41
votes
How do I open a master link in a chain?
I use a tool made out of a steel wire clotheshanger to squeeze the two pins together and open the link.
Also, that one hanger turned into three tools: the link opener, a tool to hold the ends of an ...
- 2,511
36
votes
Accepted
How do I open a master link in a chain?
When disconnected, a chain master link looks like this:
Opening this style requires pressure between the two pins, parallel to the length of the chain.
The proper tool is a special pair of pliers ...
- 129k
31
votes
Tool identification
From left to right:
Paint can lid opener
Combination Allen key
Third hand brake tool
Combination wrench
- 30.4k
28
votes
Accepted
What is this A-shaped plastic tool?
It is a valve core removal tool for presta valves. They can be used to replace a valve core or to temporarily remove the core when filling sealant through the valve (for tubeless tire setups).
- 3,086
25
votes
Accepted
How useful is a caliper for a home-based bike workshop?
Personally I find a caliper invaluable. Aside from seat posts and tubes, handlebar diameters are sometimes not quite as advertised and a caliper quickly reveals the truth!
A small 4" brass non-...
- 2,845
22
votes
Drive side part of bottom bracket is impossible to remove and has destroyed tool fitting
Unless your frame is Italian, or a handful of unlikely other makes, your bottom bracket is left-threaded on the drive side.
https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/bottom-bracket-removal-...
- 12.2k
18
votes
How do I open a master link in a chain?
It is possible to open the link without the "special tool" that Criggie's answer uses.
The trick is to get the chain loose/slack so you can fold it back on itself such that the master link is at ...
- 53.9k
18
votes
Accepted
Tool identification
The tool on the far left is potentially a tire spoon for removing a tire. I don't think that was its original use as it looks more like a tobacco can or possible a a patch adhesive lid tool. the ...
- 18.8k
18
votes
Accepted
What tool should I be using on this bottom bracket?
The proper tool to interface with that bottom bracket is one like this:
The pictured tool is a Park HCW-18 and runs about $15 USD.
There should also be a large nut that threads on top of the bottom ...
- 6,477
17
votes
Accepted
Remove rounded nuts/bolts from wheel on old bike
If the nuts are rounded they're stuffed. You want to remove the nuts but not damage other things, like axles.
I'll assume you're talking about axle nuts, but the same ideas apply to all nuts, bolts, ...
- 129k
17
votes
Accepted
What is this tool for? Likely something to do with cables?
That's a spoke wrench, for turning spoke nipples. The benefit of this design is that, as opposed to the kind with an arm coming out each side of a central body, the force from your fingers is spread ...
- 2,511
17
votes
Accepted
What is this blue mesh tube thing in the Rema TT 06 patch kit used for?
Looking at manufacturers site I found repair kit with 'mysterious' blue mesh listed as "Cartridge freeze protector".
It is supposed to be put over the cartridge (like in this picture) to prevent ...
- 779
16
votes
Accepted
Is there any way to remove a rear cassette WITHOUT a cassette wrench?
Use the correct tool. There really is no other good answer.
Bodges that could get the old one off, maybe
a hammer and cold chisel - likely to upset the threads on the freehub.
a grinder and cutoff ...
- 129k
16
votes
How useful is a caliper for a home-based bike workshop?
By far, caliper is the tool that I use the most in my toolbox, whether working with bikes or something else.
If you don't have a caliper, you can't make small-distance measurements. With bikes, such ...
- 20.5k
15
votes
How can I remove the stripped plastic cups of a bottom bracket?
FAG bottom brackets (BB) with plastic mounting rings are very common in Germany. The cartridge bottom bracket is really good and resilient, however the polyamide (PA) mounting rings are horrible.
As ...
- 9,808
15
votes
Accepted
How to use this third hand tool
They hold rim brake pads against the rim. When and whether this is useful has to do with both individual style and the brakes at hand, which is also to say the predominant ones in whatever locale or ...
- 87k
14
votes
Skewer removal without quick release
You have the wrong tool. Your cassette lockring removal tool has a long pin emerging from its centre, which would fit inside the axle of a QR compatible wheel, to keep the tool centred.
What you have ...
- 12.9k
14
votes
Is there any way to remove a rear cassette WITHOUT a cassette wrench?
You really will struggle to complete this task without the proper tools, I can't actually imagine how you would do it successfully. Criggie's answer helpfully details some good ways to go about ...
- 12.9k
13
votes
Accepted
Floor pump blowing wet air?
Yes, floor pumps can condense water in them. The water is from atmospheric water vapor. When the pump walls are colder than the surrounding air, the vapor can condense just like dew forms on leaves in ...
- 29.4k
13
votes
Accepted
What tool do I need in order to remove these pedals?
Depends on the pedal exactly how to remove, but there are two main methods.
You need to look closely at your pedals and see what they have. I've searched but its not visible on any website/review.
...
- 129k
13
votes
How to use this third hand tool
This isn't a very good image, but ...
Note that the loop-de-loop spring goes under the tire, between the spokes.
- 53.9k
13
votes
Tool Storage Corrosion Risk
If you prefer to have a "solid" separation rather than a "spray based" one (like WD40 or other spray), an easy solution is heat shrink tubing (normally used for electrical cables).
...
- 22.8k
12
votes
What 17 mm spanner for roadside repairs?
Roadside repairs are generally made with the smallest adjustable wrench that has enough jaw opening.
I have a 4" adjustable wrench that I carry always. It has, however, only 15mm jaw opening and ...
- 20.5k
11
votes
How do I open a master link in a chain?
There are other sorts of master link too. If you have one like this then the outer plate needs to be driven or levered off. The pliers above won't help.
This answer could do with more info, feel ...
- 129k
11
votes
Accepted
What is this tool?
As linac said: "It's a spacer to be inserted between the brake pads while the wheel is removed"
Andy P has explained why the spacer is needed.
There are a variety of spacers made to work for ...
- 22.9k
11
votes
Accepted
Do I need a chain breaker tool to install a new chain on my bicycle?
You need a chain tool. All drivetrains are different. The chainring size (or the big ring size if a 2x or 3x drivetrain), largest cog size, and chainstay length all influence the length of chain ...
- 35.2k
11
votes
Accepted
How can I keep from rounding my spoke nuts?
The main thing going wrong is the wheel keeps breaking spokes and needing repeat attention.
The life cycle of a wheel with a good initial build quality and good components is spokes virtually never ...
- 87k
11
votes
Accepted
Tool Storage Corrosion Risk
If you see them start to develop a tiny bit of surface rust some WD40 (or other spray-on oil) should be plenty enough to protect them. It’s not like they’ll suddenly develop critical amounts of rust ...
- 28.8k
10
votes
Accepted
Do crank arm pullers vary in sizes or there is just one size?
The main distinction is whether the puller is for square taper (and Powerspline) versus Octalink/ISIS. Among square taper crank pullers, there are some older ones made with nutted spindles in mind ...
- 87k
10
votes
Accepted
What tools do I absolutely need to replace brake cables?
Fourth hand cable stretcher - I think this is one tool I'll need to get, or something similar. I see Pedro's makes a version of it, I'm not sure if it's made as solidly or not. What should I look for ...
- 30.7k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible