Bicycle tools
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Various bicycle tools have evolved over the years into specialized
tool A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...
s for working on a
bicycle A bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A is called a cyclist, or bicyclist. Bic ...
. Modern bicycle shops will stock a large number of tools for working on different bicycle parts. This work can be performed by a trained
bicycle mechanic A bicycle mechanic or bike mechanic is a mechanic who can perform a wide range of repairs on bicycles. Bicycle mechanics can be employed in various types of stores, ranging from large department stores to small local bike shops; cycling teams, or ...
, or for simple tasks, by the bicycle owner.


Various tools by function


Hub, wheel and tire tools

*'' Tire levers'' are used for removing the tires from the rim, often for changing the inner tube. Plastic levers are more prone to breakage; metal ones damage
tubes Tube or tubes may refer to: * ''Tube'' (2003 film), a 2003 Korean film * ''The Tube'' (TV series), a music related TV series by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom * "Tubes" (Peter Dale), performer on the Soccer AM television show * Tube (band), a ...
,
tire A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a Rim (wheel), wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide Traction (engineering), t ...
s, or rims more easily. *'' Cone wrenches (spanners)'' are needed to dismantle and adjust the hub bearings. *''
Spoke wrench A spoke wrench or spoke key is a small wrench or tool used to adjust the tension in the spokes of a tension-spoked wheel. A spoke wrench is sometimes called a nipple wrench, as it is the spoke nipple – not the spoke – that is turned in the pr ...
es'' are used for tensioning the spokes of a wheel. *''Tensiometer'' or ''spoke tension meter'' is used to measure the tension in spokes. *''Tire bead jack'' can be used to install tires on rims, especially when the tire-rim combination is tight. *''Dishing gauge'' is used to measure the dish of a wheel. *'' Wheel truing stand'' is used to measure the side to side and radial trueness of a wheel's rim and facilitate truing it. * ''
Bicycle pump A bicycle pump is a type of positive-displacement air pump specifically designed for inflating bicycle tires. It has a connection or adapter for use with one or both of the two most common types of valves used on bicycles, Schrader or Pre ...
'' * ''
Pressure gauge Pressure measurement is the measurement of an applied force by a fluid ( liquid or gas) on a surface. Pressure is typically measured in units of force per unit of surface area. Many techniques have been developed for the measurement of pres ...
'' is used to measure tire
pressure Pressure (symbol: ''p'' or ''P'') is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. Gauge pressure (also spelled ''gage'' pressure)The preferred spelling varies by country and e ...
. Image:TyreLevers.jpg, Metal and plastic tire levers Image:Spokey1.jpg, ''Spokey'' spoke key Image:ConeWrenches.jpg, Double-ended cone wrenches, 13 & 16 mm Image:Bike pump.jpg, Bicycle floor pump File:Wiki Single arm model.jpg, One-armed wheel truing stand


Brake tools

*''Cable and housing cutters'' *''Cable tensioning tool'' to hold the cables taut while being worked on. *''Third hand'' or ''3rd hand'' to clamp brake pads against rim during adjustment. *''Rotor truing tool''


Headset tools

*A ''head tube facing and reaming tool'' is a hand tool used to machine the head tube to ensure proper headset bearing alignment. The tool usually has separate and interchangeable facing and reaming cutters which can vary widely with the many available headset standards. *A ''headset bearing cup press'' is a bearing press specifically for pressing in interference-fit headset cups. Most sets come with special stepped bushings or adapters that contact the cups, preventing damage when installed. Some manufacturers (e.g. Chris King) also make proprietary adapters for installing their headsets. *A ''crown race cutting tool'' is a hand tool used to counter-ream and face the base of the fork column at the crown (known as the crown race seat). A single cutter is usually used to perform both aspects of the cutting operation. The process machines the crown race seat to be precisely perpendicular to the steering column axis and of the correct press-fit diameter, ensuring the proper alignment of the crown race with the lower headset bearing. *A ''crown race puller or remover'' is a tool for removing the headset crown race. There are various tools on the market ranging from less than US$100 to several hundreds of dollars. *''Headset wrenches'' are oversized (32 – 36 mm) flat open-end wrenches for tightening headset cups and lock nuts on threaded steering tubes. May be designed to contact 7 sides of an 8 sided (8-point) lock nut. *'' Hex (or Allen) keys'' are used on the various hex bolts on the stem, top cap and handlebars. *A ''star-nut setter'' is used to set the star-nut inside of the fork steering column for threadless headsets.


Drivetrain and bottom bracket tools

*A ''
chain tool 400px, A typical chain tool. With a chain placed on the central sprocket, the screw is turned until a pin is pushed from the linkage A chain tool is a small mechanical device used to "break" a bicycle chain in such a way that it can be mended wi ...
'' or ''chain splitter'' is used to 'break' a chain, in order to remove it from a bike or remove links, or to put a chain back together. *A ''crank extractor'' is used to pull the crank off the
bottom bracket The bottom bracket on a bicycle connects the crankset (chainset) to the bicycle and allows the crankset to rotate freely. It contains a spindle to which the crankset attaches, and the bearings that allow the spindle and crankset to rotate. The ...
spindle. *A ''pedal wrench'' removes the
pedals A pedal (from the Latin '' pes'' ''pedis'', "foot") is a lever designed to be operated by foot and may refer to: Computers and other equipment * Footmouse, a foot-operated computer mouse * In medical transcription, a pedal is used to control ...
from the bicycle. *A ''pin spanner'' is used on adjustable bottom brackets. Note that
ISIS Drive The bottom bracket on a bicycle connects the crankset (chainset) to the bicycle and allows the crankset to rotate freely. It contains a spindle to which the crankset attaches, and the bearings that allow the spindle and crankset to rotate. The ...
bottom brackets need a separate tool (see below). *Various ''bottom bracket wrenches'' for newer bottom bracket styles such as internally splined by ISIS, Shimano, FSA, and RaceFace; externally notched by Campagnolo Veloce, Xenon, Mirage, Daytona and Avanti; and externally mounted by Shimano. *''Bottom bracket taps and facing tools'' are tools used to tap or chase the threads in the bottom bracket shell and face the outside edges, respectively. A single tool will sometimes handle both jobs, and is usually suitable for light-duty bicycle shop use. A separate tap set and facing set is usually employed by frame builders where more robust tooling that is more frequently used is needed. Both tap sets and facing sets are intended for frame finishing work after welding and/or brazing, as the frame tubes tend to deform slightly after this process, and for cleaning out any weld splatter or paint from the bottom bracket threads. A bottom bracket tap set can be used to tap new threads in a blank bottom bracket shell (or for converting ISO threads to larger diameter Italian), but the process is slow and cumbersome and especially hard on most taps, particularly when tapping hard aluminum or titanium. *A ''
chain whip The chain whip, also known as the soft whip, is a weapon used in some Chinese martial arts, particularly traditional Chinese disciplines, in addition to modern and traditional wushu. It consists of several metal rods, which are joined end-to-e ...
'' and ''lock-ring remover'' are used for changing derailleur cassettes. *Various ''freewheel remover''s are used to unscrew
freewheel Freewheel mechanism In mechanical or automotive engineering, a freewheel or overrunning clutch is a device in a transmission that disengages the driveshaft from the driven shaft when the driven shaft rotates faster than the driveshaft. An ...
s from hubs. *A ''derailleur alignment gauge'' is used to straighten rear derailleur hangers.


Stands

Various devices have been devised to hold a bike still to facilitate working on it, and they are usually called stands. Stands may clamp a part of the bike, such as the
seatpost A bicycle seatpost, seatpin, saddlepole, saddle pillar, or saddle pin is a tube that extends upwards from the bicycle frame to the saddle. The amount that it extends out of the frame can usually be adjusted, and there is usually a mark that indic ...
, seat tube, or top tube, or they may simply provide a surface on which a bike may rest with some security. Stands, especially those that clamp to a bike, may provide a means of repositioning a bike in order to conveniently locate the part being worked on. Stands may be either portable (light and collapsible) or fixed (heavy, usually attached to the floor, wall, or bench). Care must be taken with clamping stands not to clamp a part of the bike that cannot withstand the pressure, such as the tubes of many aluminum or carbon fiber frames, and non-cylindrical carbon fiber seatposts. An auxiliary bracket may be used with clamping stands to keep the steering mechanism from rotating.


See also

* Howard C. Hawkins *
Lezyne Lezyne is a manufacturer of bicycle accessories headquartered in Reno, Nevada, with offices in San Luis Obispo, Berlin and Taichung. The company is known for producing pumps, multi-tools, saddle bags, bottle cages, lights and GPS cyclocompu ...
*
Outline of cycling :''This article is an outline about the activity of cycling. For an outline about bicycles themselves, see outline of bicycles.'' :The following ''outline'' is provided as an overview of, as well as a topical guide to cycling: Cycling, al ...
*
Park Tool Park Tool Company is an American designer, manufacturer and marketer of bicycle tools and equipment for both professional and home bicycle mechanics. It manufactures about 4000 products that range from wheel truing stands to hex wrenches. Hist ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bicycle Tools