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The old chap has given me a £100 budget for the Winter Solstice and suggested I buy some bike specific tools to go in the SGS Tool Chest he bought me for my birthday.
Top of the list is a torque wrench, what else should I be looking at?
BB Tool, good cable cutters, chain link pliers
Decent set of T-handle Allen keys, chain whip and cassette tool, BB tool, bottle opener.
Start nut setter.
Head set press.
BelRay marine grease. Will last a lifetime.
These would be my first choice, especially with the 15% discount code. Best I've used.
Tracey beat me to it ^^^^
Bondus ball end hex key set
Knipex cable cutters and some needle nose pliers
Cassette lock ring tool
Norbar torque wrench and some Halfords professional bits for it
Some good suggestions so far, keep them coming.
BB Tool - eBike, so not required
good cable cutters - got
chain link pliers - got
T-handle Allen keys - good shout, but see below...
chain whip and cassette tool - got
bottle opener - got
Start nut setter - err, what now?
Head set press - hmm, possibly OTT, more research required.
Wera Hex Key Set - found a set for £17.99, bought, thanks.
A poky tool like a Bradawl is great for all sorts of poky stuff
Maybe swap the chain whip for a Pedros Vice-Whip? Once tried you'll never go back to a normal chain-whip (unless you get one of those Abolute Black narrow/wide singlespeed sprockets as it won't take a narrow-wide and they last about ten minutes s will need changing often)
T handle torx whench?
Not expecting much budget left if you get a really decent torque wrench (and you should)
Pedros Vice-Whip
I like the look of that, but...
Not expecting much budget left if you get a really decent torque wrench
So not one of the X-Tools ones then?
Decathlon have an alternative chain whip tool. Looks quite useful. And a lot cheaper than that Pedros anyway. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/chain-whip-cassette-remover-id_8309913.html
I don't have a tool budget but now want a vice whip, so thanks for that.
Knipex (as posted by orangeboy).
Probably the most useful tool you can buy, but one that you'll probably not buy because of its price. That makes it perfect present material, something you want but are reluctant to pay for.
I carry one on my vintage bike because it replaces a whole heap of spanners.
Unlike other adjustable spanners, its jaws remain parallel, and it does not mangle your nuts.
And as we all have learned, it's very important to keep your nuts unmangled. 🙂
Brake bleed kit.
Are there particular tools you use a lot? Particular bike maintenance jobs you do regularly, or enjoy more than others? Ones you aren't equipped for but have been wanting to try? I think those questions should inform your choices.
As mentioned, Wera and Knipex are good quality. If you do go for something expensive, I would make it something you use a lot.
After a cheaper set picked up some rust spots, I got these Wera stainless allen keys, and they're a pleasure to use every time.
I wouldn't spend loads on a torque wrench unless you are completely hamfisted or have a bike made of balsa wood. You just need something to get you in the right area.
Why not buy a tool kit. I bought the icetoolz one bout 6 years ago and used it all the time. The only thing that broke is the chain splitter but that might have been down to user error.
Buy stuff as you need it, but like others have said, quality Hex keys are a must. I have Park hex keys, my most used bit of kit. Torx bits - make sure you have specific sizes for the bike parts (brakes and discs mainly).
I don't have a torque wrench - 9 bikes in my house and never needed one in 32 years of cycling, and good level kit (Dura Ace on one bike).
Knipex mini plier wrench ..not bike specific but presume that's what Epicyclo was referring to.Orangeboy actually suggested the cable cutters and needle nose pliers which are different. The plier wrenches come in various sizes but the mini is extremely versatile and a lovely quality tool.Think they're much cheaper on ebay.de or at least were when I bought mine
this one
Sorry I’m a bit behind , yes I did mean the cable cutters.
But the tool epicyclo refereed to is very good
Proper pedal spanner.
Proper tyre levers.
Spoke tension gauge.
epicyclo
Knipex (as posted by orangeboy).
Probably the most useful tool you can buy, but one that you’ll probably not buy because of its price. That makes it perfect present material, something you want but are reluctant to pay for.
I carry one on my vintage bike because it replaces a whole heap of spanners.
interesting I use one of those very cheap alloy box spanners for that and its not brilliant
....not a tool as such and may have something but recently replaced tyre pressure gauge with a topeak one that has a release valve and nice rotating head...useful if like to set tyre pressures to optimum
Kool stop tyre mate:
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tools/koolstop-tyre-mate/
Mallet
Hammer
Big adjstable wrench
Other than that:
Good Allen keys
Pedal spanner
Big ring spanners (specific to the back wheel on your bike)
8 and 10mm ratchet spanners
And a Park Tools Rescue Tool for when out and about
https://www.parktool.com/product/rescue-tool-mtb-7?category=Multi-Tools
Pedal spanner? I tend to only buy pedals that have can be done by Allen key,
Wera torx set to match the Allen keys quality
What stand are u using, I find the parktools pcs10 has made me want to do more repairs .
A Rubber mallet can be usefull too
I like the pedros cassette tool, the decathlon one looks useless if you have a 10T cassette unfortunately.
Gutted.. this thread reminds me I ordered myself one of the SGS rolling suitcase tool chests for my bike tools from SGS via amazon, but they ended up being out of stock for months and stll aren’t back in 🙁
so still in the market for a recommendation if anyone has one.
(wanted the mobile one as for certain types of rides i bung the full toolbox in the boot)
tools wise..
depends what you do.
starting again i'd get - good cutters, good allens & torx, few good spanners and a park BB spanner tool (for threaded BB and if you have them centrelock disks), free hub removal tool & chainwhip, crank removal tool. shock pump, bleed kit for whatever brakes you use. plus a decent work stand.
not as essential but nice to have - quick link pliers. topeak pressure gauge.
thats what i've used most.
i've also got a cheapish bike tool set from last xmas which has flat spanners in, and have other various bits going back years. with my son soon to be on bikes i'll have use for a lot of that stuff. But I already had a lot of tools, I guess as a lot of us do over the years.
In my pack I carry a turbo morph pump (as I alternate between 29 and plus tyres), plus a camelback tool roll with a park multi tool, a knife/pliers type thing, a small bottle of chain lube. Some zip ties , a gear cable and a puncture repair kit. Plus a tube (depending which wheelset is on the bike).
And.. I use a large tub to carry dry clothes, helmet, glove etc I have a tool roll in there with some long allen keys, proper pliers and a few bits n bobs (mostly what was replaced by the park tool. Have more spare tubes in there, and keep a track pump and small folding bike stand in the car.
non standard stuff is always fun.
i have a big torque wrench as my crank (fas comet) uses cannondale hollowgram style rings and it mates withe special removal thing. also have a small torque wrench coming as a xmas pressie.
for my old bike tool to remove the DU bushings from the shock, and hope bleed kit and hope tool to replace caliper seals (bore tool?)
I have a secondary toolbox with old things then aren’t for my main bike
Slight hi-jack but I liked the look of those Wera allen keys, anyone know of a working ebay code?
I'm after some quality Allen keys too.
So those Wera's are top kit?
I’m after some quality Allen keys too.
So those Wera’s are top kit?
Just bought some after the above recommendation. Yup, quality kit and I got 10% off my order. Get them, you won't regret it.
Worth every penny
Ace cheers.
What's this about a discount then?
Ace cheers.
What’s this about a discount then?
I just followed the link^^^
I was offered 10% off if I paid by Paypal without the Pay after Delivery option. Suited me fine.
I paid £19.58.
Ordered them on Thursday afternoon, they were posted Friday and they came this morning.
Ahh cool. Cheers sarawak (& Tracey).
Darn it - missed it by trying to change my pay after delivery option (to save £2!)
Story of my life 🙂
I already had some quality hex/torx keys from Halfords, but couldn’t resist a little colour...
I see the point of a torque wrench, and have one, but disagree on spending loads on a top quality one unless you are running a bike shop/plan to continue spending money getting it regularly calibrated. After a year or so it won’t be much better than the cheapie if not recalibrated, and tbh their main utility for the average MTB’er is getting things in the right range (not silly overtight) so engineering accuracy is overkill.
Headset press and starnut setter kind of go together, if you wouldn’t use a headset press you’ll probably not use either.
You sound reasonably well equipped already, tbh... possibly replace some items you already have with nicer ones or look at stuff for suspension rebuilding or bearing service without resorting to big sockets?
Thor plastic faced hammer - for non marking persuasion
This is a nice torque wench comes with ends as well.
And as above depends on what you want/like to do maintenance wise? also type of bike you got, not point in getting a headset press when most bikes don't need one, just need to replace the cartridge bearing.
I would look at been able to replace/service main wear and tear items, so tools for
Chain
Cassette
Bottom bracket (threaded or press fit etc?)
Hubs, cup or cone or cartridge bearing press for Hub you got.
A decent plastic hammer is a game changer. That said I got by for years with a cheapie from machine mart. The Thor really scores if you want the speciality screw in endcaps - but I can’t think of any general bike DIY where stuff like copper faced hammers are a necessity!
Hammer - "rubber" mallet from poundland and a tube of glue for when the head slips (only needs doing once)
Decent hex keys - you have them now
Torque wrench - I'm a torque wrench evangelist but TBH getting one that is accurate at the 3-5Nm range a lot of screws (learn the difference!) seemingly require is going to cost megabucks. I'd go with a cheaper but decent one that will cover all bases, Teng 1492AGE covers 5-25Nm in 1/4 drive which is plenty.
1/4 drive socket set, Halfords (sale on)
That will do for now, buy the rest as you need it. Bearing pullers, cassette tool and whip etc.
If you want to spend a bit more on a torque wrench, I got this one. It comes with calibration certificate. I love mine.
Third time to edit and the link still doesn't show. Oh well, here's the old fashioned way
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Norbar-13285-Torque-Wrench/dp/B07H45QJKL/ref=pd_sbs_60_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00JEDOXN4&pd_rd_r=70ce2a3a-0305-11e9-ab4f-0333a0e7098d&pd_rd_w=Np7Gq&pd_rd_wg=eBMTI&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=APCNNACHJ027ZEEAF810&refRID=APCNNACHJ027ZEEAF810&th=1