Miele Man

Hi there.

I have a PARK adjustable lockring tool HCW2 that the hook broke on. How is PARK for replacing a tool that breaks? Is an image of tthe broken tool enough or do you need to send them the tool?

I also have a SHIMANO tool with a 32mm open wrench on one end and a 2-pin adjustable bottom bracket tool on the opposie end. The 2 pins on this tool broke and I can't find the right size replacement pins anywhere I've looked. All the pins have larger diameter threaded area where they screw into the tool. Both these tools are about 20 years old.

Should I, just drill out the adjustable cup pin holes and rethread them to the newer size pins?

Cheers from Miele Man

RubeRad

From what I've heard, Park stands by their tools and will replace no questions asked. Not sure whether you need to approach Park directly or go through LBS though.

For Shimano, I don't know, but I would guess you're best off making do with what you have.

HillRider

Park is very good at replacing broken tools. Call or e-mail them with a description of your problem and they will let you know if they want the damaged item back or not.

Shimano has a US sales/marketing office in California. A call to them will also get their take on how they will handle the problem. Drilling out and rethreading the old pin holes may be more difficult than you thing as the base wrench is probably heat treated quite hard.

Miele Man

Thanks. I figured that the steel would be quite hard. I guess what I'll need to do is find a small bult to thread into the pin hole so that I'll be able to tell Shimano the size and threading of the original pins that are misplaced somewhere.

Cheers from Miele Man

howellhandmade

If you don't know a machinist, perhaps there is a community college with a voc-tech program. Making threaded studs/ pins is a simple job for anyone with a lathe, but probably more expense than it's worth if you have to pay a machinist. On the other hand, if you had pins made it would be barely more expensive to have a few extras made.

dsbrantjr

A polite request can do wonders. For a low-cost item such as the pins I would not be surprised if someone at the sales office just dropped a couple into an envelope for you, provided they had them available. I have had folks do this for me on many occasions.

JohnDThompson 

Replacement pins should be readily available, e.g.:

Park Tool PIN #1501 F/HCW4&SPA6 Spanners

HillRider

I don't have the Shimano pin spanner but the pins on the adjustable spanner I do have are threaded the common M5x.8 mm. My Park CT-3 chain tool's replacement pins are threaded #10x24 tpi

Miele Man

Just cheking my threads and saw i never let you know what Park Tools said.

The answer to the images I sent of two broken Park tools (adjustable lockring tool HCW2 and pedal wrench CCW3 was "Those tools were discontinued. No we won't replace them. Recycle them".

When I buy new tools i won't be looking at park tools unless they're a lot less than others.

Cheers

Andrew R Stewart 

Tools are a consumable item to a pro. Some consume far faster then others. Some require more care using then others. Broken off spanner pins (and I've done my share) indicate that the tool's ability was exceeded. Not sure I'd blame the tool.

But I have had tool manufacturers cover peg tools before. I sent back to Proteus a pin/peg spanner (remember those) once with a nice letter. The replied with a new tool and a letter saying that the envelope had torn open and the tool was missing. Still they replaced it. I still have it and now know the limit of it's ability better.

Like the UPS guy said one time. "There's no bad handling. Only bad packaging". Only this time it's the opposite. Andy.

RoadGuy

This is a good reason to buy tools from your local Performance Bicycle Store. They give a lifetime warranty on everything they sell, including tools, and will exchange broken Park Tool products in the store when you bring the broken item in. You get the choice of store credit, or exchange for new tool.

While I have broken or worn-out inexpensive tools from other manufacturers (Hozan, Eldi, Rivoli, etc...), along with a small assortment of chain tools (with the exception of a Park Tool CT-5 compact chain breaker), I have never broken/bent/damaged a Park Tool, and I have been buying Park Tool tools since the 1980s (most Park Tools were purchased from Performance Bicycle Stores, and a few from Nashbar).

Earl Grey

You won't buy Park again because they wouldn't send you a free replacement after you'd enjoyed two decades of use? If you can find manufacturers that will offer such a policy by all means go for it, but I don't really see a problem with that when we're talking about, what, $20 tools? Unless there was a clear manufacturing defect.

bikeman715

I never have a problem with Parktools , anytime I contract them about a tool problem they always replace it . I offer to sent the one(s) in question back and always told no need , they sent out a replacement . Been dealings with them over 30 years . They a great place to do business with .

rmfnla

So unacceptable...

rmfnla

Protues, Craftsman (Proteus), Snap-On, SK, Blackhawk, Crescent (who am I missing?) ALL offer free replacement for broken tools.

Hell, even Harbor Freight does!

Quality tools are not consumable; they are an investment that should be worth what you pay for them...

Andrew R Stewart 

rmfnla- Perhaps I should have that tools are a wear item. But my next sentence sort of covers that any way. I do agree the good tools are often life long ones. I have a Campy kit in my basement that I got in 1979 and still use often enough. But I also know how not to use it. I don't reverse rotate the facers. I use plenty of cutting fluid. I keep it clean and rust free. I don't force the taps and I back them off every half turn to break the chips. Even still the cutting edges do wear and get consumed in a manor of speech.

I stand by my comments about tools having a limit to their ability and to blame the tool when this limit is exceeded is miss guided energy.

BTW your writing "Protues, Craftsman (Proteus)" make me wonder if you are suggesting that Craftsman produced the Proteus pin spanner. I thought that craftsman didn't actually make anything but contracted out their needs and was basically a house label. Here's a shot of the pin spanner I was referencing. Andy.

Miele Man

Why? When I bought the tools I was told that if they ever broke that Park Tools would replace them. Those tools weren't used that often nor were they ever abused but when they broke Park Tools said no to replacing them. Why should i buy nmore from a company that doesn't honour their warranty?

Cheers

cale

Actually many quality tools are consumable. For instance, the fine set of Craftsman hex ratchet bits I bought have needed replacement from time to time. I think Sears is very clever. They have made trading in a worn out tool into a store visit and as any retailer will tell you, store traffic is the best indicator of sales volume.

The Craftsman guarantee just about ensured that others would follow suit but not Park. For those that received replacement tools... good for you. That was goodwill, according to Park's warranty policy. That policy explicitly excludes replacement due to wear from use. The tools are warranteed for life against defect so you'd have to show that your tool was defective. That'll be a challenge after 20 years of use.

Earl Grey

As Cale said, Park's warranty is to replace in cases of failure due to defects of materials or manufacturing. That's not quite the same as "if they ever broke"; if someone put it to you in those terms, they mislead you, but I wouldn't get upset at Park about it. Unless it was them.