Lock ring tool choice
 

In case anyone else is shopping for a headset lock ring tool:

On old threaded headsets, sometimes, there are lock rings about 35mm in diameter.
I found a Park HCW-17model, after I ordered the Hozan C-205. The Park describes a useful diameter range, but the Hozan does not. I'm hoping the Hozan has a smaller diameter...

I considered a Hozan adjustable pliers, but was dissuaded by the $50 price tag. Plus, while it would work well on notches 180 degrees apart, probably not so well on the triple notch lock rings.

Park:
http://http://www.parktool.com/product/fixed-gear-lockring-wrench-hcw-17"]http://http://www.parktool.com/produ...-wrench-hcw-17[/URL]

Hozan:
http://www.amazon.com/Hozan-Bicycle-.../dp/B0017SE6ZY

In looking around I found this thread, where several members would agree with my purchase of the Hozan.

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in...p/t-71187.html

Note also I've seen posts by some other clever BF member who simply took a grinder to a regular pair of channel-lock pliers to get teeth. Maybe he'll show up and post pics?

...now that you can't get the VAR tool any more, Hozan is the next best alternative.

As already stated, you can make one that works OK out of large,slip joint channel locks.

I've always been happy with my Hozan and found it has worked on almost any lockring I've need a wrench for. But since you occasionally come across smaller (or larger) diameter I have picked up the odd lockring wrench whenever I found one (cheap). Quite a few are just stamped flat stock and look like they are for infrequent use, some have logos (like Honda MCs) so I know what they came from. Some have a pivot (seems like a machinist tool) that allows the "tooth" to engage a range of diameters.

An adjustable hook spanner. I just happened to have an old Williams around which was a perfect fit for the TA BB lock ring I recently had to loosen. But having only one tooth is a little scary.

And of course, there's always hammer+screwdriver. If you're not careful you will mash your lockring this way (it's probably soft alu), but if you care about it you can fold a piece of scrap leather (cut from old shoes?) around the blade of the screwdriver, or think of some other way to apply force without marring.

I was taught the proper name for this tool is a side pin spanner. Search terms used in Google yields a greater variety of mfg that are not in the bicycle world but make a tool for the job.

Not to be confused with a face pin spanner.

Here is a link to a guy making lock ring pliers from channel locks.

http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2...ool-hacks.html

Spanner is merely another word for wrench, which is why the pedant in me gets irritated when I hear people say spanner wrench. (Not that anyone did in this thread.)

I've had the Hozan wrench for about 30 years. It works properly on most BB lockrings.

I said spanner, Tom. Nyah! But not the redundant usage.

P.s. my Williams adjustable thingie says "spanner" right on it.
Appropriate I think, as I wouldn't exactly call this thing a wrench.
More of a spanner. Like...a hook spanner. Hook wrench sounds
funny.