View Single Post
Old 11-02-11 | 06:05 AM
  #2  
dsbrantjr's Avatar
dsbrantjr
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,327
Likes: 1,112
From: Roswell, GA

Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta

Gary: Get a good pedal wrench like the one from Park, it's heavy but you shouldn't need to carry it if you install the pedals correctly; don't forget to grease the threads and I use stainless pedal washers as well.

I would recommend that you get a good set of hex "L" wrenches (I am partial to Bondhus) and cherry-pick the ones you will need to carry, there should only be a handful. Do the same with a good set of metric ignition wrenches. This would be a good time to go over ALL of the fasteners on your bike and grease and re-torque them, then you will know which wrenches you will need; leave the rest behind.

For home use I would recommend that you buy tools as you need them or when you find a tool you will need on sale. I don't think that ready-made tool kits are a good deal, they have too many tools you will probably never use.

If you are going to be installing shift and brake cables definitely get a high-quality cable cutter, Felco is the best and most expensive, and Shimano and Park have nice ones for less money. One tool I am glad I got was a third-hand tool, Park's, Pedro's and others have them and they are great when you are working alone installing cables.

Good screwdrivers will save you a lot of cursing and stripped screws, although I try to get rid of straight and Philips screws on my bikes and replace them where I can with hex socket head cap screws.

You will be well served by getting an inexpensive 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch drive torque wrench and the needed sockets and hex bits. They are imperative with carbon components and (I feel) important with other types. There have been discussions on this forum regarding the various torque wrench types, i won't get involved with that here!
dsbrantjr is offline  
Reply