You ought to market this thing. Call it the Auchengrip.

I use one like this:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=196601

Also very cheap, and works fine. I guess you can still get them... I've had mine for thirty years, I think.

[QUOTE=noglider;12459596]I use a Quick-Grip. Finally, someone makes a general purpose tool that we can use on a bike!

http://www.irwin.com/tools/brands/quick-grip

+1

I suspect I am not alone in this crowd when it comes to Harbor Freight. It's a bad idea for me to go there very often, since I end up with 2, or 30 things I never really thought I needed!

And most of them are made for crap.

...but I still shop there because I can't help it.

+1 on the Harbor Freight and going there :rolleyes:

Auchen's is a great idea. I use a wire one like k_as_in_knife posted and always forget to put a bit of QR on and wind up with them too tight...

[QUOTE=Gthoro;12466249]
I use a mini one that's a knock-off from Harbor Freight. $0.99 each on sale! I can reverse the pads and use it like a 4th hand tool to stretch those straddle cables.

I have the original steel wire version, but it can scratch finished brake pads.

I have one of those steel wire ones, and a more complicated thing that may have been made by Park Tools, but rarely use either one. In most cases I've found two hands is enough for the job.

I always liked the Fourth Hand tool more, the little cable puller doodad. It's my favorite tool.

I just use a trigger clamp over the tire and aroung the pads, do not even bother to knock off the little pads. Works fine for brake adjustment.

http://www.stanleytools.com/default....Trigger+Clamps

I was struggling with a set of breaks just the other day... cursing... tried using a C clap to do the job but it took like 10 tried to get it to stay with out slipping...

I like you very simple but great solution and thanks for sharing... I'll try that as well as the pedal strap

If it's really hard to adjust a brake, and you don't have a third hand, if the brake shoes are threaded, you can take one out, tighten the cable, then put the brake shoe back on.

so who owned it the first two times?

:lol: (good one, frantic.):lol:

That's a great idea, I've been using one of these .

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...amps-82jpg.jpg

It works pretty well but slips off occasionally.

I like those also, the ratchet makes it ready to get an accurate adjustment.

Marc

just picked up one of these at OSH for $3.. looks like the perfect thing for brakes

http://www.mydealsdirect.com/images/...tchetclamp.jpg

I don't get it. Why would I need to clamp the caliper closed and not be able to adjust the pads?

i plan to use it to hold the brake closed to adjust the cables, not the pads.. it's hard to get good tension on the cable without a third hand... one to pull the cable tight, one to tighten the cable bolt and one to hold the calipers closed

that 4th hand tool (cable puller) also looks very cool but i didnt see one in the cheapo parts bin at osh :lol:

i just used the $3 tool from osh to install a brake cable and it was painless.. definitely recommend picking one up. it's a "kr tools 4" ratchet clamp and spreader" as mentioned up thread, the ratcheting makes it great for adjusting the brakes

You clamp the caliper down to the braking surface, and then run and adjust the cable. You adjust the pads after they are set to the proper distance from the braking surface.... at least that's how I do it.

FWIW - I only use a "third hand" type of device for the vintage stuff, especially for center-pulls. With modern dual pivot calipers (and many older single pivot ones) I just hold them shut with one hand and pull the cable and tighten the nut with the other. Newer calipers are a lot easier to adjust than the older stuff.

yeah i've been doing that but this is 10x easier and allows for some really tight adjustment. i like the brakes to engage very soon after i pull the lever

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/3125/p1010551o.jpg

frantik, I just picked up a 12" version of that at HF because I had a coupon which made the cost 2 bucks. It's covered in oil which tells me it's just waiting to rust at the drop of a hat. We'll see how it works as a 3'rd hand. Thanks to the inspiration of this thread I may decide to drill it or mod it so it's specific to the task. If I do, I shall report back with pics.

the only thing that is metal is the bar on mine.. and it's not covered in oil

makes adjusting the pads easy too :D

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/6742/p1010552o.jpg