Bike tool set

Slozukimc

10 W
Joined
Nov 28, 2016
Messages
73
Location
Montour Falls,NY USA
I would like to purchase a “universal “ set of tools to work on my bikes. I see some cheap sets on eBay but I question the quality.

Can anyone make a suggestion for a reasonably priced option that will cover all types of bottom brackets and cranks? I really don’t need wrenches and Allen wrenches, I have all of that type of things. I need the specialty tool the average auto mechanic would not have.

Thanks All, Mike
 
Buy better quality as you can afford them, I look for deals using google and consider several brands. Hozan, Park, and Pedro’s all have some decent tools.

http://www.hozantools.com
https://www.parktool.com
https://pedros.com/products/tools/

Do search, as prices can vary significantly.
 
*All* types? Or just the ones you'd commonly run into these days? It could add up to a lot of tools.


Park Tools (and Pedro's) sells the various BB and crank removal tools, (some bike shops carry them in stock; some have to order them, but you can check locally if you need them right now) and a regular socket wrench will take care of the nuts/bolts on many of the square-taper cranks; an allen set will be needed for most of the others. A regular box wrench can be used for the pedals.

You can use some channel locks or a box wrench for the nuts on Ashtabula (one-piece) type cranks, and can either make or buy a slot-wrench / pin-wrench for the cones if they're slotted and not nutted.
 
Now that many common bike-specific tools come in professional versions, which are bigger, more rugged, and more expensive, and home mechanic versions. For home mechanics, the lower cost and smaller size of the home version is well worth any minor differences in usability. Particularly those tools that don't have their own handles, and thus require wrenches to operate, allow the storage of a lot more tools in a small container.
 
Thanks for the tips! I really only need the most commonly used tools for modern bikes. I think I will get the Park Tool universal crank puller to start with. I have a couple B.B. sockets that I got when I bought my BBS02. They work for the nuts on the BBS02 but are both bigger than the bottom bracket in my Jamis so I need the socket for that.
I have all sorts of wrenches and hex bits, etc. as I have been an auto mechanic for most of my life. Have always managed to get the square taper cranks apart with a 2 arm puller.
I think I will stay away from the eBay tool kits and buy quality tools as I can afford/need them. The quality brands are way cheaper than anything on the SnapOn truck. Lol

Mike
 
Chalo said:
Now that many common bike-specific tools come in professional versions, which are bigger, more rugged, and more expensive

And those brands are from?
Thanks!
 
tomjasz said:
Chalo said:
Now that many common bike-specific tools come in professional versions, which are bigger, more rugged, and more expensive

And those brands are from?
Thanks!

The usual. Park, Pedros, Hozan. Var used to be a big player in pro bike tools, but it seems like they're gone now. Abbey Tools and EVT are relative newcomers who only make expensive pro-level tools.

Edit:

It looks like Var is still around. I guess none of my distributors carry their stuff.
 
Chalo said:
[

The usual. Park, Pedros, Hozan. Var used to be a big player in pro bike tools, but it seems like they're gone now. Abbey Tools and EVT are relative newcomers who only make expensive pro-level tools.

Edit:

It looks like Var is still around. I guess none of my distributors carry their stuff.

K, i like my Hozan tools best. Thanks for Var, Abbey and EVT, new to me.

VAR headset press? Pedros? Park? Thoughts? Better quality complete headset?
 
Bike tools is one of the bones I throw my local bike shop. I can't be their new bike customer, but its good to help them stay in business by buying some park tools, occasionally a tire, and all my tubes there.

All my bike tools burned up last year, so I bought some cheapo multi tools at walmart to carry on the bikes. For the shop I went to the LBS and got a pedal wrench, square taper crank puller, spoke wrenches. They carry the park tools. As I need stuff like a BB tool, I'll just go buy it then. Thank god, my truing stand was in the other garage.
 
tomjasz said:
VAR headset press? Pedros? Park? Thoughts? Better quality complete headset?

All the shops I've ever worked in used the Park headset press, so that's all I know. For my own tool box, I have a length of 3/4" threaded rod with heavy washers and nuts. It's not as easy to use, but because the thread is a little smaller, I can use it to press a few other things like BMX sealed bearing bottom bracket cups.

For chasing, reaming, and facing tools, I've used Campagnolo, Cobra, and Park. Probably others I can't remember for BB taps. They all work fine; they all are so expensive and easy to damage that they're best left to the hands of hired pros, in my opinion. I like Park's head tube reamer/facer best for its configurability. It does 1" and 1-1/8" with reaming only, facing only, or both at once with the same tool.

Relatively few frames need finish machining straight from the manufacturer anymore.

Campagnolo tools are silly expensive, and offhand I can't think of a single one of them I prefer to others, except their H-tools for dropout and fork tip alignment.
 
Chalo said:
All the shops I've ever worked in used the Park headset press, so that's all I know.
Best price I can find is the VAR $230 list but available for almost $100 less. Seems well made, and much like the Park.
 

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tomjasz said:
VAR headset press? Pedros? Park? Thoughts?
I replaced the fork on my Mundo a couple of years back and picked up some fair priced 'consumer' tools. These aren't pro quality, but will serve me well.


84-12_tools_iv250.jpg


None of these tools are strictly necessary - any can be worked around with a little ingenuity, but frankly the price was small for the convenience of having tools that make the job quick and effortless. The most expensive item was the headset press which unfortunately did not have stepped drivers large enough for 'the Pig' headset that I used. As a work-around I used a stepped UniBit to make a driver plate from some scrap Delrin so I could seat the Pig. The included stepped drivers otherwise worked well to keep the headset pieces centered to prevent wedging, but some threaded rod and bits of wood would certainly work with a bit of care and patience. All the other tools are pretty good quality and a few whacks with a mallet drove out the old bearing cups, seated the crown race, and set the star-nut without a hitch.

Cost was modest:

Code:
            Qty    Item                      Description                          Amount
        *******************************************************************************
                                    DIY Rotor Truing Form (scrap Aluminum)        --.--
             1 325 SETSN5           SETTE TORX ST-113A STAR NUT SETTER            11.98
             1 325 SETHS5           SETTE TORX ST-1858M HEADSET CUP REMOVER       19.98
             1 325 SETCR7           SETTE TORX ST-01 CROWN RACE SETTING TOOL      29.98
             1 325 SETHP5           SETTE TORX ST-107 HEADSET PRESS               65.98

The rotor truing tool (above) was fabbed from a bit of scrap 1/8" 5051 aluminum with a bit of heat shrink for a grip - works fine but a harder alloy would have been better.

I built a truing stand some years back as well. The two competitors for me were these from Park and Bikehand:


81-00_commercialStands_small.png


But -- the book "The Professional Guide to Wheelbuilding" that has plans for what appeared to be a pretty nice wooden stand:


81-00a_WheelPro.png


My version was similar but used stuff I had on hand. Works great and worth the build - more info/pictures >>here<<.


81-04_oview.JPG



tomjasz said:
Better quality complete headset?
I used an FSA 'the Pig Pro' on the Mundo cargo bike. Built like a truck, cartridge bearings, etc. Very happy with it.


84-07_thePigProExploded_800.png
 
Thanks the pig is my choice too. Given that i have 4 bikes I want to change forks on a $135 tool seems reasonable. In the past i bought expensive tools, did the work, and flipped them on eBay, recovering most of the expense. VW tools and dog training tools were used, flipped, and the end was less than a shop or trainer costs. Even less than rental fees. Just takes some time to,research, buy right.
 
I prefer the loose ball version of FSA Pig, assuming that you don't have to disassemble the bike often for shipping etc. It's cheaper and has bigger and much stronger bearings. It's the proven champ of headsets among pedicabbers here.

And if it works for pedicabbers, it will work for you-- even if you carry three fat girlfriends on your bike with you.
 
Is that this one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FSA-The-Pig-1-1-8-Threadless-Heavy-Duty-Headset-BMX-MTB-Road-Bicycle-Black-/332087572864?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

New FSA "The Pig" 1-1/8" Threadless, Caged Bearing, External Cup Bicycle Headset. New in the retail box.
Color: Black
Manufacturer Part # 141-1005
Product information:
The FSA "The Pig" is a 1-1/8" threadless, heavy duty external cup bicycle headset which is designed to be durable and strong. Made out of tough 6061/T6 alloy and chromoly steel, along with caged steel bearings this headset will take abuse and keep working as it should. It's also gyro compatible for BMX riders if handlebar spinnin' is needed.

For use with 1-1/8" threadless steerer tube
Forged chromoly steel lower cup
12mm deep cup 6061/T6 upper cup
Super oversized lower ball bearings
Caged 5/32" ball upper bearings
Forged chromoly steel crown race
Gyro compatible
UPC # 400310025302
Crown Race: 30.0
S.H.I.S Lower: EC34
S.H.I.S Upper: EC34
S.H.I.S. Stem Clamp Diameter: 28.6
Stack Height: 15.4+13.6=29mm
Our In Store Tested Weight: 209g
 
That's the one.
 
Picked up a Pedro’s universal crank puller. Works great. Grabbed a Shimano cassette tool and chain whip as well as a spare master link and a wealth of knowledge from the LBS owner. Was more expensive than online but the advice and helping a local business made it a bargain.

Thanks Martins Bicycle Repair in Dundee, NY.

Was also nice to see a couple electric bikes in the shop. A TownieGo and a cool mid drive trike. Had a Currie mid drive that looked kinda like a Bosch.

Mike
 
Man, what I wouldn't give to have one of you within a bike ride!

Thanks!
 
From one set of old threaded suspension forks you can make three tools.

1) hack off the inner sliders below the crown, and saw cross slits in one of them and you have a headset cup drift;

2) the remaining crown and threaded steerer tube makes a headset cup setting tool with the addition of some suitable sized washers/spacers;

3) the lower stanchions mounted on a board make (the start of) a truing stand.
 
Chalo said:
That's the one.


Why a caged bearing?

Pedro’s headset press on the way.

Bike mechanics don’t have t9 have their own tool sets, shops typically supply? N9 one owes their soul to Snap On? Sweet deal if so.
 
tomjasz said:
Why a caged bearing?
Because when you use the cups as the races, you have more space for larger diameter bearings, which (AFAIK) can then take more load than the small ones.

If you use the cups as holders for "sealed" / integrated bearings with their own races, you wind up with either thinner races for the larger bearings, or smaller bearings for thicker races.

Or you have to use a narrower steerer tube or wider head tube to get larger bearings in there.
 
tomjasz said:
Chalo said:
That's the one.

Why a caged bearing?

The actual bearings-- balls and races-- are way, way bigger, stronger, and more fault tolerant that way. Cartridge bearing headsets are tidier to assemble and disassemble, harder to contaminate, and potentially more forgiving of misalignment. But the bearings are much smaller, and size matters.

For what it's worth, cartridges can be made with more precision and deeper grooves, which partially makes up for smaller bearing element size-- but also makes them less tolerant of overload, flex, and variations in alignment.

The Pig loose ball headset uses 1/4" balls in the bottom race.
 
LewTwo said:
I have been lusting after IceToolz E185 but at $400 I am likely just to keep lusting ...
Being a tool nut, I really wanted this press. But for 2-3 headsets a year? Nah! But it's tool porn!
ModularBearingPress_MainImage_1024x1024.jpg
 
cyan333 said:
I brought a tool set from BMSB before, I think they are in good quality. At least I like it. :)

https: //bmsbattery.com/home/859-bicycle-repair-tool-kit-28pcs-multi-functional-bicycle-maintenance-tools-with-handy-bag.html

This one. But I am not sure if you like it or not.

If t works for you! But damn their shipping costs!
 
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