that you require a better version of that tool.

Scrumple

Cheapest tool set I have seen is the Labour Party

southdownswolf

Do you already have many tools at home, diy or bike wise? If you already have decent screwdrivers, allen keys and spanners, then it may be better to concentrate on the items that you don't already have rather than spend £50 just to find you already have half the kit.

The quality of the Xtools kits doesn't look great, but looks fine for the money. Certainly it would be good enough for the occasional bit of fettling, after all you are not going to be taking the bike apart every week....

Do you have a decent multi tool? Would the money be better spent on that, so that you have tools with you on the ride also?

mcp73

As I had very little in the way of equipment at home, I bought the exact tool kit last year and it's served me very well. I've built a bike up from scratch using it and I regularly strip my bikes for maintenance. It's not lacked anything other than a decent sized adjustable spanner and cable cutters (and torque wrench - but that's a larger expense). I would recommend it, especially on a budget - as I was. I carry the Allen keys and a separate multitool with me on rides.

cycleclinic

That open BB spanner is a bit useless. If your cups are a bit stuk it will mash the splines. The Park tool socket for external BB's and a 3/8" drive is much better. A ratchet is a god idea. The lack of cable cutters means you will not be able to fit new cables and outers.

I would buy Park, Pedros' or Cyclus tools. Good tools do the job properly without mashing anything although many of those X-tools tools will be fine for the job.

All you really need to do the basics, that is fit and install cables, set up gears and brakes, adjust your headset, fit bars, stems and shifters, replace chain, replace chain rings, replace cassette and replae brake pads are.

1) 4, 5, 6 mm allen keys. You will need a 8mm allen key if you use square taper, otcalink or ISIS BB to tighten crank bolts. Buy decent ones though even the Halfords Professional ones are decent.
2) Chain spitter.
3) Cable cutters for bike cables and outers. Use a file to get the ends of the brake outer nice. Files are cheap.
4) Park FR-5 free wheel tool (if you use campag then it is a different one). You will need a big spanner to use this one or a 1" socket and a 3/8" drive.
5) chain whip (the X-tools one will be fine.
6) Posidrive screwdriver (I can picture the size but cannot say what it is) and flat head.
7) long nose pilers to deal with stiff chain master links.

Optional tools to do more
7) a BB tool for whatever type of BB you have. Buy Park or Pedro's they are so much better but you will ideally need a torque wrench for this but a rachet drive is a very good idea for the park external BB socket tool.

Optional tools do do more

Paul057

Some good advice there, thanks. Already got quite a few DIY tools (screw drivers/alan keys/file) so I think rather than get the set I'll focus on some bike specific stuff. Chain whip, chain splitter, cable cutters, ratchet. Also need to buy a work stand yet...and actually learn how to do all the stuff I'll have the tools for without trashing my bike. I believe the Park Tools website is the place to go?

giant_man

make up your own tool set, much better than going out and buying a cheap 'do it all' tool kit, the contents of which you may or may not use all of them, or they break upon first use, better idea is to get an empty tool chest/box and choose your tools carefully, collect as you fettle so to speak, and you'll end up with a custom tool kit, campag/shimano/sram specific, of quality tools that won't let you down. Look at the likes of Park, Pedros etc. and go from there imo ...

dennisn

giant man wrote:

make up your own tool set, much better than going out and buying a cheap 'do it all' tool kit, the contents of which you may or may not use all of them, or they break upon first use, better idea is to get an empty tool chest/box and choose your tools carefully, collect as you fettle so to speak, and you'll end up with a custom tool kit, campag/shimano/sram specific, of quality tools that won't let you down. Look at the likes of Park, Pedros etc. and go from there imo ...

+1 on sort of making up your own. Shop the sales and see who's selling what lower than the next guy. The one tool I would not skimp on is Allen keys. Get the best you can afford. Nothing worse than screwing up an Allen bolt head. As for the other tools I tend not to pay top dollar for shop quality stuff. I do all my own work on my bikes and don't really use lots of the tools that much(except Allen keys and spoke wrenches) so I don't feel the need to shell out mega dollars for tools that just hang on the wall most of the time. IMHO you can save a few dollars by NOT buying the, so called, third and forth hand tools. I have had both for years. Never use them. Although the third hand tool does make a good plastic wire tie tightner.