Whats in a tool kit...

[Boon 51]

I think I need to get myself a good tool kit up and running.. I have seen many posts on the cost of a tool kits but none on what is in a tool kit..

What size if any sockets do you use?
What are the common size spanners you need? as I will buy some angled ratchet ones which I've heard mentioned in a post, do you need both?
Plus some roundhead allen keys look a good investment.
Tyre levers and puncture kit.
Chain lube, WD 40.. etc..
Obviously I will need some specialist tools but I dont know what as yet.. hopefully someone will guide me there..
So if you can add please do...

Cheers

 

[Zakalwe]

Torque wrench, mines a 1/4" drive from crc and got an Allen set for it from amazon for a tenner. A set of regular Allen keys. Pedal spanner. Chain whip. Wrench, adjustable plumbers style one. Chain tool. Cassette lockring. Bottom bracket tool for cup removal. Most other things are general tool fodder I think.

 

[Cubist]

Only buy single spanners that fit the few nuts/bolts on your bike.

If it's a modern one the list would be
Set of T handled hex wrenches, and smaller ones in case of tight spaces
Torx 20, 25 and 30 . My favourite ones are on 1/4 drive sockets.
Chainring tool
Cable cutter
Cone spanners (if you have loose bearing hubs)
Decent pair of pin nose pliers, decent pair of ordinary pliers
Chain whip and casette remover
Bottom bracket tool for whichever BB system you have
Grease gun (Bikehut do a great little one that uses a tube of their grease. Not the cheapest option, but very convenient)
10mm socket
10mm, 8mm and 7mm combination spanners if you have hydraulic brakes.

 

[smokeysmoo]

All the above, but it also depends what you plan to do yourself in terms of maintenance IMO.

If you're only going to tinker stick to T handle hex wrenches and lube, (I use chainsaw oil as 'bike' lubes are a rip off IMO).

If you're planning to go the whole hog over time changing BB and the like then build up everything else.

Always have a chain splitter though. I have a home one and one as part of a muti-tool I carry with me every ride, it might just save you a long walk one day.

 

[accountantpete]

I'd avoid the cheap tool kits - there's some stuff you will never use and other bits that are made of cheese (hex keys that round off, and chain splitters that bend etc etc).

Get the routine stuff from hardware shops as they are cheaper than cycling shops.

 

[Boon 51]

Torque wrench, mines a 1/4" drive from crc and got an Allen set for it from amazon for a tenner. A set of regular Allen keys. Pedal spanner. Chain whip. Wrench, adjustable plumbers style one. Chain tool. Cassette lockring. Bottom bracket tool for cup removal. Most other things are general tool fodder I think.

All of the bottom ones you have listed will be on my list...

 

[Boon 51]

OK I better add that my bike is a new Giant TCR 1, if that helps..

PS.. Sorry I'm later with replies but as you know southeren Spain was hit with flooding and are house was in one of the villages that took a hit and our village saw a 5ft wave of mud that went straight though the houses ours included and we were in the UK at the time... so after a two day drive back we opened the door to our house to find it covered in 9 inches of mud... and its taken 9 of us to clean it.
Now we our helping others to clear there houses so I will reply again tonight...
Christ what a mess...

 

[Boon 51]

I'd avoid the cheap tool kits - there's some stuff you will never use and other bits that are made of cheese (hex keys that round off, and chain splitters that bend etc etc).

Get the routine stuff from hardware shops as they are cheaper than cycling shops.

This is why I want to buy seperates as I have some of the tool already but cycle ones I will have to buy..

 

[Boon 51]

All the above, but it also depends what you plan to do yourself in terms of maintenance IMO.

If you're only going to tinker stick to T handle hex wrenches and lube, (I use chainsaw oil as 'bike' lubes are a rip off IMO).

If you're planning to go the whole hog over time changing BB and the like then build up everything else.

Always have a chain splitter though. I have a home one and one as part of a muti-tool I carry with me every ride, it might just save you a long walk one day.

So I have some bottles of Scottoil from my motorbike would that be OK.. slightly better then chainsaw oil.. just guessing.

 

[Zakalwe]

What kind of work do you plan to do? Tinker with stem height for instance, or strip and rebuild completely?

 

[Cubist]

So I have some bottles of Scottoil from my motorbike would that be OK.. slightly better then chainsaw oil.. just guessing.

By all means use Scottoil, especially as you have it left over, but I remember that the chain was permanently wet and sticky on my ZXR! I would advocate dripping it on a drop per roller, working the chain through the gears before wiping it all off with a rag, leaving the merest hint on the outer plates. It's sticky stuff and will be a dirt magnet.

 

[Boon 51]

What kind of work do you plan to do? Tinker with stem height for instance, or strip and rebuild completely?

Well as much as I can really, any thing I can't do there is a cycle shop in our village that should be able to sort it..

 

[Boon 51]

By all means use Scottoil, especially as you have it left over, but I remember that the chain was permanently wet and sticky on my ZXR! I would advocate dripping it on a drop per roller, working the chain through the gears before wiping it all off with a rag, leaving the merest hint on the outer plates. It's sticky stuff and will be a dirt magnet.

Your right it is sticky stuff so I might just buy some good oil and be done with it.. I dont want to make myself work as I have enough to do as it is... but a good point on being a dirt magnet..
PS.. Dont ever semi retire as you work harded than doing a full time job.

 

[Zakalwe]

Dry style chain lube like Finish Line Teflon is what I prefer. Pedro's bio-grease goes on any metal on metal components. PlusGas for loosening stuff and keeping STI's from jamming.

What frame and groupset are you running?

A look in my tool drawer shows up - lock ring tools, campy and shimano. Chain whip. Allen keys, screwdrivers, wrenches, Allen heads for torque wrench, socket set - all various sizes. Torque wrench - 4 to 24 Nm. Chain tool. Bottom bracket cup remover - for shimano (no campy, frame has built in cups). Adjustable wrench. Very sharp knife for cutting bar tape and electrical tape. Dremel. Emery papers. Files and rasps. Hammer. Hacksaws.

There's a few other things that I could add like a headset press, wheel trueing stand, dishing jig, work stand, BB facing tool etc but some of those are one use tools which you might as well take to the LBS to do, and I hang my bike from the shed roof by the stem and seat so a workstand isn't needed.

 

[Boon 51]

Dry style chain lube like Finish Line Teflon is what I prefer. Pedro's bio-grease goes on any metal on metal components. PlusGas for loosening stuff and keeping STI's from jamming.

What frame and groupset are you running?

A look in my tool drawer shows up - lock ring tools, campy and shimano. Chain whip. Allen keys, screwdrivers, wrenches, Allen heads for torque wrench, socket set - all various sizes. Torque wrench - 4 to 24 Nm. Chain tool. Bottom bracket cup remover - for shimano (no campy, frame has built in cups). Adjustable wrench. Very sharp knife for cutting bar tape and electrical tape. Dremel. Emery papers. Files and rasps. Hammer. Hacksaws.

There's a few other things that I could add like a headset press, wheel trueing stand, dishing jig, work stand, BB facing tool etc but some of those are one use tools which you might as well take to the LBS to do, and I hang my bike from the shed roof by the stem and seat so a workstand isn't needed.

I need a grease gun then and some round head allen keys, chain whip ... but how important is a Torque wrench as I will get one but do you use all the time or just on certain bits..
For example.. I would use a torque wrench if I was taking the forklegs out of the Honda Blackbird but I dont use it on a rear wheel as I can do that by feel...