Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Best way to tighten a lockring without the proper tool?

My cog is slipping a little when I put a lot of back pressure on the cranks. I think the lockring needs to be a little tighter, but I don't have the proper tool. What's the best way to do this? I tried putting a screwdriver into the notch and whacking it with a hammer, but it was phillips and kept slipping out. Also felt like this could damage it.

I'd hit it a few more times. Hell, the Fonz would do the same. Eeeehhhhh!

Have you tried harsh language yet?

scrounge up a regular head screwdriver. ya gotta have one of those. then try the hammer, just be careful you don't strip it.

Why arent you busy getting the right tool already?

I tried putting a screwdriver into the notch and whacking it with a hammer, but it was phillips and kept slipping out. Also felt like this could damage it.

Why don't you just go to your LBS have them tighten it for you? While you're there, get a lockring tool (and a chainwhip) and have them show you how to use them. There's a point at which DIY isn't an option for the given cyclist (if posts to this forum are any indicator, the track/fixie community is waaaaaay too much into the DIY/get it used from someone you know outside the LBS thing- but I can't say for sure), and if you're trying to tighten a lockring with a phillips screwdriver and a hammer, perhaps you don't need to be wrenching on your bike just yet. No insult intended, whatsoever, but my suggestion is better than having you strip your hub trying to fix something you don't have the tools to fix. A bike is not a toy. Especially a brakeless track. It can very easily get you killed if it isn't working properly.

you should get the right tool but slipjaw pliers work good

this post reminds me of the multiple times my fixed gear newb friends have destroyed their hubs by riding around after having improperly installed cog/lock ring... one of them even HAND TIGHTENED the lockring and thought it would be fine... wtf???

hey - do any of you chicago folks have a lock ring tool this kid could use?

lock ring tools are expensive for something you (hopefully) won't need that often but they are the only way to get that thing as tight as it needs to be. i understand the temptation of doing a quick fix to get you back on the road but you could ruin your hub (not cheap) or get hurt (which hurts) if you don't get that thing on right.

(edit: no offense ... i call my parents kids: nice and gender non-specific)

I think most people on here change gear ratios more often than they change pants. Just get one, its worth it. I mean come on it has japanesey words on it!!!

I think most people on here change gear ratios more often than they change pants.

that sounds like a great poll topic. while i don't change my pants that often, i've never changed my ratio ... now i have something else to feel inadequate about.

what's that over there, lurking under the bridge?

You folks really believe someone would be stupid enough to use a phillips screwdriver for christ's sakes? Or that someone that bass ackward in the head could use the internet to ask for advice?

Your LBS guy will be happy to tighten your lockring for you, and 99.99999999% of the time it's free. Though we grumble less if you got the cog, lockring, and wheel from us. And if your LBS guy is me, i get to make out with your girlfriend. she wants me anyway.

that sounds like a great poll topic. while i don't change my pants that often, i've never changed my ratio ... now i have something else to feel inadequate about.

man, it sounds disgusting, but i really do rarely change pants. I wear the same cutoff cargos for a week, unless i'm going somewhere, then its jeans. Underlayers get changed more often.

strangely enough though, your girlfriends still want me.

And if your LBS guy is me, i get to make out with your girlfriend. she wants me anyway.

Wow, I want to work at YOUR shop!

Standard Labor Rate: 30$ per hour or one game of tounge tennis with your woman.

What if my girlfriend looked like this? (attached)

When I installed my cog and lockring, I used the italian way (or whatever its called) where you wrap the chain around the cog and tighten with the wheel itself. I got it as tight as I was comfortable with. Then, to install the lockring, I tightened it by hand.

Then I got a big huge flat screwdriver and a light hammer, and tapped away at it until I felt it was "tight enough". Very scientific, I know. But, I've been riding for over a week without a hint of problems. BTW its important to use a very sturdy flathead screwdriver. Your normal household variety will probably just absorb the shock of the hammer instead of transmitting it properly to the lockring.

And that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

If you can't get it tight enough by finger strength alone, you are too weak to deserve a fixie YOU SISSY PERSON YOU!!!!

Underlayers get changed more often.

what underlayers? ;)

a pipe wrench works great.

Don't forget to tighten the cog first.

Also, I am all about working with what you have (pliers, a flathead, and a hammer can do a lot on any job), but I am trying to figure out how it would even be possible to hold the wheel, line a screwdriver up, and hit it with a hammer?? I'm laughing trying to picture it actually. :)

If you really can't buy the tool right now, just head to Higher Gear on Fullerton and have Brooks tighten it, or Rapid Transit on North and have Bob do it for you. They have both tightened lockrings for me without too much fuss.

Don't forget to tighten the cog first.

Also, I am all about working with what you have (pliers, a flathead, and a hammer can do a lot on any job), but I am trying to figure out how it would even be possible to hold the wheel, line a screwdriver up, and hit it with a hammer?? I'm laughing trying to picture it actually. :)

If you really want a laugh, imagine me trying to remove a bmx freewheel using only a peanut butter wrench.

I did it, but I can't say I enjoyed it.

hahaha this thread is great.



yes, don't forget to tighten down the cog before you tighten the lockring. and i also am a proponent for going to an LBS and asking to get it tightened with the proper tool. it is a 5 second job and you really don't even have to take the wheel off or anything.





about a week ago the cog/ring fell off my bike in the middle of a commute. i got off, turned my bike upsidedown, and threaded the cog back on via "the italian method." i read about it here:

http://204.73.203.34/fisso/eng/schpignone.htm

then i rode by semi-working bike (very careful to not put any backpressure on the pedals) to the nearest bike store, borrowed the right tool, and locked that bastard of a ring down.

quick, easy, and free. three words i like.

there's nothing that can't be fixed with a 6-inch adjustable wrench and a blowtorch.

Don't forget to tighten the cog first.

Also, I am all about working with what you have (pliers, a flathead, and a hammer can do a lot on any job), but I am trying to figure out how it would even be possible to hold the wheel, line a screwdriver up, and hit it with a hammer?? I'm laughing trying to picture it actually. :)

If you really can't buy the tool right now, just head to Higher Gear on Fullerton and have Brooks tighten it, or Rapid Transit on North and have Bob do it for you. They have both tightened lockrings for me without too much fuss.

I like bob. he's a good mechanic – worked on my bikes for a year now. adrian is also a good one at rapid transit, though I haven't seen him around in a while. those guys are pretty lax about charging for labor.

I used epoxy. works great if you don't get it to your fingers.

I believe it was Marcus who said to file down a set of needle-nose plyers and you instantly have the best lockring tool you can find. hella/abstnr/[165]/et al should correct me if I'm wrong here...

JBWeld it on. (You don't need to remove it later on right? hehehe)

there's nothing that can't be fixed with a 6-inch adjustable wrench and a blowtorch.


I thought that was with a can of beer and big hammer. Obscene finger gestures and foul language optional....

You folks really believe someone would be stupid enough to use a phillips screwdriver for christ's sakes? Or that someone that bass ackward in the head could use the internet to ask for advice?

Heh, yeah I was using a phillips head and a hammer. Well, I went to the LBS and they fixed me right up. The lockring had about 1/3 turn left until it was tight. Now I can skip without turning the cog - much better :rolleyes:

Thanks for all the advice/admonishments to take proper care of my bike.

I know of a way to tighten your cog and lockring w/o the proper tools. To make it short, you tighten your cog with your chain, and you can use a allan key and a bike lock to hammer your lockring tight. A friend of mine broke down one day, and our buddy showed us this trick, we were all amazed on how he did it without any tools. Also, by doing this trick, it enables the rear wheel to stay locked so that you can bang away on the lockring.

dont give away jedi lockring tricks what are you thinking

If you can't fix it with a hammer and vicegrips...it don't need fixin'!

A lockring tool (also doubles as a bottom bracket tool) often has a headset tool at the other end and can run about 14 bucks for the Park Tool which has a lifetime warranty. I say go for the tool and fahgettaboutit.

The answer to any mechanical question is always, get the right tool for the right job. No damage, no hassle. Skip lunch if you're that broke. Just do it the right way from the beginning.

PS. I haven't changed my ration or my pants in as long as I can remember. But I still have lock-ring wrench. remember. A lockring is sometimes the only thing between you and death. Its not the place to save a couple bucks.

A lockring tool (also doubles as a bottom bracket tool) often has a headset tool at the other end and can run about 14 bucks for the Park Tool which has a lifetime warranty. I say go for the tool and fahgettaboutit.

Yeah, but the Park tool sucks - I could never get a good grip with it, and ended up leaving skin on my spokes way too many times. Get a Hozan (just a lockring tool on both ends, one for cog, one for BB) and life will be much better...

Yeah, but the Park tool sucks - I could never get a good grip with it, and ended up leaving skin on my spokes way too many times. Get a Hozan (just a lockring tool on both ends, one for cog, one for BB) and life will be much better...

My Park tool has yet to fail me. It's sturdy and you aren't inept, you can keep it on the lock ring and tighten it down perfectly.

i say this guy needs a fricken flat head screwdriver before he starts spending money on bike tools. who doesn't own a screwdriver??

I'm a minimalist.

Yeah, but the Park tool sucks - I could never get a good grip with it, and ended up leaving skin on my spokes way too many times. Get a Hozan (just a lockring tool on both ends, one for cog, one for BB) and life will be much better...

seconded, the PArk tool blows. especially on DA lockrings.
though a shim (penny/washer) under the curve helps a bit.