Better bicycle tools

[Cugel]

The shed has numerous tools in it useful for working on bicycles, many of them being useful for all sorts of other kinds of jobs. Those tools used on the bikes that I've collected over the years are of varying quality but, typically, the bicycle-specific tools tend to be of the cheaper sort as such specialist tools tend to get used far less than more general purpose tools.

Just recently I've been doing a serious overall of one bike after another, in preparation for selling four bikes that have been usurped by e-bikes in our house. This has brought home the fact that some of my bike-specific tools are not as good as they ought to be - things like chain whips and cassette removers; BB servicing tools; a bearing press; and so forth.

Anyroadup, I thought I might give away my less than ideal bike tools and acquire better replacements. So I'm asking here for recommendations from more seasoned bicycle mechanics, for both brand names and individual specific tool types.

Incidentally, I've not been very impressed with some supposedly upmarket bike tools that seem to be sold at premium prices. One example is Park Tools, some of which are reasonable (but certainly not best) quality, some of which aren't; and all of which seem to cost rather more than they should.

German tools in general are often a favourite, of the better general purpose tools I have. But I'm happy also to buy far eastern or tools from any country if the quality is good.

Cugel

[Valbrona]

Park
Cyclus
VAR

[scottg]

Some really interesting tools below.

https://steintool.com/
https://www.efficientvelo.com/
https://wheelfanatyk.com/

And Abbey Tools, which if you are try to keep up weekly
changes in so-called "bike standards" are invaluable.
https://www.abbeybiketools.com/

The only place you can get an Italian PressFit tool that really works.

[peetee]

I have walked into bike shops and watched a fair few different bike channels on YouTube and am totally amazed by the domination of Parktools in the market. I can only assume that for trade customers they offer a very attractive discount for the full kit-and-kaboodle, the advantage for them being a very high-profile presence to (potential) retail customers with the distinctive blue tool boards.
Speaking personally I wouldn’t touch their stuff again - once bitten, twice shy.

[irc]

For chainring bolts I bought a Tobe T shaped tool rather than the usual spanner shaped flat tool. Much easier to exert force if needed.

https://www.thecycledivision.com/produc ... ut-wrench/

[richardfm]

I have walked into bike shops and watched a fair few different bike channels on YouTube and am totally amazed by the domination of Parktools in the market. I can only assume that for trade customers they offer a very attractive discount for the full kit-and-kaboodle, the advantage for them being a very high-profile presence to (potential) retail customers with the distinctive blue tool boards.
Speaking personally I wouldn’t touch their stuff again - once bitten, twice shy.

Is that just because they are expensive, or is there some other reason?

[peetee]

I do find them expensive and I have had perfectly reasonable usage from other brands (I’ve been a bike mechanic for many years)
The main reason, however is I bought a Campagnolo-specific crank extractor that self destructed the 2nd time I used it. Parktool never responded to several requests to replace it under their lifetime warrantee. Shortly after that they revised the tool design.

[Cugel]

Thanks all for the replies so far; and for the links/urls. Some fascinating gubbins!

I've perused quite a few of those websites and noticed a tool or two that I might buy to replace a sub-standard item I already have. But perhaps a better way would be to list the specific tools I have that I'd like to replace, so that those with knowledge of such better replacements might mention them and where they can be obtained?

I also have a few gaps in my bicycle toolset, as a result of recently buying three modern bikes that have new fangles on 'em not on the bikes I last bought some 10-15 years ago. For example, a small slot-tool to bend distorted discs back into alignment combined with a wedge at the other end to push disc brake pistons back into their housings when changing pads would probably be better than an adjustable spanner and a big flat-bladed screwdriver!

I'll make a list and post it here.

Perhaps others might like to do the same, if they feel that their tools are wanting a refresh?

*************
That TOBE chainring slotted bolt tool looks good. I hate the wee spanner-like things with two prongs, that slip out as soon as you try to seperate the front and back chainring bolts.

Cugel

[PH]

But perhaps a better way would be to list the specific tools I have that I'd like to replace,

Please also include why you think they need replacing.

For example, a small slot-tool to bend distorted discs back into alignment combined with a wedge at the other end to push disc brake pistons back into their housings when changing pads would probably be better than an adjustable spanner and a big flat-bladed screwdriver!

The small plastic rotor tool that was included with my Epic bleed kit works fine and plastic tyres levers do as good a job pushing pistons back as anything else.

I'm not sure I have any tools that might be considered professional quality, neither do I have any that are not adequate for my usage. I'm sceptical there's an advantage of buying tools built to withstand daily workshop use when I might need them once or twice a year. I've no doubt that those £500 wheel truing stands are nicer to use than my £70 one, I do doubt that the wheels I build would be any better. I might make an exception for a workstand, my 15 year old cheap Bike Hand is about knackered, it's served me well but having used a decent one in a shared facility i was impressed by how much easier and more stable, everything was.

[slowster]

Chain Whip

I needed to buy a new one this year because I damaged the old one attempting to remove a Rohloff sprocket carrier (I found out the hard way that there is a specific technique which needs to be followed).

I bought a Park Tool SR-2.3 because it was generally well regarded, e.g. by Brucey (viewtopic.php?p=1179796#p1179796), and is a similar design to the one 531colin has - viewtopic.php?p=1572648#p1572648.

Pedal Spanner

I also bought a Park Tool PW-4 pedal spanner, specifically because it has two spanner openings at different angles. It makes a big difference to be able to vary the angle of the grip to the crank. Obviously it only makes sense to get such a spanner if you use pedals with spanner flats.

Cassette Lockring Tool

Between them Shimano and Park Tool offer various different types, i.e. with and without guide pins, with a handle, with a 3/4" socket fitting etc. Which is best depends upon what components your bikes have. NB Some Centrelock brake discs use a similarly splined lockring, and I think that not all cassette lockring tools are a good fit on the Centrelock lockrings, and that those suited to the Centrelock lockrings may be less than ideal for the cassette lockrings.

My preference is for the basic Park Tool version (FR-5.2) without a guide pin, through which a quick release skewer can be passed to hold the tool in place and prevent it camming out. I also have a deep socket which I can use with a 3/4" drive torque wrench to tighten the lockring:

https://www.lawson-his.co.uk/iss-0616l- ... ct-p160217

That TOBE chainring slotted bolt tool looks good. I hate the wee spanner-like things with two prongs, that slip out as soon as you try to seperate the front and back chainring bolts.

Having tried that type, I prefer the old fashioned type. That is because I have found that with cranks like Spa's TD2, the flat tool can usuallly be positioned so that it is held in place and stopped from rotating by part of the inside face of the crank, with just my thumb lightly over it. With the nut thus held in place, it is easy to undo or tighten the bolt with an allen key.

As for disc brake tools, I am somewhat sceptical of some of them, and have held off buying any. Although Park Tool make a specific tool to push pistons back, in at least one of their videos I've seen them using the blue plastic coated handle of a cone spanner to push the pistons back.

There are a lot more threads and posts on disc brake tools for truing discs and aligning the calipers on Singletrackworld, so I suggest you search for those threads and weigh up the competing recommendations on there before making a purchase.

[Cugel]

One tool at a time, then ....

The tool employed to take off and put in the bottom bracket cups/bearings such as Shimano's hollowtech and FSA's megaexo: a long handle with a circular spanner end having 16 slightly rounded inward facing teeth that engage with matching notches around the BB cup/bearing so it can be screwed in or out of threaded bicycle BB shells.

Such a tool can also be used to take off or put on the lock ring holding disc rotors in place on the wheel hubs.

I have one that came as part of an inexpensive generic bicycle toolset in a black plastic case - about 30 tools in the set for 30 quiddish, 15 years ago. The tools are of varying quality with some surprisingly good ones (e.g. the cable cutters) and some not that good. The BB cup/bearing tool is one of the latter, with the rounded teeth not that good a fit on the cup/bearing notches and a tendency to slip off in use. The handle is also too short and not offset, so it fouls the crank in use and has insufficient leverage.

You can buy a similar individual tool on Amazon or ebay for about £5-8.

Shimano make one that looks better-made and costs in the region of £35. It should at least fit their own BB cups and disc lockrings .... but does it?

Can anyone recommend a good one that closely matches the BB cup/bearing notches, has an offset handle that's long enough and doesn't easily slip off when the pressure goes on? Ideally it should work well on both BB cup/bearings and on disc rotor lock rings, although I suppose that depends on the quality of those items as much as on the tool.

Cugel

[Jdsk]

For HollowTech II I use the Icetoolz IIF3 with a socket set or torque wrench for the leverage:
https://www.icetoolz.eu/en/icetoolz-bb- ... hollowtech
about £10.

Jonathan

[slowster]

One tool at a time, then ....

Before even buying one tool, for tools like cassette/Centrelock disc lockring tools and bottom bracket tools I suggest you consider the pros and cons of tools with integral handles vs. those designed to be used with torque wrenches, large sockets and/or large adjustable spanners.

I would not get tools with handles because:

- they don't allow a torque wrench to be used
- it's usually possible to choose separate tools which can be firmly held in place with a QR skewer to stop them camming out
- separate tools give better options with a stuck or seized BB or lockring, e.g. adjustable spanners with a longer handle (or handle extended with a metal tube) or a breaker bar.

If you get separate tools, it makes sense where possible to choose ones which use the same drive and eternal hex sizes, so that you do not need multiple sockets, adapters, or both 3/8" and 1/2" torque wrenches, breaker bars etc. For example, Park Tool typically use a 3/8" drive and 1" external hex flats. Some other brands use 1/2" drive and various metric sized external hex flats.

[Eyebrox]

We use Super B tools in the shop. Great range of unusual tools available and the prices tend to be keener. Some bike shops carry stocks of them along with a small network of distributors and Amazon.

https://www.superbiketool.com/en/product/inventory

[Cugel]

For HollowTech II I use the Icetoolz IIF3 with a socket set or torque wrench for the leverage:
https://www.icetoolz.eu/en/icetoolz-bb- ... hollowtech
about £10.

Jonathan

Thanks for the icetoolz url - there's one or three interesting-looking possibilities in there. The notion of tightening tools for use with a torque wrench rather than with built-in handle is also a good point. (See reply following to Slowster).

Cugel