I ____ to Fix My Bicycle: Tool time

I'm looking for someone to strip my sturmey archer right now....

Does anyone use those self-contained clip-on chain cleaning kit thingies?

I have one, used it once, haven't used it again. Was pretty shit. I didn't really have a good go at it though. I couldn't get it to clip on to the rear mech preoperly, I kind manually held it in place, it didn't really clean very well.

I use one, it works for me. Not that I actually clean my chain very often at all ever. As for "overhauling hubs"... what? Greasing parts - huh? Most I ever do is an occasional chain oil and random wd-40 squirts everywhere. Oh, I grease bolts. That's it. Am I bad?

Quite a lot of modern components are sealed and don't need overhauling (can't be overhauled) the manufacturers just expect you to buy new ones. Older onesan can be stripped down, cleaned, regreased, bearings replaced, etc.

True, true. Everything on my bikes is made with loose bearings only, so I have to get in there every -- well, I should do it every few months. Haha.

Ledge, can I gently suggest using your chain oil on the places where you're putting WD-40 now? Because the latter is NOT a lubricant -- I know they say it is, but it's not good enough for bikes -- it's too thin and breaks down fast under friction. Use it for cleaning, then dry parts well and apply your other oil instead.

Oh hey look me again. I have a sealed bb on my bike now. If I'm going to buy the uh spline tool thing to take it apart with to replace the cartridge, are the tools one-size-fits-all or do I need to know exactly what size is on there?

The thing is I want to order tools now so when I take it apart I have everything--don't want to get halfway and realize I'm lacking something.

Never mind that I don't know what kind of cartridge to buy to put in there, I don't even know how to tell WHAT it is.

Count the splines - it's most likely a 20-spline shimano-type bb cartridge, which means the basic bb tool is what you want for removal and replacement, no complications - none of the shell width, threading, spindle-taper stuff should make a diff.

If splines ≠ 20, it's beyond my (v v basic) understanding, ask an expert.

Okay so I need: allen key sized for the crank bolts, a crank puller, and the 20-tooth spline tool. And I need to know what bb to replace it with.

yup, that sounds right. the old one will almost certainly have identifying info on it, but you'd have to get it out to see that properly iirc.

I could get it out and put it back and at least clean & regrease and write down the brand/model. So I guess I'll spring for the tools first.

I don't even want to think about what it's going to cost because judging from online forums if I don't get the exact thing that's there now, I'm headed deep into chainline measurement/alignment territory and I don't know shit about that shit.

Your plan sounds right. It's what I'd do.

If it's square taper, you should be able to find an affordable match - if you can't find the exact model, I think the basic variables are shell width, threading, spindle length + spindle taper (JIS or ISO). It feels complicated, but it is manageable.

outboard uber alles

internally splined BBs seem so arcane to me now (let alone loz's beloved cotters; a friend stopped by my house recently and wanted my advice on a loose cottered crank and i had no fucking idea what the problem was, so i said 'hit it with this hammer'. it worked.)

it's occurred to me recently that all the money i've spent on parts/maintenance should've just been spent on tools. i am a terrible mechanic, but at least i would've learned something. srsly: a G on repairs in the last five years (nb i get a mid-winter overhaul annually), probs. i have the equivalent to an ak-37 now, plus stand, but all those tools would've been a whole lot more useful years ago

Fuck, my 3-spd is STILL in pieces because I never got that drive-side crank apart and I know anyone I take it to now is going to want to shoot me.

"we don't do that here"

I'm embarrassed to even watch them r-their-de at me.

xp to be honest it really helped that I hardly needed any specialized tools to start? For older bikes, you can get everything you need (or at least a make-shift solution) at yr average decently stocked hardware store.

by which you mean "a hammer"

but yeah, the simplicity of old stuff is nice. tho i think that modern mountain bikes (more than fusty ol road bikes) have done a lot to standardize things. a tri-tool can do a whole lot these days. and almost all adjustments can be handled by a single set of allens: shifter/levers, brakes, stem/headset, pedals (installation and removal), cinch bolts on cranks (outboard), seat/post, derailleurs (mounting). funny splined wrench, headset press, truing stand, spoke wrenches, philips-head (several), stand, "small parts (including cable/housing)", yr set.

i'm leaving out tools for hub work because that shit is alchemy to me

^^^ gbx's shopping list

otm about allen keys but pedals without spanner grip are disgusting, savage.

eggbeaters are allen only!!!

I've got some Candies that are, but my regular ones ain't!

weird, mine are

they old-ish

apparently only the chrome ones take a spanner. whhhhhhyyyyyyyyyy.

I bought a really good basic toolkit from rei for ~$50 which had all these tools in. Presumably it would duplicate a bunch you have but it was cheaper than buying odds and ends. Plus it had things like a cable stretcher which I'd never considered I needed but it turns out to be super useful.

There's a bunch on eBay as well.