New Park BT-2 Fourth-Hand Tool Feels like Junk!
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
New Park BT-2 Fourth-Hand Tool Feels like Junk!
While doing a roadside service favor for a friend, I lost the BT-2 I had bought in 1998 for about $30 and had to replace it with this $50 one. I chose another Park because all I hear is how the "Made In USA Quality" is well worth the premium price. I can't believe how cheap and flimsy this thing feels, and I can't imagine how poorly made the ones that are twenty and thirty dollars cheaper must be.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,665
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 836 Post(s)
Liked 1,059 Times
in
743 Posts
Are you sure it's not some fake Park Tool? You can contact Park to check if it's the real deal and if it is let them know you're not happy. I've never had one of these in my hands so can't say if anything has changed with them but from the photos of the current tool it looks pretty solid. Just askin'.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Are you sure it's not some fake Park Tool? You can contact Park to check if it's the real deal and if it is let them know you're not happy. I've never had one of these in my hands so can't say if anything has changed with them but from the photos of the current tool it looks pretty solid. Just askin'.
#4
Senior Member
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sherwood, OR
Posts: 1,279
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 336 Post(s)
Liked 309 Times
in
180 Posts
I was unimpressed with the park tool. I had the opportunity to use the Hozan 4th hand, and that is now what is in my toolbox. I gave the Park BT-2 away.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 648
Bikes: Canyon, Bowman & Colnago
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 132 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 39 Times
in
20 Posts
While doing a roadside service favor for a friend, I lost the BT-2 I had bought in 1998 for about $30 and had to replace it with this $50 one. I chose another Park because all I hear is how the "Made In USA Quality" is well worth the premium price. I can't believe how cheap and flimsy this thing feels, and I can't imagine how poorly made the ones that are twenty and thirty dollars cheaper must be.
I have the BT-2, too, and I guess it feels kind of flimsy, but then again, I have nothing to compare it to. Suffice to say, it does what it's supposed to do. I mean, I'm just pulling on bike cables with it. I'm not trying to rebuild the Golden Gate Bridge or put cables on telephone poles.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The Park BT-2 is on its way back and the Hozan is what I chose to replace it with. It doesn't have the locking feature, but that appears to be the weakest link on the Park version, anyway. The Hozan looks more like the original Park Fourth-Hand tool that I lost and need to replace. I will let you know how it works out.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sherwood, OR
Posts: 1,279
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 336 Post(s)
Liked 309 Times
in
180 Posts
The Park BT-2 is on its way back and the Hozan is what I chose to replace it with. It doesn't have the locking feature, but that appears to be the weakest link on the Park version, anyway. The Hozan looks more like the original Park Fourth-Hand tool that I lost and need to replace. I will let you know how it works out.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
My Icetoolz 4th hand works just fine, at about 1/3 of the cost of the Park.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I'm sure there are many that work just fine. In fact, from the pics online, my guess is that half of them are exactly the same, made in the same factory by the same slave labor. I've chosen the Hozan for now. Feel free to post any additional recommendations, but please don't be offended if I don't comment every time someone suggests another model.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1324 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
640 Posts
I had two different Park bicycle tools break and when purchased were sold with a lifetime warranty. Park would not replace either tool. I no longer by Park if possible.
Cheers
Cheers
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 2,595
Bikes: 1992 Serotta Colorado II,Co-Motion Speedster, Giant Escape Hybrid, 1977 Schwinn Super Le Tour
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 455 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 112 Times
in
85 Posts
I have a Pedro and it is pretty good.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sherwood, OR
Posts: 1,279
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 336 Post(s)
Liked 309 Times
in
180 Posts
I'm sure there are many that work just fine. In fact, from the pics online, my guess is that half of them are exactly the same, made in the same factory by the same slave labor. I've chosen the Hozan for now. Feel free to post any additional recommendations, but please don't be offended if I don't comment every time someone suggests another model.
I also seek out the best “general” tools from brands like Felco, Knipex, Wera, Wiha, PB Swiss, etc. Life is too short to use crummy tools, and I am lucky to have the means to buy good tools. Happy wrenching.
Likes For aggiegrads:
#14
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,467
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4335 Post(s)
Liked 3,958 Times
in
2,646 Posts
Hozan makes great tools. I love Park, but not for all things. I look for the best tools in the bunch rather than just stick with one manufacturer. I will say I love their Big Blue Box but I am a sucker for anything with gas assisted struts but it is a fantastic box beyond that and have a few other tools from them that are great. Their derailleur screwdrivers are so nice and they make some other stuff that is great but also a good deal of decent but not great tools.
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Follow-Up From The OP: I received the Hozan C-358 Fourth-Hand Tool today and it feels just like my original Park cable puller. I am grateful to know that, even though Park's current version feels cheap and poorly-made, there are still some quality tools out there to be had from other manufacturers.
Thanks for all the input.
Thanks for all the input.
Likes For Papa Tom:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sherwood, OR
Posts: 1,279
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 336 Post(s)
Liked 309 Times
in
180 Posts
Follow-Up From The OP: I received the Hozan C-358 Fourth-Hand Tool today and it feels just like my original Park cable puller. I am grateful to know that, even though Park's current version feels cheap and poorly-made, there are still some quality tools out there to be had from other manufacturers.
Thanks for all the input.
Thanks for all the input.
Likes For aggiegrads: