Post Your Improvised Tools

[TylerDurden]

Park Tool makes good stuff. But sometimes you need a tool after the bikeshop is closed.

The other night I got a burr under my saddle about freewheels, so I needed to improvise.

Freewheels have various slots and holes... Sometimes, I will add more to use conventional or improvised tools: I used a rotary tool to grind slots in the bigger FW to use a piece of steel (mower-blade) for removal.


I usually clamp a tool in the vise and put the FW on the tool and turn the wheel... good leverage. Many shops do this with FWs. You might have a piece of steel around that fits the job already.



Covers often require a pin-wrench, for the little holes.
View attachment 2

I ran a couple of drywall screws through a long piece of scrap 3/4" plywood, and cut them off with a dremel. If you dont get the distance right the first time, no biggie... run it through again just to the side of the first.

I used MAPP to heat the parts, to free them up. Painted parts can be a pain. Use heat sparingly, it can corrode races. It will burn the grease, so you will need to repack.

 

[docnjoj]

Yo Tyler! U da man! Thanks!!!! (Technically, it should be Tyler, Yo!!)
otherDoc

 

[Miles]

I think that jig deserves a 3 "40s" rating.....

 

[TylerDurden]

I think that jig deserves a 3 "40s" rating.....

I am, as ever, your humble servant...

:lol:

 

[TylerDurden]

Here's today's improv:

I'm cleaning parts in WD40, in a 1qt. tupperware thingy.... like these hub bearings.

Tada! Every EVer must have a magnet around somewhere... This one is on the outside of the tub, with a rag on the side that faces the parts:

When you slide the magnet up to the rim the parts follow it up and jump into the rag:

 

[Toorbough ULL-Zeveigh]

I can put to immediate use the improvised pin spanner for disassembling the innards of my hub.
It's fastened by a 2.5 inch lock ring that has 4 equally spaced rectangular notches around it's circumference.
It's too big a dia. to grind down a socket & have been looking for something better.
Using 4 suitably ground to shape screws in wood approach sure beats mushing the ring by hammering away at it with a punch.
Thanx for tossing me a lifesaver.

 

[TylerDurden]

I would opt for the ghetto-spanner* I use on Sturmeys:

*Two flattened 10d nails and a pipewrench.


EDIT: If the lockring is too recessed, you might try the pinwrench gag with 4 bolts (dremel to size), and then use a hoseclamp to keep 'em from splaying.