Bicycle Assembly Tool Box
 

I am going to assemble my own bike later this year when I will have all parts and frame.
I would like to know what are the tools I must have, and what I better take to LBS to do. I already have bike stand. Thanks!

Leave facing the BB shell, pressing in headset cups (if required) and setting crown race to the LBS. Do the rest yourself.

Thanks! But what tools do I need?
I have basic wrenches and hex keys, plus essential tool set:
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...4_-1___1682014

I am thinking, do I need torque wrench, cable cutter, cable puller? Can I go without them?

I agree these are jobs left to to well I was going to say "Pros" but I am not sure I would call some of the people I see in shops lately pros.

As for your personal tools forget about multi tools on your workbench. If you don't already have then go to sears and get yourself a nice set of Allen Wrenches (the ones with the ball on the end of the long handle) and a set "T" allen wrenches. A set of screwdrivers, a nice pair of diagonal cutters, and set of metric combination wrenches.

From the bike shop you need some good cable cutters that will cut Shimano type shifter housing and a good pedal wrench.

As your buying parts buy the special tools you need for that part. If your installing a Campi BB buy tool when you buy the part.

One important thing I found over the years is don't skimp on quality. you don't need SnapOn or MAC but but don't buy noname especially for Allen wrenches. Craftsman works great last and you can get them replaced (atleast I think you still can)

Others will have their own opinion but I use Harbor freight torque wrenches. not the best but likely not the worst and better than nothing.


OH cable puller... like a fourth hand tool.... see I have had mine so long it is easy to forget about it. They are a great help but you could get by without it.

Those kits look snazzy but what is the quality of the tool? Why have your tire levers in a tool kit when they should be in your seatbag? are these tools shimano only? what you your planning a Campi or Sram bike?

Tools I deem essential - besides the mentioned allen wrenches, screw drivers and metric combo wrenches that aren't bike specific.
Chasing & facing I take in.
Press in most headset cups and crown races myself with all thread and pvc or copper pipe.

Cone wrenches 13 - 17mm probably need 2 of some sizes.
BB tool for your chosen BB & crank
cassette tool for your chosen cassette, chain whip
Headset wrench if its a threaded stem.
Good quality cable cutters - I have Felco
metric dial calipers and steel ruler
digital camera to document things and post "what did I do wrong threads"

Supplies - loctite 248
Marine grease
anti seize
car wax - wax the frame before assembly

It seems odd to be considering building a bike from scratch if you don't know what tools would be involved. Most would be the same as for maintaining a bike, just as dedhed posted above.

In addition there are a lot of considerations of compatibility and suitability when choosing both a frame and the parts to go onto it.

Thirdly, it's generally a very poor financial decision to build a bike from scratch unless you are very familiar with the pro's and con's of the parts you are considering, both in general and how they apply to your body and riding style. Again, anyone who knows that much generally would not be asking questions about which tools to use.

Finally, the experience you gain from a full install is partially negated by the inevitable frustrations and the fact that the additional tasks are not ones you will do very often.

I have over 20 years of experience in repair and fitting of bikes, and when I was able to choose the "perfect" touring bike I opted for a Novara Randonneur but then changed out bars, stem, pedals, and saddle (and sold or transferred the parts to defray even those costs). I preferred to reserve the time a full assembly would have taken for riding and the money I would have spent on a custom install for spending in Italy.

Of course it's your choice if you want to build from scratch, but many do it for the wrong reasons.

I like dedhed's list but would add a file or Dremel wheel for facing cable housing ends flat.
Proper ferrules for brake and shifter housings.
Inexpensive torque wrench, essential for carbon components.
Pedal wrench and stainless pedal washers.
Spoke wrench.
A third hand tool is nice if you are working alone.
Oil for derailleurs and such.

Make sure the bike shop checks frame alignment and derailleur hanger alignment too. You've said nothing about budget and could spend several hundred bucks if you got all the specialist tools for assembly (cone spanners, third hand grips, star nut insertion tool).

I recommend getting Park Tool Big Blue Book mkII - you can read up on all the jobs you need to do and figure out what tools you'll need.

If you're not going to get a book and do the research yourself and insist on getting the cool folk here to do all that for you, here's what we need to know:

• what kind of bike are you putting together
• how adept at spannering are you generally
• what's your tool budget
• do you have any other bikes
• how much room do you have to do the assembly (bike stand would be good)
• do you plan on doing maintenance going forward
• how much time do you plan on spending on it
• have you done any bike maintenance before

I personally think it's more respectful to do the research yourself and then ask specific questions about particularly gnarly problems that you can't find answers to elsewhere.

If you don't buy the actual book you could answer most of your list for tools by spending time going through the Park Tools Repair pages picking out the procedures for the components you'll be working with. At the same time you read and look at the pictures for each major area you can at the same time evaluate if it's something you'll be comfortable doing yourself or if you would rather have a shop do the step and how much of it they should do. The Park pages also show and list the tools used for each component.

If you're new and too cheap to dive in and buy a torque wrench (I still don't have a torque wrench and I have a decent amount of carbon stuff), one of those "Y" handled 8-9-10mm socket and 4-5-6mm Allen key tools will keep you honest- just the general shape and size of the tool makes it pretty obvious when you're overtightening. You can't use them everywhere, the angles won't allow it, but use I'd advise to use them on as many bolts as you can get to.

Very important :)

I agree with most you said, but I like to try, not to save a buck or two, but for pure enjoyment. If I will be disappointed with the results, so, let's be it. A least I will try.

Thanks, I would never thought of it.

Thanks for your reply, if I am going to build, it will be a road bike. Besides, I have kids who always need to fix their bikes. I did it so far with different success levels. And I do maintanance on my current road bike, nothing major, but I would like to be more proficient in adjusting brakes/derailleurs, etc....