I just used a washing line (the metal base bit) to get leverage to undo a crank.

Can anyone beat that for an odd thing they used as a tool?

Joe

I regularly use the extension arm of my “non branded vacuum cleaner” as a persuader.

rock and rock used as chain link extraction tool on recent ullswater loop

Crank extractor was stuck in the cranks arm thread, couldn’t get it out and need leverage so used the sterrer of the original 97 bombers to lever it, only problem being it lifted the bike so needed something to lever the other crank to stop it from moving too, this came in the shape of an azonic ds1’s headtube…. few beers were had too that night!

Use a football stud with my crank extractor to get my lh crank arm off. ‘pin’ on crank remover tool is too small and goes through the hole.

Secateurs make a good HT2 preload cap tool.

Large log by the side of the trail was handy for refitting my XT HT2 cranks just before a race.

Drill bit as spacer when extracting ISIS type cranks using a sq. taper only type extractor.

It’s about time we went back to good old square taper crank and bb’s looking at all the above….

soma_rich
Don’t throw the rest of the vacuum away, the rigid tubes are ideal for fitting crown races

Penny to change a square taper crank extractor into an ISIS one…

used one of them wirey garden rakes to get more leverage on a 12mm hex to remove my freehub. worked a treat compared to the previous (failed) methods.

I’ve used a deodorant bottle as a………… oh one of them bikey tools *blushes*

a tree?

It is amazing how much leverage you can get on an allen key with a big old piece of pipe on the end. Makes me worry more about overtightening than undertightening. Can you overtighten a crank bolt?

Joe

Not bike related but my brother used gaffer tape & zip-ties to lash my electric hedge trimmer to his washing line prop. Made a pretty nifty extra-tall right angled hedge trimmer.
All went well till he tripped & it went through the shed.

Yes

Can you overtighten a crank bolt?
Yes.
I did mine (SQ taper) with the torque wrech recently and was surprised as just how much torque was required however.

i want one of those tools for resteeting the hanger on a steel frame. anyone know what they’re called?

used one before in the shop but, fancy making my own.

i’ve just put together half a bike with homemade doowahs…

When you could still buy quality PC cases we would harvest the blanking plates from the IDE slots at the back. They made brilliant screwdrivers, levers and popping out tools for all sorts of IT related repair jobs.

top half of an axle stand (for a car, that is) is just the right internal diameter to use as a crown race installation ‘tool’ if your steerer isn’t too long, and you can really whack the bejeesus out of it. This was invaluable on my surly fork as the steerer is ‘stepped’ rather than tapered at the bottom.

Also the reverse of this would be that my kids like to put the end of my track pump in their tummy buttons and pump, making entertaining little farty noises. Hours of fun!

I once used two bits of flat rock, to pop a chain rivet back in. Miles from anywhere, in the Poldice valley, where there is an abundance of flat-sided rocks. Better than Terpischore’s example.

i want one of those tools for resteeting the hanger on a steel frame. anyone know what they’re called?

Bastard big adjustable spanner…

Rock? Why didn’t I think of that. I used my teeth to mend a broken chain . . . still have a slightly chipped front crown.

I used a handy dry-stone wall to straighten a rear mech hanger on a mates steel bike…

I put a square taper BB in with a teaspoon and a hammer.

Axle stand used as per Julianwilson, last night in fact.

I use the corner support pole of an early 1990s Ikea shelving unit which makes an excellent slide hammer for fitting crown races.

A safety line stanchion from a Royal Navy minesweeper is great for adding leverage to allen keys. You need to, er, acquire one first, though.

Takeaway chopsticks were perfect for applying small amounts of grease in the right places on the insides of Rock Shox Judy forks.

Fiberflight carbon spokes are also excellent for easing off grips you want to use again – they’re flat, thin and flexible, and the carbon doesn’t score bars.

Boat lifts are great for moving the cars of inconsiderate d!ckheads who block the way in marinas:

although it’s also just as easy to drag them away using a tractor, although that does leave the car with flat spots on the tyres, and usually a stretched tow eye (ooh).

Old fork arm with some old chain makes a great chain whip. It just needs to have a mudguard eyelet.

I once built an ikea chest of drawers with a spoon as friend asked me around to build it for her and I didn’t think to ask if she had a screwdriver.

Old non-drive-side crank is great for destressing wheel builds – but this was something Sheldon Brown wrote a lot on: Linky.

similar to OP, I use the top half of the kids pogo stick to gain leverage when undoing cranks etc.

It’s quite nice to use too as it has a comfortable plastic ‘grip’ at the top.