Essential Bike Tools

[The Renaissance Man]

When working on bikes, some things can be done with common hand tools but there are other things that require special tools.

What specifically designed bicycle tools do you consider to be 'Must Haves'?

One example would be a good quality chain breaker.​

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[The Renaissance Man]

 

[The Renaissance Man]

 

[user 135]

One example would be a good quality chain breaker.​

Great value and durability Park CT5

 

[mornview]

* Cone wrenches (mainly 15mm but I use a handful of others as well)
* Pedal wrench
* Spoke wrench
* "Cyclone" chain cleaner
* Truing stand (and dishing guage if there isn't one built in)
* Spoke tension meter
* Tire levers
* Inner tube patch kit

It's kinda funny realizing that I guess I get by 95% of the time on just plain old hand tools. Moreover, realizing that half of my bike-specific tools are for building wheels. Really, if you're working on single-speed bikes, once you have a set of wheels built up, there isn't a whole lot you need special tools for. Of course I use things like calipers and thread guages, but again, those are not bike-specific tools. Other tools that I use on bikes that other people may already have solutions for in their garage:

* Repair stand
* Floor pump (for inner tubes)

Other bike tools that I have but don't really use:

* Cotter pin press
* Bottom bracket remover
* Lockring wrench
* Chainwhip
* Nipple driver

Basically everything listed above is Park Tool. A few of the items listed above I initially bought non-Park Tool variations of, and eventually learned to just buy Park Tool the first time around. Almost all of them were purchased at my LBS, so I can't point out any great deals. Usually the difference between my LBS price and an online price was only a few bucks, and I try to support my LBS when I can, so it wasn't a big deal.

 

[jerrykr]

Park Cable Cutter
Brass Hammer persuasion device.
Nut Drivers for Brake Cable adjustment. Easier to snug up the nut than a box wrench. I use box wrench for final tightening.

 

[RustySprockets]

I bought a basic set of bike tools from Nashbar for less than $50, then threw in a pair or parrot beak cable cutters and have been pleased with the purchase. I later stumbled into a great deal on some genuine Park tools, when a nearby LBS shuttered. Still, the Nashbar items have been more than adequate. For the more exotic stuff, I frequently visit the community bike co-op.

 

[Walker]

Work stand
Axle vise, cone wrenches
drop out alignment tools
deraleur hangar alignment tool
truing stand, spoke tensionmeter, spoke wrenches
8" & 10" adjustable wrenches
fork alignment tool
Lincoln SP135 welder
Pedros lube for cables and small moving parts
Park grease for bearings
shop rags
3 way allen wrench 4mm/5mm/6mm

 

[jerrykr]

89% of the time I use a non-Park left handed metric crescent wrench.
5% of the time I use a bigger hammer and 5% I use a torch.
The final 1% I use nothing but genuine high quality blue handled Park tools.

I want me one of them left handed metric cresent wrenchs...........I've got the left handed SAE one.....

 

[kingfish254]

When all else fails, use a butter knife all purpose tool

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Lincoln SP135 welder

Luke.

 

[Toeslider]

The main specialized tools I would add to a well-equipped garage are:

Good chain breaker tool

Park cable cutter/crimper

Set of cone wrenches

Pedal wrench

After that, buy bottom bracket and freewheel tools as you need them. They're not that expensive, but no sense loading up on them if you're never going to use them. I also stumbled upon a crescent wrench that is thin and opens really wide, that has been a Godsend. The rest of the tools are usually found around the house (hex wrenches, nut drivers, etc.), but the bike-specific versions from Park are nice to have.

Definitely spend the extra money to get a Park cable cutter and chain breaker, it's well worth it. No other tools do the job as well.

 

[Nagant]

Is a chain breaker really needed? I'm not a bike mechanic and therefore no authority on the subject but with a rotary tool, vise, punch, and hammer I have never needed a special chain tool for bicycle, dirt bike, ATV, motorcycle.... chains. I just remove a appropriate link and add a quick link if the chain is not already equipped with one.

 

[RPJ]

has someone mentioned sader saw and welder?

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Is a chain breaker really needed? I'm not a bike mechanic and therefore no authority on the subject but with a rotary tool, vise, punch, and hammer I have never needed a special chain tool for bicycle, dirt bike, ATV, motorcycle.... chains. I just remove a appropriate link and add a quick link if the chain is not already equipped with one.

There are always alternative ways to do things, but you will definitely appreciate having a good chain breaker over what you described. One quick and easy to use tool and no extra parts needed. They are inexpensive also. Just don't cheap out with a Bell from WallyWorld.

 

[jerrykr]

There are always alternative ways to do things, but you will definitely appreciate having a good chain breaker over what you described. One quick and easy to use tool and no extra parts needed. They are inexpensive also. Just don't cheap out with a Bell from WallyWorld.

Even the small Park Chain Breaker will let you (with some amount of experience) push the pin just inside the outer plate. You can then clean the chain, and reinstall the chain, pressing the pin back into the same link. I was taught this at an LBS. The link will usually be tight, but is easily freed up.

 

[Ichoptop]

whiskey and some anger always helps.

Pedal wrench, brass hammer, Allen wrenches, a good selection of screw drivers. tire wrenches is a plus.

 

[patman73]

a chain breaker

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Not really a tool in the traditional sense, but I like using a Tri-Flow squeeze bottle with a dropper tube for oiling parts.

 

[kingsting]

Is a chain breaker really needed? I'm not a bike mechanic and therefore no authority on the subject but with a rotary tool, vise, punch, and hammer I have never needed a special chain tool for bicycle, dirt bike, ATV, motorcycle.... chains. I just remove a appropriate link and add a quick link if the chain is not already equipped with one.

One of the "cheapies" runs $8-$12. Breaking and reinstalling a chain takes a couple minutes and the tool makes it incredibly easy. The ease of the job and the time saved makes even the more expensive ones worth every penny.