HoboRandy

I read the other recent tool kit threads - I didn't really find an answer and I didn't want to hijack anyone's thread. My feelings won't be hurt if this is closed or merged or whatever.

I'm relatively new to cycling, and I'm hooked - great transportation, great exercise, great hobby!

I've got a few mid-70s goodwill road bikes, and I plan on buying more (and more, and more....). I'm also looking at building up a brand new road bike over the winter, and after surfing this forum for awhile I think I want to build up a fixed gear bike as well.

I have a pretty extensive set of Craftsman mechanics tools, but the wrenches don't fit where I really need them, and I'm noticing that the few bikes I have are all a little different in their tool requirements - some of the stuff I've never seen before. Sometimes I feel like the dumb kid trying to shove the triangle block through the square hole. Right tool for the right job, eh?

Any suggestions for a quality tool set that will cover all my bases for repair and building of road bikes of all flavors (not just new bikes/components)? Or maybe a comprehensive list of tools (I'm just assuming a pre-assembled set would save some money). I really don't even know what the names of all the parts are, let alone the tools I would need for them. The Park tool website is pretty darn helpful, but I'd be happy camper if I could sit down with a bike and just dig through a tool set to find the exact appropriate tool I need. I'm a learn-by-doing kinda guy. I'm planning on doing quite a bit of wrenching, so I don't want to skimp out or find myself waiting around for specialty tools to be ordered. I'd like to buy quality tools - I busted my knuckles wide open last summer when a cheap-o wrench broke while I was rebuilding my front suspension...I learned my lesson.

I appreciate and respect the fact that just about everyone here has more experience in this area than me, so I'll listen to advice and suggestions (but that doesn't guarantee I'll heed them! ). Thanks folks!

Al.canoe

Try the Park Tool site: https://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml

They give you a list of required tools for each repair/maintenance activity. I don't like tool sets as you wind up with tools you never use. I prefer to buy the more exotic tool as I need it. I do a Google search for the best price.

Some jobs like replacing head sets require expensive tools which go mostly unused. I have relied on an lbs for that infrequent operation. However, if you'll be doing several bikes, then I'd get the tools if for no other reason than the time savings.

You need very few if any wrenches on the newer bikes. I use an old Craftsmen ignition wrench set when I need one which is rare.

Park seems to give the best value. I've "collected" them as I need them for about 30 years.

Al

sydney

There may be no such thing,andyou need to sit down with several old bikes to see what they need.For old stuff,you need cup and ball BB tools,and headset and cone wrenches, and freewheel tools. Modern stuff needs campy or shimano specific BB and casette lockring tools. Crank puller that works with old and new stuff.....Get the picture here. If you had one old bike it might require one set, one new bike something different. Alot of mixed bike,even more stuff.

sydney

Have yet to met a HS I couldn't remove/replace with improvised tools,and I've done lots of them.

Avalanche325

You need them for the wheel bearings, and they need to be the super thin (1.5mm thick) wrenches. Also a regular wrench used on the pedals usually results in scratched cranks. A proper pedal wrench is also very thin.

I would look at the Parktools site. Some of the large sets will contain things that most home mechanics rarely use. They are meant for professionals. The smaller kits like the roll up toolkit are great for a basic set, and may be a good starting point. You will, like Syndney said, need some different things for the older bikes.

Of course if you going to have a fleet of bikes, one of the larger sets may be what you need.

roadfix

Like I suggested in the other thread, I accumulated my tools over the years by just buying only specific tools as I needed them for the job.

sydney

You don't need cone wrenches with cartridge bearing hubs.

WorldWind

start here

https://www.parktool.com/tools/AK_32.shtml

Raiyn

and how many mid 70's road bikes have cartridge bearing hubs?

sydney

The poster I was quoting didn't reference that.

AndrewP

There were lots of parts suppliers in the 70's. I accumulated lots of different freewheel removal tools. Now it seems to be 99% Shimano. Bottom brackets are a lot easier with the pin wrenches, which also come in different sizes. I dont know if there are any special tools for cottered cranks but they were hell do deal with. Buy the tools as you need them.