What is this tool for?
01-28-11 | 03:24 PM
#1
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What is this tool for?
My dad gave me his '76 Raleigh Grand Prix, as well as his old toolkit from the day. Inside is this piece, but I'm not quite sure what it is. For a long time I thought it was half of what might be a chain breaker, but now I'm thinking it's a spoke wrench. If so, why the hexagonal shape?
Last edited by uptonbeat; 01-28-11 at 03:29 PM.
01-28-11 | 04:02 PM
#4
You gonna eat that?
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
Yep. Spoke wrench. I got one like that. I rounded off dozens of nipples with it before I got a better one. That's what a spoke wrench that was sold to consumers looked like in that time period.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
01-28-11 | 04:15 PM
#5
My dad gave me his '76 Raleigh Grand Prix, as well as his old toolkit from the day. Inside is this piece, but I'm not quite sure what it is. For a long time I thought it was half of what might be a chain breaker, but now I'm thinking it's a spoke wrench. If so, why the hexagonal shape?
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It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
01-28-11 | 05:46 PM
#7
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
My favorite : rixen and kaul's spokey .. is better, its the difference
between an open end wrench and a brake line wrench .
[auto repair tools]
as It grips 3 sides of the 4 sided spoke nipple.
between an open end wrench and a brake line wrench .
[auto repair tools]
as It grips 3 sides of the 4 sided spoke nipple.
01-28-11 | 07:39 PM
#8
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From: Up
Bikes: Masi, Giant TCR, Eisentraut (retired), Jamis Aurora Elite, Zullo, Cannondale, 84 & 93 Stumpjumpers, Waterford, Tern D8, Bianchi, Gunner Roadie, Serotta, Serotta Duette, was gifted a Diamond Back
I have one that i used to use all the time. It was a little tighter than similar ones and didn't round off nipple too often.
01-29-11 | 12:42 PM
#9
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From: Maidstone, Kent, England
Bikes: 1970 Holdsworth Mistral, Vitus 979, Colnago Primavera, Corratec Hydracarbon, Massi MegaTeam, 1935 Claud Butler Super Velo, Carrera Virtuoso, Viner, 1953 Claud Butler Silver Jubilee, 1954 Holdsworth Typhoon, 1966 Claud Butler Olympic Road, 1982 Claud
01-29-11 | 06:17 PM
#10
Bicycle Repairman
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From: The Land of Three Mile Island
Bikes: Many
I used to buy those at K-Mart when I was younger. Like most kids, I turned plenty of usable wheels that were mildly out of true into egg-shaped disasters. But hey - all the spokes were plenty tight..
01-29-11 | 09:25 PM
#11
car guy, recovering
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,255
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From: Mount Vernon, NY
Bikes: Olympia Competizione & Special Piuma, Frejus track circa 1958, Dahon Helios, many others
I carried an English Cyclo spoke wrench that resembles yours in the watch pocket of every pair of jeans I owned for many years. It was raw steel, polished by my pants and oiled by my fingers. It fit spoke nipples well and trued many, many wheels before I lost it, probably to a washing machine, years ago. I couldn't find a replacement until I was given two new-old-stock ones last year at Trexlertown by a kind vendor. Before then, I had (still have) a Park green one. A fine tool, but soulless. I never looked twice at all the cheesy Cyclo knock-offs, although I had to use them from time to time.
I've built several wheels recently using the Cyclo. The feel against my thumb and forefinger of the levers is as evocative as a smell from childhood.
I've built several wheels recently using the Cyclo. The feel against my thumb and forefinger of the levers is as evocative as a smell from childhood.
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Michael Shiffer
EuroMeccanicany.com
Michael Shiffer
EuroMeccanicany.com
01-29-11 | 10:44 PM
#12
Older than dirt
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From: Winchester, VA
Bikes: Too darn many.. latest count is 11
01-30-11 | 08:11 AM
#13
Senior Member
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From: Maidstone, Kent, England
Bikes: 1970 Holdsworth Mistral, Vitus 979, Colnago Primavera, Corratec Hydracarbon, Massi MegaTeam, 1935 Claud Butler Super Velo, Carrera Virtuoso, Viner, 1953 Claud Butler Silver Jubilee, 1954 Holdsworth Typhoon, 1966 Claud Butler Olympic Road, 1982 Claud
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