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Proper star nut setting tool, one of those why didn’t I buy one of these sooner moments the first time I used mine.
I use an old quick release with the lever removed.
Syringe from the kids Calpol to measure and inject fork oil for lowers.
Just had one of those "why didn't I think of this" moments. Thank you.
And I fully support the OP's enthusiasm for 2228 tape. Brilliant stuff.
My most-recent toolbox addition: A pair of cheap reading glasses, so I can actually see what I'm doing when doing stuff like re-aligning brake calipers or fitting cables at the van.
Syringe from the kids Calpol to measure and inject fork oil for lowers.
Happy to say I've been doing this too, originally with some old rubber tubing to extend the range.
Liking the mascara brush idea.
Liking the mascara brush idea.
I use cotton buds for this, you can definitely see if your cleaning the crap off the caliper and their cheap as chips. I have an R3pro piston tool but it seems an 4 or 3 mm allen key will work pretty well too:
I’ll see your nail clippers and raise you a pair of Knipex flush cutters
Duuuude... Zip tie gun but I really like the nail clipper idea
I've found set of pick set to always come in handy
Picked up mine cheap and use it nearly every day. Bike in stand, chuck it on the bars, front wheel stays in place to make it easy to do routine maintenance. Don't pay full price, or make your own, but it's a cracking tool!
The other is good quality hex keys. I know that hex keys are top of the list, but it's amazing how often I see people working with shitty, half-rounded tools. Get some decent ones!
A good grease gun. I have a 25 year old Pace-branded one of these and it's great for precise application of grease.
I’ve found set of pick set to always come in handy
This. Use my picks all of the time for lots of crazy things. e.g. opening the ends of cut outer cables.
A small bench grinder. I've got a tiny Aldi one and use it for sharpening tools, cleaning ragged edges on parts and even things like cleaning the ends of cut outer cables which makes a HUGE difference to the quality of shifting! If you've only ever chopped the cable with pliers and bunged it on the bike, you'll be astonished in the difference that proper cable finishing makes.
I scored some 60mL syringes from the lab at work, perfect fit in a valve with the core removed. 1 shot for the gravel bike, 2 for the mtb.
The old straw from a fancy camelback bottle is perfect for punching out suspension pivot shafts.
The cushcore tyre lever is also worth the money.
Proper star nut setting tool
I use a long socket with some electrical tape for depth mark. Pop the top cap bolt through the socket, screw the star nut onto it. Tap it in, unscrew bolt, job done.
Proper star nut setting tool, one of those why didn’t I buy one of these sooner moments the first time I used mine.
A long piece of M5 threaded bar, big flat washers and a nut. Instead of pushing the star nut into the steerer tube from the top, use the washers on the bottom of the tube and pull the nut in.
A cut spoke bent in to a long C shape.
Great when joining or splitting chains.
Ball ended torx keys. They seem even more useful than ball ended hex keys.
Quite specific, but I have a short length of 40mm waste pipe with nice smooth square ends, with “Hope Freehub Seal Tool” written on it in marker”
I wish I had seen this before I bought the specific tool that I use once a blue moon. 🙂
@bikerevivesheffield, Thanks for the link, I've ordered a couple.
This park tool valve core remover has been used a lot. (cheaper unbranded ones are available)
But my favourite tool that's saved me the most money is a hope bottom bracket tool for effortless removal of bearings and replacing them. Forgotten how many times I've cleaned the bearings and put them back in.
This here clamp on stub shaft (what I made) to park your handlebars while forks are removed for servicing -
ok @fruitbat, that cockpit garage thing is unbelievably cool.
Unusual items lurking in my tool boxes are:
Bit of old bent spoke to hold a chain with while it gets riveted.
Flat faced sockets for fork caps.
Bottle opener.
Single chop stick for dipping fork levels.
Soft faced hammer(s) for thwacking things
Old 330ml tropicana bottle with another bent spoke gaffa taped to it - hang it on things and collect brake fluid in it.
450nm impact driver for asserting will.
Spare bottle opener.
Do those brake tools work well (the Hayes and lifeline ones mentioned)? Tempted
For a tenner to try one.
Can anyone explain how these work any better than activating the brakes against the rotor in the normal way? Seems like they just effectively make the rotor thicker which would be compensated for by the pistons moving out less... but I see lots of people rate them highly.
R3Pro do a caliper-specific tool for this too, needs the pads out, but it does take piston imbalance out of the equation.
Wife’s unwanted coloured nail varnish, small dab on back of dropper/seat post to mark position relative to frame.
A fork seal insertion tool from Amazon for [url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0863734CQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details ]£12.[/url]
Or one with a pretty Fox logo for [url= https://www.tftuned.com/fox-fork-guided-seal-driver/p3520 ]£44!!![/url]
how I laughed.
tube of superglue, or as it is in my tool box: "liquid cable crimp"
A fork seal insertion tool from Amazon for £12.
£12? Prrrft:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2671245
(And yes, I've used this and it works well. No, it won't stand daily use but if it does a couple of services, that's ok with me - doesn't take long to print another)
Perhaps we need a separate thread for "cool things you can 3d print for your bike"...
after reading about the hope tech reservoir lid screws de-threading i just treated myself to a mini wera torx10 mini screwdriver, stops me over tightening it.
I also bought a topeak nano torqbox thing. Works really nicely for tightening stem bolts and other low torque things. It's pretty small so easy to carry in a pack.
£12? Prrrft:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2671245
/blockquote>Well, that'd be way more expensiver than even a Fox branded one. I mean how much is a 3D printer?
[i]No, it won’t stand daily use[/i]
My £12 one would stand hourly use I reckon. It's a nice thing to just sit and fiddle with too. My middle finger makes a fun farty noise when I push it in the central hole.
I feel like I have a lot of tools that are no good any more. I have a chainring bolt tool, and a little drawer of chainring bolts, but I don't have a single bike in the shed that uses chainring bolts any more, everything is direct mount.
Loads of BB tools and the like that I have no use for also, other than fixing bike for others.
Bits of tin can/ alu drink can to use as shims on old freehubs and seatposts that are a bit loose.
Second the Threadlock for pedal pins.
Superglue for pedal cleats though!
@finephilly Have you got a Planet X London Road of a certain vintage by any chance!?
A small joiners clamp. Perfect for holding bars in a certain way whilst bike is on the work stand, or to stop crank rotating.
Also perfect for holding non disc brakes together on the rim whilst tightening cable etc - just put a thin packer between rim and pad and you're sorted.
I use one like this;
https://www.screwfix.com/p/irwin-quick-grip-clamps-12/98247
A packet of Rizlas, just in case.
Oddest bits in my toolbox are a jeweller's loupe, hand wipes and an anodised alloy knitting needle with a rounded point thats perfect for tidying up the internal bore of hoses and outer cable after cutting to make barb and inner cable entry easier, if you had them you would definitely use them.
One of the best cheapo little things I've got is a set of these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-Pick-Hook-Set-Pieces/dp/B001MJ0JOA
Got em from TK Maxx or Lidl or something. So useful.
The double jointed pivoting allen keys are something I just couldn't live without now too. Especially for bottle cages and brake callipers. Every other hex key just seems so awkward.
[silicone spray] Lube beads for tubeless installation
I don’t know what happens if the tyre slides around the rim under hard braking but I imagine it’s surprising, unpleasant and probably painful.
I ordered some more picks thanks to this thread, thanks!
I have an engineers scribe, it's bloody ace and gets used for all sorts
Tell me more about the double jointed allen keys?