Tool Kits?

[ryandood]

I've been trying to learn as much about regular maintinence and repairs on my bike as possible and have already purchased a book (don't remember which one). BUUTT, some of the repairs obviously require some bicycle specific tools and I don't have these so it really makes it difficult to do much of anything really.

I'm looking to buy a general toolset that will have the basic tools I would need for working on my bike. I don't need/want any really obscure tools that I would likely only use a few times so it doesn't have to be a huge collection of tools. I've looked up a couple online but don't know if they are quality tools or not. I don't have a huge budget but also don't want to buy crap tools that will break. I believe Adrenaline sells a tool kit for around $45ish (no idea really) but haven't looked into that yet.

Anyone have any other recommendations for the ones linked below or others? Thanks.

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/145...--14-Tools.htm

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/145...--21-Tools.htm

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4218

Thanks for input you may have.

[slowSSer]

a few things:

-buy quality tools- pedros, park, stuff with a lifetime warranty (there's lots of craftsman stuff that works well on bikes)

-buy tools to reflect your skill level. if you're a beginner mechanic, there's a good chance you're not going to need cone wrenches for adjusting hubs.

edits (i'm sure i'll have a few to add)

there are some obscure tools that you wouldnt think that a beginner mechanic would need- example: chain stretch gauge. it's cheap and is a key tool.

some tools can be frustrating- example: chain breaker- there's a reason that there are two places to insert the chain onto it...

best tools i've ever bought:
3/8 drive metric allen set. it'll cover basically every major allen head on a bike. (like these, but shorter- http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&sName=Sockets )
stubby 3/8 drive ratchet. over-torquing stuff with a regular 10" ratchet is way too easy.
torque wrench (in/lb).
list of torques (well, not bought, but more created- last page of my Zinn book has a list. thompson stem? 47 in/lbs.

[cjwally]

x2 on park tools.... Spend a little extra and have it last longer.

[faded1004]

i am a beginner, and i just bought a few tools in the spin doctor brand. i haven't used it much... but it seemed to work okay...

i just bought what i needed to build my bike, headset was installed by bikeshop... so basically, crankpuller, cassette tool, and brake/shifter line cutter. everything else i found in my gaarage already...

do'nt forget the 20% coupon for performance that ends today. call up the path and also switchback... when i was buying tools they had a good selection also... and should be close to you...

[Zippo]

Personally, I stick with Park tools. And yeah, there are definitely those tools you may only use a couple of times, but it's the difference between caveman mechanics and doing it easily and correctly. The prices on those toolkits you linked are great though. I would say that my most commonly used tools, in order of most usage, are:

Bike specific:

Allen wrenches
Spoke wrenches
Chain tool
Chain whip
Cassette remover
bottom bracket remover
cable cutter

Household tools:

3/8" torque wrench and sockets
screwdriver
vice grips (really just for crimping cable ends)
needle nose vice grips (really just for unscrewing Stans valves)
big adjustable crescent wrench

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by Zippo

big adjustable crescent wrench

ack! the most un-precise tool on the planet!!!! crescent wrench: best way of making hexagonal bolt heads round.

just my experience, though....

[Abui]

Buy the tools you need for each project you take on. General toolsets will have stuff you would never use and if you did you'd want higher quality.

[Zippo]

agreed - I just use it on the cassette remover. I forgot to mention torque wrench and 3/8" sockets.

[ChariotsOfTires]

I have the Sette 21 tool kit and it works great. I know nother guy who used to be a Mech and an LBS and that what he users to wrench in his Garage. Good price. They aren't the best, but they serve my basic needs.

RD
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/145...--21-Tools.htm

[bajamtnbkr]

I bought a general tool set as a starting point only, then I bought specific tools as need with the bike I'm working with but I found out that very often I need the tool set to work on a friends or my older bike.

[2wheel_lee]

Oh, and beyond the standard "bike" tools, any 26+ oz claw hammer works fine.

Anybody have that youtube link of how to build a bike with only a hammer?

[bighit8]

Ya know its funny, I have around 40,000 in tools(mechanic), but maybe 40$ in bike tools. I can rebuild a motor,tranny,rear diff,body work, but cant adjust my drive train without cursing.Go figure, i need to set my priorities straight.

[TCB]

A Torque Wrench should be one of the first tools you buy, with Carbon bars and precision machined parts, torquing bolts is extremely critical

[FisherFanHye]

Question : How important is it to have a spoke wrench

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by FisherFanHye

Question : How important is it to have a spoke wrench

The wheels on the bike go round and round, The wheels on the bike go wobble,wobble without a spoke wrench.

[ryandood]

Originally Posted by slowSSer

a few things:

-buy quality tools- pedros, park, stuff with a lifetime warranty (there's lots of craftsman stuff that works well on bikes)

-buy tools to reflect your skill level. if you're a beginner mechanic, there's a good chance you're not going to need cone wrenches for adjusting hubs.

edits (i'm sure i'll have a few to add)

there are some obscure tools that you wouldnt think that a beginner mechanic would need- example: chain stretch gauge. it's cheap and is a key tool.

some tools can be frustrating- example: chain breaker- there's a reason that there are two places to insert the chain onto it...

best tools i've ever bought:
3/8 drive metric allen set. it'll cover basically every major allen head on a bike. (like these, but shorter- http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&sName=Sockets )
stubby 3/8 drive ratchet. over-torquing stuff with a regular 10" ratchet is way too easy.
torque wrench (in/lb).
list of torques (well, not bought, but more created- last page of my Zinn book has a list. thompson stem? 47 in/lbs.

Good advice, thanks. I'd love to buy some of the nicer brand tools but it really is out of my budget. The most basic park tools kit with a decent number of tools is about a hundred bucks more than the sets I found.

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by FisherFanHye

Question : How important is it to have a spoke wrench

If you don't know how to use it, having one can be very dangerous.

They're great to have if you know how to use it.

[pinoiryder]

i just have The Spin Doctor from Performance and it is good enough for what i need.. Added some allen wrench from Sears and also bought freewheel cassette remover for the SS.. i have some basic tools that i use for auto work.. some of them comes in handy.. when it comes to wheel truing.. i leave that to the expert..

[ryandood]

Between the three sets of tools I linked above, I think the best set for me is the 14 tool set from pricepoint. It looks like it has the things I need right now and the things I will need in the future.

The 21 tool sets add screwdrivers and other things that I don't know what they are. Anyone see anything really important that I would be missing between the two sets?

Again, I hear the arguments towards quality parts but they really are much more expensive than the tools presented in the above kits. If someone can lobby for other reasons as to why I should go for the expensive tools then I'll gladly hear them. I'm in no rush to buy these tools and have yet to explore the kits the local shops have to offer (adrenaline, I think someone said the path and switchback have tools as well).

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by FisherFanHye

Question : How important is it to have a spoke wrench

fairly useless if you don't know how to use it (as mentioned above by 2wheel_lee) as well as rather useless without a wheel truing stand.

i take that back- if you're occasionally JUST replacing one spoke, it can be helpful....if and only if the wheel is true.

keep in mind that tensioning a spoke can pull a rim left, right, up or down, relative to the rolling surface.