Bike building tools

[Kcf3106]

I just got my new frame, and in all my newby-ness and optimism I thought that I could just use the wrenches and screwdrivers that I already had around the house to dissassemble my old bike and transfer the components to my new one. Well obviously I can't do this, so far I've found that I need a Cotterless crank removing tool and a chain rivet tool. I just wanted to check if there was anything else I might end up needing, to conserve trips to the bike shop.
Thanx
-KC

[Brizn]

Oh wow m'man...so many tools, so little time. I'm sure others will chime in...but I'll start by saying that yOu'll definitely need a set of Allen (hex) wrenches all sizes up to/including 10mm for your basic/daily-type repairs and adjustments. A good set of wire cutters with a crimper is also real' nice to have to make nice clean cable cuts.

Congrats on the frame!!

[yueq]

Assuming the frame has been prepared. In addition to what Brizn mentioned, you'll then need:

torque wrenchs with hex and torx bits
headset press (can be easily made from nuts bolts and washers)
crown race press (a PVC tube, really)
starnut installation tool
steering tube cutting tool (hacksaw and saw guide), file, sand paper, or Dremel rotating tool
bottom bracket tool (depending on what type BB you are getting)
various types of chemicals such as grease, lubes, degreaser, alcohol, etc.
bleeding tools if you are shortening the hydrolic brake lines
chain tool if you are getting a shimano chain
cassette lockring wrench, chain whip
a good workstand

If you are building the wheels also, there are truing stand, dishing tool, spoke wrench, spoke tension guage, etc.

and a lot patience

[EJensen]

I appreciate the note in the previous post that you can fashion a headset press from a bolt, a nut, and some washers, as well as PVC for a crown race press. Have you ever priced a Park headset press? Holy smokes!

Continuing on that theme, if you have an old bike chain you can do without a chainwhip. I made a loop in an old chain by passing a small bolt through two links and securing it with a nut. Now you just need to put the loop over a hook or some other solid protrusion from the wall (or floor, for that matter). Put the tire/rim up against the wall next to the hook, pass the chain around the biggest cog so that turning the cassette tool in the loosening direction would tend to pull the wheel toward the hook. This gives you the leverage against the cassette you need.

Bike part manufacturers want you to buy many specialized tools, but I am resisting going beyond a cassette tool, bottom bracket tool, and crank puller.

Good luck,

Eric

[fausto]

I appreciate the note in the previous post that you can fashion a headset press from a bolt, a nut, and some washers, as well as PVC for a crown race press. Have you ever priced a Park headset press? Holy smokes!


go over to mtbr forums, search "tool time" for it. speedhub_nate has a much better explaination than anyone here could (well, would) come up with - movies of installing a headset with his setup and all. What a park "professional" model buys you over a ghetto home-made press is speed - if it takes you half an hour to install a headset, big deal, you probably only install one every few years at most. A shop is paying by the hour, so having a tool that lets a mechanic install a headset (and do it right) in 5 minutes is valuable. Incidently, the new park "consumer" headset press is basically just a ghetto threaded rod/stack of washers press with fancy blue handles - costs $100 and works the same as a $3 bolt/nut/washers press. I guess even Park admit there is merit to this approach.

Setting the crown race: if you aren't using your old headset (and it's still in the frame), you can use it as a drift: brace the frame on somthing solid with the lower race facing up (frame is upside-down), slide the new crown race on the steerer of the new fork, slide that in the old head tube and hammer away on the underside of the crown - use a block of wood so you aren't hammering on the metal directly. It doesn't take much. I'm actually keeping an old half-frame (front triangle of a dual suspension frame) as a crown race setting jig.

Re cutting a steerer tube; I've done several, and I have to say with a metal steerer tube I think a pipe cutter is a better way than a guide and hacksaw.

You don't need a chain whip to install a cassette, only to remove so that might not needed immediately anyway. If you have a strong grip you can just lay a rag over the cassette and hold tight while turning the cassette tool to remove it.


Not sure where you are located, but I'd lend you tools you didn't feel like buying (I'd bet others would too).

[phuncadelic]

has a whole section on building the bike you might want to check it out or rent it.