Basic Tool Kit ??
#1
Thread Starter
S E Michigan
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Basic Tool Kit ??
Ok I here guys say I got a basic tool kit or I need to get a basic tool kit ! Here is my ? I have thousands of $$$$$ in tools in my garage shop as my wife says every tool known to man and Iam a woodworker and metal lathe . Except for tire stix I personaly don't know of special tools I would
need for my bike repair ! I have never had to go buy a special tool for a bike is this basic tool kit somthing just for bikes ? Am I missing somthing here ???
need for my bike repair ! I have never had to go buy a special tool for a bike is this basic tool kit somthing just for bikes ? Am I missing somthing here ???
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,257
Likes: 5
From: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
do you want emergency or full overhaul?
It's much better to buy good tools from parks tools or pedros as you go along than to buy a kit.
Cassette lockring remover
Cartridge BB tool
Chain breaker/rivet extractor
Cable cutter
spoke wrenches
tire levers
cotterless crank remover
Chainring nut wrench
Hex drivers 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10mm
Torx 25 hex wrench
15mm pedal wrench
Cone wrenchs 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19mm
Freewheel removal tool
chainwhip
Hollowtech 2 BB wrench
headset remover
headset press
crown race remover/installer
etc. etc.
for emergency all you need are: portable air pump (topeak road morph), 2x tyre levers, spare tube or 2, multi-tool (chain tool, hex drivers), multi-size spoke wrench, tyre boot cloth, zip ties and a 5in adjustable wrench.
It's much better to buy good tools from parks tools or pedros as you go along than to buy a kit.
Cassette lockring remover
Cartridge BB tool
Chain breaker/rivet extractor
Cable cutter
spoke wrenches
tire levers
cotterless crank remover
Chainring nut wrench
Hex drivers 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10mm
Torx 25 hex wrench
15mm pedal wrench
Cone wrenchs 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19mm
Freewheel removal tool
chainwhip
Hollowtech 2 BB wrench
headset remover
headset press
crown race remover/installer
etc. etc.
for emergency all you need are: portable air pump (topeak road morph), 2x tyre levers, spare tube or 2, multi-tool (chain tool, hex drivers), multi-size spoke wrench, tyre boot cloth, zip ties and a 5in adjustable wrench.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#3
Thread Starter
S E Michigan
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Not saying I want anything I got so many tools now . Thou none are made just for a bicycle I can't see were I would need special tools . My main ?is is there somthing on a bike only a certain tool will do ? I do have a small multi tool my wife bought me to carry with me on rides . And I don't have the time or desire to build or rebuild a bike . I just re[air mine if its minor major goes to the LBS .
#4
Most are referring to a few tools you can carry with, not a thousand dollar mechanic's tool cart. Tire levers, spoke wrench, and a multi-tool (w/allen wrenches) works for most routine maintenance tasks and can be easily tucked in a seat bag.
#5
Call me The Breeze
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,702
Likes: 8
From: Cooper Ontario
Bikes: 2004 Litespeed Siena, 1996 Litespeed Obed, 1992 Miele (unknown model), 1982 Meile Uno LS.
Buy them as you need them, and buy quality. Eventually you'll have exactly what you need and nothing more.
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,257
Likes: 5
From: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON
Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin
Not saying I want anything I got so many tools now . Thou none are made just for a bicycle I can't see were I would need special tools . My main ?is is there somthing on a bike only a certain tool will do ? I do have a small multi tool my wife bought me to carry with me on rides . And I don't have the time or desire to build or rebuild a bike . I just re[air mine if its minor major goes to the LBS .
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
#8
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Lansing, MI
It really depends on what work you want to do and if you're referring to regular maintenance or just emergency repairs. I started off with nothing, turning spokes with an adjustable wrench. That was a pain in the butt so I sprung the $5 for a decent spoke wrench. I didn't feel like paying the LBS to change my cassette so I bought a lockring tool ($7) and made a chain whip($0 with scrap metal and an old chain). When changing my cassette, I needed to break the chain, so I bought a cheapy chain breaker ($4).
It really does come down to what you want to do. I wound up making an adjustable cone wrench, but I can see the benefit of purchasing a set. Eventually I see myself getting the spanners for adjusting headsets and down the line a bottom bracket tool. Eventually, I'll probably be able to do everything I need/want to do. That said, as others have mentioned, there are specific tools for specific things on a bike that other tools can do, but these work better. And then there are tools that are very bike specific (cassette lock ring tool comes to mind).
It really does come down to what you want to do. I wound up making an adjustable cone wrench, but I can see the benefit of purchasing a set. Eventually I see myself getting the spanners for adjusting headsets and down the line a bottom bracket tool. Eventually, I'll probably be able to do everything I need/want to do. That said, as others have mentioned, there are specific tools for specific things on a bike that other tools can do, but these work better. And then there are tools that are very bike specific (cassette lock ring tool comes to mind).
#9
Thread Starter
S E Michigan
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Ok thanks that answered my questions .I was mainly asking because I found a set he said bike tools for a good price used and never saw them yet but if they seem to be good quality I will buy them . just to have in an emergency. my emergency backup is another bicycle so I can keep on keeping on while my bike is at the LBS if it were to need major repair .
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Emergency:
- Crank Brothers m17 or similar on the bike
- Leatherman or pliers in the pocket
- Tire levers if you have high-pressure or difficult-to-remove tires
- A good portable pump
- A spare tube or patch repair kit
- Crank Brothers m17 or similar on the bike
- Leatherman or pliers in the pocket
- Tire levers if you have high-pressure or difficult-to-remove tires
- A good portable pump
- A spare tube or patch repair kit
#11
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,878
Likes: 1
From: Boston (sort of)
Bikes: 1 road, 1 Urban Assault Vehicle
There's no point in buying tools that you don't know how to use. Learn how to do the repairs that you wouldn't want to go to a bike shop for, then buy tools as necessary.
#12
Soul filled with grease
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Hills-Vegas, NC
Bikes: Early Surly XCheck;1960 Schwinn Speedster;1996 Giant CroMo Camper;1986 Fuji
and woodworking. I used non bike-specific tools for years before getting a multi-tool. I just carried 4 allen wrenches,
small adjustable wrench, and a small screwdriver with reversible head (flat/phillips) for tools.
Now my kit contains Alien Multi Tool, tire levers (metal), patch kit, small adjustable wrench (handle wrapped in duct
tape, and electrical tape), 4 quarters taped together (for that emergency call), schrader to presta adapter, spare
tube in plastic bag (use bag for seat cover in the rain), spoke wrench, one bottle-cage bolt, and there's always a
pump on the bike. Everything fits in a Pedro's seat bag or the seat bag gets tossed in a pannier.
#13
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo NY
Bikes: Gerry Fisher Nirvana, LeMond Buenos Aires
Here is a very descent basic tool kit that will work well unless you are going to do frequent major over-hauls: https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4218
I bought this kit a few months ago to replace my bottom bracket. Just the cost of the Park Tool bottom bracket and pedal puller at the LBS would have easily exceeded what I spend on this entire kit. I also got the pedal wrench (a lot of time "normal" wrenches are too thick to fit properly) and put it to good use. The only thing I've heard about the kit that might break on me is the chain whip. Some people complained about the tools not fitting right, but I have not found that to be the case. For any normal nuts and bolts I'd use a proper 6 sided high quality socket set that I have so maybe that is where they have problems.
My theory is the buy the tools when I need to do a job. I needed to replace the bottom bracket so I knew I needed specialty tool for it and the pedal extractor. That made this kit worth it all on its own. I don't foresee having to replace that more then every other year, maybe even longer. My original bottom bracket was some mistory brand. Hopefully with a quality Schimano unit in there I'll get a few years of use out of it. At some point I'll need to get a good cable cutter, but that will come later.
Happy riding,
André
I bought this kit a few months ago to replace my bottom bracket. Just the cost of the Park Tool bottom bracket and pedal puller at the LBS would have easily exceeded what I spend on this entire kit. I also got the pedal wrench (a lot of time "normal" wrenches are too thick to fit properly) and put it to good use. The only thing I've heard about the kit that might break on me is the chain whip. Some people complained about the tools not fitting right, but I have not found that to be the case. For any normal nuts and bolts I'd use a proper 6 sided high quality socket set that I have so maybe that is where they have problems.
My theory is the buy the tools when I need to do a job. I needed to replace the bottom bracket so I knew I needed specialty tool for it and the pedal extractor. That made this kit worth it all on its own. I don't foresee having to replace that more then every other year, maybe even longer. My original bottom bracket was some mistory brand. Hopefully with a quality Schimano unit in there I'll get a few years of use out of it. At some point I'll need to get a good cable cutter, but that will come later.
Happy riding,
André
#16
For on road emergency repair I carry a Leatherman type all in one tool, a small adjustable wrench, a thin 14mm/16mm wrench, spare tube, self-stick patches, spoke wrench, two allen wrenches that fit all bolts on my bike, chain tool, a couple of spare skewers, hand pump and a spare chain.
#17
Thread Starter
S E Michigan
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
IF I had the desire I could build a bike I think tools and me just seem to get along well always have .Its rare I buy a specialized tool that can't just figure out on my own . But I do agree no use buying a tool if u 1 are not going to use it or have no idea how to use it . I already fix most things on my bike I don't have the time or desire to do major stuff but then I have never had anything to fix I consider major .
#18
Thread Starter
S E Michigan
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
I carry all that I carry a letherman all the time bike or what ever iam doing don't leave home without one ever . I carry most things I have seen here all the time on my bike just to be safe and able to get home from any emergency. Iwas more asking about bike specialty tools beyond a multi tool for bikes .I see now there are some I may or may not need time will tell . Thanks guys




