Bicycle Mechanics - Third Hand...

What's the best third hand tool out there? Is it park, pedro's, etc.? I'm going to try and redo my cabling on my mtb (a good practice bike) and just want to start with the best tools. Also, can anyone recommend a brand of cable/housing and a place to get it?

-Barry-

Now that I own a third hand tool (park) I find that I don't use it much. A pair of needlenose pliers works just as well. It's too easy to put too much tension on the cable with the 3d hand plier. This can really screw up your derailleur adjustments. bk

I've had one for over a dozen years and they've only been useful for pulling zip ties. I guess if you're assembling bikes all day long, the tool may be useful for pulling and holding brake cables.

3rd hand or 4th hand?

A 3rd hand tool holds the brake pads against the rim so that you can adjust the brake cable. I used to use one a lot but the newer brake systems are do easy to adjust that I seldom use it anymore - maybe once in awhile on BMX freestyle brakes. I've got a couple of different Park ones. My favorite looks and works like a flat spring. They're not even in the QBP catalogue anymore so I doubt people use them much anymore.

A 4th hand is what the other posters are alluding to. It pulls and holds the cable. Like the others, I pretty much only use one when I'm pulling zip ties tight to install a bike computer. The only brand I've ever seen, much less used is Park.

OOps, he's right. bk

A 4th hand is what the other posters are alluding to....... The only brand I've ever seen, much less used is Park.

I happen to have a Hozan 4th hand tool (C-356) I obtained years ago from another guy who was getting out of riding so I don't know where he bought it. I've only used it a couple of times but never thought to use it as a zip-tie puller. Thanks for the idea!

I agree about 3rd hand tools. Modern brakes make them much less needed.

I love the 4th hand, makes cable adjustments easy, especially where you're pulling against a lot of spring tension like in a FD. No frayed cables like pliers either.

I asked my LBS for a recommendation for a 3rd hand tool, and they showed me what they use if they do need it... A mini bar clamp like you can get from Home Depot.

That's what I use.

Other than that, the only type I have ever used is the cheap ones that look like twisted thick spokes, and they always worked fine... I wouldn't worry much about getting the best when it comes to holding brake pads to the rims while adjusting cables... If you can figure out how to do it with bungies, then that sounds good too.

I love the 4th hand, makes cable adjustments easy, especially where you're pulling against a lot of spring tension like in a FD. No frayed cables like pliers either.

What.