Yet another basic tool kit question
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Yet another basic tool kit question
Ok, so I have a bunch of bikes that vary in age from half a year old, to 35 years old. I'd be willing to bet that a few of the older ones have not been broken down and really cleaned out since they left the factory. I must rectify this situation.
The things I plan to disassemble, clean, lube, and reassemble:
Bottom Brackets, hubs, headsets, cassette/freewheel.
I have done other work on my bikes so I have a chain tool, and both SAE and Metric hex sets.
So I see that both Nashbar and PerformanceBike put out basic tool sets.
Which one would be better for the types of maintenance I have in mind? I really would look myself, but I don't yet know enough about the bike specific tools to know what I'm looking for.
I thank you in advance. I'm still in the process of learning. I already have Todd Downs guide to bicycle maintenance. I hope to use a combination of the book, and biketutor.com to help me get through it!
The things I plan to disassemble, clean, lube, and reassemble:
Bottom Brackets, hubs, headsets, cassette/freewheel.
I have done other work on my bikes so I have a chain tool, and both SAE and Metric hex sets.
So I see that both Nashbar and PerformanceBike put out basic tool sets.
Which one would be better for the types of maintenance I have in mind? I really would look myself, but I don't yet know enough about the bike specific tools to know what I'm looking for.
I thank you in advance. I'm still in the process of learning. I already have Todd Downs guide to bicycle maintenance. I hope to use a combination of the book, and biketutor.com to help me get through it!
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Since you already have the hex wrenches (5mm is about all you need for modern bikes for EVERYTHING), I'd recommend skipping the basic tool kit and just buying the ones you actually need. Some ideas are:
Lockring wrench (though a large channellock works just as well)
Pin Spanner (though I just replace old-school BB with cartridge so don't actually own one)
Freewheel and Cassette removers that match the bikes you have
Pedal wrench
Headset wrench
2 13/15mm cone wrenches
Large and Small adjustable end wrenches
Cartridge BB removers for the BB's you have
Crank extractor
Chain tool
Lockring wrench (though a large channellock works just as well)
Pin Spanner (though I just replace old-school BB with cartridge so don't actually own one)
Freewheel and Cassette removers that match the bikes you have
Pedal wrench
Headset wrench
2 13/15mm cone wrenches
Large and Small adjustable end wrenches
Cartridge BB removers for the BB's you have
Crank extractor
Chain tool
#3
You Know!? For Kids!
I too am of the school of thought that says buy the tools that you need. Ordinary hand tools will work for many of the tasks. Cone wrenches, chain whip, freewheel/cassette tools and a chain break are must haves. A crank puller for non self extracting cranks is nice.
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Buy the tools you need since you have some tools already. The reason I believe in that is because you sound you'd be a home mech whihc means you won;t be using it that much.
Some tools need to be nice and some will be wear and tear IMO.
Have fun.
Some tools need to be nice and some will be wear and tear IMO.
Have fun.
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I looked into buying the tools individually. It looks to me like buying individually would cost much more than buying a basic kit, and it looks like almost all the tools you recommend are in the basic kit.
I'm not doubting you guys at all. I'm just not seeing why it pays to spend more to put together a tool set on my own (unless I'm getting better quality parts, like Park Tool rather than Chinese Knockoff).
I'm not doubting you guys at all. I'm just not seeing why it pays to spend more to put together a tool set on my own (unless I'm getting better quality parts, like Park Tool rather than Chinese Knockoff).
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I have a basic Spin Doctor tool kit. It is what it is ---- a decent kit for home use. Yes you can see a quality difference when these tools are compared with Park tools. They have functioned flawlessly on the last two restorations and for routine maintenance. $45 well spent. Lp
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Not everything needs to be fancy or expensive. I would not skimp on cable cutters for example, but even the cheapest cone wrenches work great for the handful of times I use them each year.
If those kits cover all the bikes in your collection it could be worth it, but my guess is they might not have older style BB tools and spanners for example. That's why buying as you need can save money.
If those kits cover all the bikes in your collection it could be worth it, but my guess is they might not have older style BB tools and spanners for example. That's why buying as you need can save money.