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Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 8:03am
by TonyR
Last weekend I lost my faithful companion multitool when I forgot to zip my seatpack up properly after a getting something out so I went out to get a replacement. The problem I have though is I have track nuts on the bike in question (for wheel security when commuting) and while my old multitool had a tool to remove them the new ones all seem to be of the super-penknife folding design that is full of Allen keys and screwdrivers but no spanners. I've found one that at least has an 8mm and 10mm spanner for the other nuts on the bike but not a 15mm one for the track nuts. Anyone got any suggestions other than carrying a separate spanner. And how do others manage when its a nut, not a bolt, that needs undoing?


Photo of my old multitool

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 8:19am
by Mick F
Luckily, I don't have any nuts on my bike (other than on the mudguard stays).

I do have wheel nuts on my trailer, so when I go away with it, I take a special tool I made. I found a box spanner that fitted and cut the right sized end off. A screwdriver fits nicely through the hole to turn it.

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 8:56am
by [XAP]Bob
I carry a mini adjustable wrench, but have recently bought a tool from Halfords which does various jobs (pedals, nuts, and a couple of allen keys)

Unfortunately the nuts on my SA hub are too deep for the "proper" nut areas of the tool, but the pedal spanner works fine on them. It's a bit fiddly, since the dropouts, derailleur, trailer hitch, rack sides etc all strive to get in the way...

Personally I'd not get the one with allen keys again, the rest of the tool gets in their way, and they get in the way of the rest of the tool. I'll probably take them off (it's only a couple of screws) before it goes out on the road.

Having said that if your track nuts are 15mm all round (they might be 14 at the front) then a pedal spanner might be a nice compact tool to carry...

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 8:58am
by julk
I have one you can have, it is a Topeak Power 21.
Same stuff but with the chain tool and a spanner socket swapped over.

tool.jpg


I now carry a small double ended ring spanner to adjust the 14mm & 15mm nuts on my bike.
PM me if interested.

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 9:02am
by thirdcrank
The only multitool that I can think of with a 15mm spanner and strong enough to unfasten a wheel would be one of the dumbbell jobbies.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cyc ... rrency=GBP

Hardly the most sophisticated of tools (but cheap enough to buy to go round nicking bike wheels, I fear. :( )

I've two bikes with wheel nuts, both with hub gears. With the affluence of retirement, I've invested in a couple of Britool comination spanners for both bikes (the second spanner is to unfasten the brake reaction arm.)

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 9:11am
by [XAP]Bob
julk wrote:I have one you can have, it is a Topeak Power 21.
Same stuff but with the chain tool and a spanner socket swapped over.

tool.jpg


I now carry a small double ended ring spanner to adjust the 14mm & 15mm nuts on my bike.
PM me if interested.


I'm intrigued by the apparent scale on the left hand handle...

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 11:54am
by julk
[XAP]Bob wrote:
I'm intrigued by the apparent scale on the left hand handle...


Bob,
The OP picture is of a Power 16.
My picture is of a Power 21.
In order for Topeak to claim the Power 21 has 21 functions they included 2 scales on the handle.
2 inches in quarter inches as is visible, 5.5 cms in halve cms on the other side.

I have to confess to never having made use of the measures - maybe they are for checking the thickness of the butties at the cafe stop.

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 3:19pm
by [XAP]Bob
no pencil trye pressure gauge then :(

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 3:45pm
by worrywort
Have a look at a pedros trixie track tool.

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 4:54pm
by TonyR
worrywort wrote:Have a look at a pedros trixie track tool.


Bit long at 7.5" though

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 30 Jul 2014, 11:21pm
by Steve O'C

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 31 Jul 2014, 12:21am
by Redvee
thirdcrank wrote:The only multitool that I can think of with a 15mm spanner and strong enough to unfasten a wheel would be one of the dumbbell jobbies.


Don't know if they've improved the design but they were known for snapping. When I had nutted wheels I had a short 15mm combi spanner and cut the OE end off so it would fit in my saddlebag and I think it might still be in there despite now having QR wheels :oops:

Re: Multitool for track nuts

Posted: 31 Jul 2014, 7:01am
by thirdcrank
Redvee wrote: .... Don't know if they've improved the design but they were known for snapping. When I had nutted wheels I had a short 15mm combi spanner and cut the OE end off so it would fit in my saddlebag and I think it might still be in there despite now having QR wheels :oops:


I thought it was clear I was only mentioning these to explain why I carry combination spanners. I wasn't suggesting they were brilliant and it's a design that's been copied in chocolate more than many others, but IME (which includes a time when they were only sold in inch sizes) they do work.

While I'm on, there doesn't seem to be anybody commenting on that Pedro tool designed for the OP's needs. I nearly said "precisely" but IME some cycle-specific tools are anything but precise. Just from looking at the pics, I's suggest that a hex-shaped hole in a metal plate isn't necessarily the best design of spanner. In what circumstances would a rider want a C spanner at the roadside? :? Is that one adequate to undo a properly tightened lock ring if they did have a reason? I hope this will smoke out somebody who's used one.