chain ring nut tool alternative

have shiny a shiny new XT chainring sitting at home that i need to fit before i can go for a ride tonight. i don’t have a chain ring nut holder tool. what works best as a suitable alternative.

i’m sure through trial & error and skinned knuckles i could eventually find something, but i want to get out on my bike as soon as while the weathers good so thought i’d ask the STW hive mind

Curved end of a steel rule.

Or a massive flat screwdriver.

However, both are a bodge and a slip might round the nut a little. Once you get the right tool, you will think how did you manage without one.

ah, the list of things i don’t have appears to be growing – a chainring nut tool and a steel rule now

teaspoon handle, if you’re lucky

Spending money on the right tool is always worth it.
I view every skinned knuckle as a reminder of this 😉

Generally speaking, doing them up isn’t a problem, you can simply hold the nut with your finger and they bind up under friction as they tighten. Once they’re tightened they sometimes undo again without the proper tool, again binding enough to “crack” the thread.

I ‘m not a great fan of the system, as even with the tool you might not get all the purchase you need on the nut. On one chainset I suffered with a constant creak which was one or more of the bolts undoing enough to shift under pedalling. I eventually replaced them with some Onza (I think)**( EDIT- Nope, they were Aerozine) ones that had 5mm hex one side and torx star the other. Much, much easier to work with.

At this point the correct answer is to buy some of the hex key on both sides chain ring bolts that Truvativ make. The only thing truvativ make that is fit for purpose. Complete lack of faffage and you get to keep most of the skin on your knuckles.

Sometimes, just turning the bolt with the allen key/torq side is enough- friction or seizage can be enough to stop the inner bolt turning. Worth a try anyway though I expect it’ll work for 3 out of the 4 and the 4th will be immovable.

Yeah – I can’t remember the last time I actually have to burrow in the tool box for my chainring bolt tool, and I’ll have changed plenty of chainrings since I last had it out.

I tend to put chainring bolts on with threadlock, so usually need the chainring bolt tool everytime to remove them.

For me, it’s one of those, how-did-I-manage-without-one tool, so a few quid well spent.

Yup, dual Allen key bolts such as the Truvativ or Gamut ones are the future, means you can nip them up trailside with a 5 and a 6mm allen key rather than having to carry around a dedicated tool.

Well my local Halfords manage without! I went in to buy the tool and they had absolutely no idea what I was on about 😆

Oh jesus christ, not only did I not know these things existed the last time i battled with some stuck chain rings but, having just had a google for them I HAVE ONE IN THE BLOODY TOOL BOX.

arrrrrrrrrrrrgh

dual allen key bolts ordered so i dont have to go through this faff next time and tighten them up trailside if needs be

20p piece is my preferred (and I own two actual tools).

dual allen key bolts ordered so i dont have to go through this faff next time and tighten them up trailside if needs be

do you carry two multi tools?

A 2p in some vice grips would do the job.

Raid the kitchen draw for an old for bend two tines at the tip.

Crack on.

I find that once you get the threads engaged enough with a bit of wiggling you can get them to tighten up without the proper tool.

edit – I note this has already been pointed out!

I posted similar thing few months back.

At the end I found that no nut tool was required! Deore crankset, M612. The holes for the nuts on the chairings have two small slots along the diameter, to accept tiny extrusions on the nuts. This holds the nuts in place, all I needed was 5mm allen key.

Check your crankset/chainrings before you buy anything! 8)