Bicycle Mechanics - Tool kit

I'm looking to puchase a tool set so I can do my own maintenance. Does anyone have any comments about the tool set in the link?

Thanks,

Ben

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=16017#

it looks cheap, and personally, I hate cheap tools cause they break. But if it's what you want, go for it. I'm a little suspicious when things like this come with stuff like a patch kit, seems a bit trivial. How many bikes are you going to be working on? Do you have any tools already? If not too many bikes and you already have some metric wrenches or allen's then it might be cheaper just to buy some of the bike specific tools as you go, and maybe a few of the more normal ones to start with. You should try to find out what size of stuff your bikes use but to begin with, I might suggest, a chain whip(which can be easily made and there was a post about it a few weeks ago if you search), some Allens, the sizes they list were good, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and an 8. A spoke wrench, whichever size you need, or the multi ones aren't much more. A 13 and a 15 cone wrench, that's what I use the most of, but you may want to make sure these are the sizes you need and make sure you have an axle vise. Oh a chain tool I guess. That's all the stuff you'd need for basic maintanince, plus a chain whip. If you want to get more serious, a bottom bracket tool, would be nice, pedal wrenches, crank puller, cassette lockring tool or a freewheel tool, etc. What I'm trying to say is that, if your not that serious you probably wouldn't use half those tools, and there are only maybe a half that are bike specific. And if you are serious than those tools will probably piss you off because of how cheap they will be. So I'd just buy stuff, decent stuff, as I needed it and just get your wrenches and allen's from a hardware store.

I'm looking to puchase a tool set so I can do my own maintenance. Does anyone have any comments about the tool set in the link?

Thanks,

Ben

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=16017#Do you need headset wrenches.Same for cone wrenches. The BB and cassette tools compatible with your components? Consider how much of the non bike specific stuff can be bought at HD or Sears. Never bought a 'kit',never would consider it.Be sure to get one of these: www.sheldonbrown.com/tork-grip

Do you need headset wrenches.Same for cone wrenches. The BB and cassette tools compatible with your components? Consider how much of the non bike specific stuff can be bought at HD or Sears. Never bought a 'kit',never would consider it.Be sure to get one of these: www.sheldonbrown.com/tork-grip

Another way of putting it--though certainly not as succinct ;)--is this:

Take your bike to your LBS. Tell 'em what sort of work you're thinking of doing yourself. Ask them which tools you'd need to do the job. Kits can save you money, but probably don't more often than not because you wind up buying $hit that you don't need, or that doesn't work for your bike.

You'll probably save money just getting the right tools. That's where the wrench at the LBS comes in. They should be pretty willing to walk you through this since you're gonna' buy the tools from them anyway.

EDIT: just get the bike-specific tools from the LBS. I agree with anybody and everybody who ever said to get your 'normal' (non bike-specific) tools from Sears or . . . .

As to the tork-grip . . . it's a fine piece of hardware, but . . . with a six foot breaker bar . . . you don't really need to keep track of torque values....

Either piece a kit together (buy when you need) or get a smaller kit for a similar price. You want decent tools, and if you're not building a bike, you really don't need a whole lot. For example, a multi-tool is really just a bunch of allens packed in a metal box with a built in chain tool and tire iron. So, get down to a hardware store, buy a few allens (only what you need for your paritcular bike). Then hit your LBS and get some advice from the mechanics.

Park or Pedros are good, quality tools. Don't buy cheap because those you have to replace after they've broken. I'm not the expert that so many others are in this forum, however, I've got a combo of both Park and Pedros and I've yet to break one. They also cost more so I'm inclined to put them away properly when I'm done.

There's no shortage of tool-snobs who like to look down on "cheap tools" (there goes the neighborhood!). Frankly you don't need expensive tire levers, allen keys or wrenches (most of this set) unless your tools are your daily living. In that way a set like this can make sense, and you aren't accumulating markup overcharges like you would by buying each tool individually, assuming you actually need most/all of these tools. And hey, maybe some day you'll need one you didn't expect to need, and you won't have to run to the store to buy it. You will probably need to get a better chain tool eventually, but that's no reason to spend $100 more on a "name-brand" set. However, make sure that you don't get too many totally useless tools in there, and these aren't built for heavy use.

I bought that kit about 4 years ago, and built and maintained several bikes with it. Yes, the chain tool sucks, and unless you're working on the odd old school bike, you've got some useless wrenches as well. But the crank tools, cassette tool, chain whip, and allen wrenches have all held up this whole time. I also have the big Park Tool kit now, but still use some of these, and also loan these out, as I've certainly gotten my money's worth at this point.

Other than the pin in the chain tool, you won't break anything in this kit.

Other than the pin in the chain tool, you won't break anything in this kit.

Yeah, Spin Doctor chaintool was a loser too. The chaintool is one tool that should be brawny and reliable.

It's a good starter kit though. The Park Chain tool is the only way to go.

I agree that some folks will snob anything if its cheap. For $40 it's not a bad tool set for a bike which will never see the abuse one may have with using on a car, so the tool set should last awhile. BUT, and here's the big BUT: will you use all those tools? Maybe your only going to do light maintenance or decide doing any mechancial work on your bike is not for you, then you got a bunch of tools that you will never use. Or do you need a more portable tool set you can take on the bike with you that will also double as bike repair tools at home for light maintenance? If your only going to do repair when needed then why not just buy the tools as you need them this way you don't have a cone wrench you may never use if you decide adjusting your cones is too much for you to do, and then you can buy the better Park brand-one tool at time; and some of those tools in that kit you probably already have at your home anyway so buy something you already have? A small mini tool such as the Park MTB3 has most of the minor maintenance tools you could ever use and you can take it on your bike for field repairs.

Mini tools are made for emergency field repairs, not regular home maintenance. They will wear out quickly, and become useless for field repairs if used at home on a regular basis. Also, you cannot get proper torque values with a mini tool. The kit in question has a freewheel tool, chain whip, and crank extractor, among others, for less than the Park Tool equivalent. They're all hardened steel, and should last quite some time.

All the kits I look at have stuff I'll never use in it.

This is what I have:

1. Bottom bracket tool
2. allen wrenches
3. cable cutters
4. chain whip
5 lockring tool
6 chain tool
7. pedal wrench
8. Tire levers.

I could probably use some cone wrenches later on, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it

I bought the same set of tools 6 years ago. Some of the tools work fine like spanners and cassette tools, and others are very low quality, example, crank puller and chain opener. If you have some tools, buy it, but keep in mind that you will have to replace some tools for good quality replacements.