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Arrowana , Kontact , maddog34 , 3alarmer, cyccommute
All of you mentioned the ChannelLock wrenches which I'm seriously considering in the 8", WideAZZ permutation. Are you guys using the standard thickeness version or the narrow ones? I can get the standard for $30CAD this weekend. The narrow one will cost me $100CAD and take a few weeks. I suspect that the standard thickness would do me but, at 5/32" thickness, the narrow one might be handy for lower locknuts as well as upper. There shall be tape... https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...07fb2ae543.jpg 8", Wide-Ass, Slim Jaw |
Originally Posted by Harold74
(Post 23079813)
Arrowana , Kontact , maddog34 , 3alarmer, cyccommute
All of you mentioned the ChannelLock wrenches which I'm seriously considering in the 8", WideAZZ permutation. Are you guys using the standard thickeness version or the narrow ones? I can get the standard for $30CAD this weekend. The narrow one will cost me $100CAD and take a few weeks. I suspect that the standard thickness would do me but, at 5/32" thickness, the narrow one might be handy for lower locknuts as well as upper. There shall be tape... 8", Wide-Ass, Slim Jaw For the top nut, you can get the properly sized headset wrench or just use a 12” adjustable wrench. The WideAZZ really isn’t necessary nor that useful. It doesn’t fit much on bicycles and it is rather short for the leverage needed to turn a nut that large. |
Originally Posted by Harold74
(Post 23079813)
Arrowana , Kontact , maddog34 , 3alarmer, cyccommute
All of you mentioned the ChannelLock wrenches which I'm seriously considering in the 8", WideAZZ permutation. Are you guys using the standard thickeness version or the narrow ones? I can get the standard for $30CAD this weekend. The narrow one will cost me $100CAD and take a few weeks. I suspect that the standard thickness would do me but, at 5/32" thickness, the narrow one might be handy for lower locknuts as well as upper. There shall be tape... https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...07fb2ae543.jpg 8", Wide-Ass, Slim Jaw |
Originally Posted by Harold74
(Post 23079797)
I've been considering the Mavic Open Elites.
a) Did they build well? b) Did the pinned jointing cause you any grief? c) Are you happy with the aesthetic? I wouldn't say no to a photo... If you are careful with your initial tensioning, getting the rim well centered on the hub, the joint shouldn't cause an issue. It did not for me. I think these are cheaper because they are produced in eastern Europe somewhere. I think this is them on a Raleigh Professional I repainted: https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de8b9e557f.jpg |
For the sake of closure, I've purchased the items shown below. The Klein comes in the same, thin jaw form as does the ChannelLock and I'm hoping is of comparable quality. It's $25 cheaper than the ChannelLock and will arrive tomorrow instead of in a month's time. I was planning to purchase a second, Park Headset wrench anyhow. Hopefully the Klein can obviate the need for that.
Thanks, everyone, for your help with this. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9809e09ecf.png |
Originally Posted by Harold74
(Post 23078834)
I'm not sure if you were referring to me but it's less of an objection and more of an inquiry. Purpose made headset wrenches have worked great for me in the past. Crescent wrenches... obviously not, especially on black locknuts. Not having tried an adjustable hex wrench, I wasn't sure where that would fall on the continuum. If the use of such wrenches is common practice, that will be an attractive option for me.
Is there a particular wrench that you've had good experiences with? Amazon has three versions, in order of price (CAD): Max Power @ $29 Rigid Tools @ $58 Milwaukee Tool @ $58 All seem to be rated about the same. That said, I imagine that bicycle work is not the most common usage for these things. |
Originally Posted by grumpus
(Post 23080811)
I bought a Bahco 9035 for a plumbing job earlier this year but it works well on headsets too. There are cheaper versions from lesser brands - the key search phrase seems to be "wide jaw" or "deep jaw" along with "vanadium".
adjustable drain wrench |
Originally Posted by dedhed
(Post 23080844)
adjustable drain wrench
Wide deep jaw vanadium shows me a page of nothing but relevant stuff including this one which looks OK for $15.99. But that might just be Amazon extrapolating from my search history and viewed items. |
I have the double ended Park 33/34
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You know, just about any 12" adjustable wrench is going to work much better than a flat non-adjustable open end wrench. This thread is weird.
Adjustable wrenches get a bad wrap when then are used as a replacement for and in the same manner as non-adjustable wrench, because they loosen up every time the wrench comes off the nut and is then re-applied. But that isn't how you use a headset wrench, and where adjustables really shine. |
Originally Posted by cyccommute
(Post 23079849)
I was mentioning Channellock pliers to hold the top race if necessary. You can use any tongue and groove pliers but you’ll need a big one…12” to 16” for the job. Be careful using them as they will cut into the metal of the headset no matter how carefully you apply them.
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