Originally Posted by
Crankycrank
If you have some Channellock type pliers and some type of grinding tools/metal file you can make a very nice tool to service your headset and other notched type of nuts and lockrings. You may need to grind down the thickness of the jaws as well to better fit the lock rings.
DIY Lockring Pliers : 3 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables
Caveat: while that is an inexpensive and effective lockring tool, it really only works on lockrings with an even number of notches. Most of those headset lockrings have only three notches, and the pliers can't effectively grip them. So, the hook spanner is the tool to use in that case. Hook spanners designed for bottom bracket lockrings have too wide a radius to engage the headset lockring, so you either need a smaller radius hook spanner, like the Hozan C205, or one with a hinged hook.
