Jesterer

I'm fairly new to bicycling and I'm finding that there are thousands of tools out there for performing bicycle maintenance. I want to compile a list of absolutely necessary tools or tool sets to do basic, every day bike maintenance like changing cables, replacing brakes, etc. Also, there are some very creative people saving loads of money making their own tools, so I would like to point people in the right direction for those as well.

cny-bikeman

Decide what things you want to do and then look up the procedure at parktool.com/blog. It always lists the necessary tools for that procedure. If you search this forum or just Google you will find that thousands of lists have already been compiled - nothing to be gained by reinventing the wheel.

AnkleWork

A dropout alignment tool would not really be considered "basic." Maybe start with a cheap set of hex keys -- that's all some bikes ever need.

Jiggle

The DIY tools I can think of besides the one posted is a rear wheel dish gauge, tire levers, chain stretch measuring device, chain whip, and work stand.

For wheel truing, you can take the tire and rim strip off and use a flat head screwdriver (if the spoke doesn't stick up too far).

You'll have to buy a cassette lock ring tool, adjustable wrench to turn it (good for most pedals, too), set of allen keys, screwdrivers, digital caliper, crank nut tool, large allen key for those pedals that use it, wire cutters, and a torque wrench if you're a clumsy person.

All in all, about $50 in tools if you make good use of Harbor Freight and ebay.

Jesterer

I didn't see anything like I am proposing in the forums. Perhaps I did not go back far enough.

Parktool.com is a good resource, but do I really need a $35 dollar chain cleaning kit? What I'm getting at is, I haven't seen a single resource that says, here is a list of what you need to do to maintain or refurbish your bike, here is the list of basic tools you need to get together, and here is how you are going to Macgyver it done with what you have, without having to spend $100 on a wheel truing stand. The closest thing to that is Sheldon's website, but even there, a person would have to actively search for each individual procedure, perhaps only after running into a problem, to learn what they need. With a list like I'm suggesting, when a person buys a bike, they could buy the tools on the list, and be able to perform most, if not all, of the maintenance at home.

Jesterer

What are the most common sizes needed? Hex key sets vary what is included. Some have half sizes, and most don't have the 9mm key, for example.

Jesterer

Pehaps we should start with a list of things that need to be maintained on old and new bikes.

replacing bearings. BB, wheels, pedals?, etc.

Chain maintenance/replacement

replacing cables, all types.

tightening/loosening fittings

what else?

jimc101

Plenty of cheaper options avaliable, thats a high end chain cleaner, better not even ask about how many different ways there are to clean a chain.

#cny-bikeman answered this, there are far to may options out there, take 2 bikes, and apart from the hex keys, there may need a totally different set of tools for each part of the bike.

You say you are new to biking, would suggest you read up/research what your bike needs first, as unless someone has exactly the same bike, your list will be of little use to them.

AnkleWork

Does your bike have any bolts with 9mm heads?

Retro Grouch 

You'll be surprised at how much you can do with just a 5mm allen wrench. Beyond that just pick up tools as you find a need for them.

The first bicycle specific tool that I ever bought was a VAR cable cutter. It was a good choice because I've used it a lot, I still have it, and it still makes a clean cut.

Retro Grouch 

Yup, Shimano freehub bodies.

AnkleWork

OK, I've only seen 10mm. Wonder how they pass 10mm axles thru?

Retro Grouch 

I may have the size wrong b ecause it's been several years since I've changed a freehub body. I do remember that it was a slightly larger size than came with my allen key set.

fietsbob

FWIW ..

Then ,Freehub joint, that piece the hole in the tubular bolt is the hex, Technically It's not a Bolt head.
the distance directly across the points of the hex is more than 10mm.
and the threads in the axle are Rolled in, (then Its heat treated harder) so the center of the axle is slightly smaller where its Not threaded.

that is how there is clearance ..

AnkleWork

That's what I love about this forum.

AnkleWork

Are the threads on each end smaller than 10mm in diameter? Please advise.

jsdavis

Aside from basic tools hand tools, here's are my bike specific tools I know I have off the top of my head

Chain tool, bigger ones are easier on the hands
Splined Bottom bracket tool for removing square taper cartridge
Shimano HT2 external cup BB tool that attaches to a ratchet handle and also the cap adjusting tool
Square taper crank puller
Chain whip
Freewheel tool and Freehub lock ring tool
Pedal wrench
3-way spoke wrench
T-25 bit that fits in 1/4" socket

In addition to regular Allen wrenches, I have a set of allen kit bits that fit on a 1/4" ratchet handle

cny-bikeman

This is the problem with a list - 1/2 of the items above aren't needed for a particular bike, and an older one may require a 8 - 10 mm wrenches or y wrench, or even have a cottered crank. The OP could of course tell us what bike he has and we could look up the tools needed, but that's just busy work that he could do.

HillRider

Yep, Shimano freehub bodies use a 10 mm hex wrench to remove. 10 mm is also used on some crank fixing bolts although 8 mm is more common. I've never seen anything that uses a 9 mm.

zacster

If somehow you needed a 9mm Hex key, and it didn't come with your set, you'd likely be in territory beyond basic maintenance anyway. So hex key set, a few open end wrenches, although pretty rare these days, a spoke wrench, a good cable cutter (although I'd done without one for 40+ years of bike diy maint). Maybe a chain tool, although modern chain don't like being put back together. Tire levers. Secondary items would be a chain whip, freehub tool, BB tool, cone wrenches. I've bought some specialty tools lately, like a derailleur hanger alignment gauge and a spoke tensionometer. These are for special jobs that I needed to do, and I've used the DAG-2 on all of my family's bikes. It is pretty amazing how quiet it gets the chain going through, plus the shifting is much better.

But for the basics on a recent model bike you don't need much more than hex keys. 8mm is the biggest I commonly use as it fits both my Look pedals and my crank bolt.

cafzali

Not sure what's in their kit, but I have the Park Tool brush and personally find it works great -- much better than any "home brewed" device I've ever used, ranging from a toothbrush to a rag dampened with degreaser. Just spray some degreaser inside the brush, run your chain through it, and you're set. It makes an especially easy job of what used to be an arduous task after a ride that had rain and/or wet conditions.

Gresp15C

I'd start with the tools needed for the most basic repairs that would prevent you from riding your bike safely. Consider each procedure, look it up if needed, then look at your bike and see what tools will be involved. This exercise will familiarize you with the small parts of your bike.

The most basic maintenance is maintaining proper tire inflation. I'd suggest a floor pump with pressure gage, as it will just help you get out the door quicker, and make it more of a habit.

Next is fixing a flat tire. What do you need? I have everything needed to fix a flat while on the road, in a pouch on my bike, plus a mini pump.

In my view, the next thing is attachments coming loose. Go over your bike and see how they are attached. If it's a modern bike, it will be mostly the small metric allen wrenches: 3, 4, 5, and 6, plus the occasional Phillips head screw for things like blinky lights. Look at how your gear and brake cables and brake shoes attached. There's a chance that you might find hex nuts there. You can use a crescent wrench for those nuts.

Some of these things are bike specific, but others can be just general purpose household tools. I was in Target today and saw a basic household tool set for like 20 bucks, made by Stanley.

In my view everything else counts as maintenance, where you can plan it in advance. First time you replace a chain, buy the chain tool. Likewise for cables.

I've made my own truing stand and dishing gage, have used homemade cone wrenches, and don't own a repair stand as I can just flip my bikes upside down. My cable cutter is a pair of sheet metal shears that just magically happens to cut cables nicely. I do pretty much all of the maintenance in my house, so I have a lot of general purpose tools.

headloss 

It's one of those questions that have been asked 1000 times.
https://www.google.com/search?q=site...s=0&gws_rd=ssl

You could lock yourself in a room and spend a month just reading threads on the topic.