Tools

Zinn
Zinn's Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance. A really useful guide to do everything. Recommendation: Goto dvd-coupon website and use barnes and noble coupon at bn.com.
Barnett
Barnett's Bicycle Manual. The $150 definitive bike shop manual. Recommendation: The Specialized and the Barnett site post different chapters on the web. Collect them !
Torque Wrench
Wrench with indicator to show force applied to bolt. Two common types the needle indicator and the dial indicator.
Recommendation: get the needle indicator because it can be recalibrated by simply bending the needle to point to zero. Need a 3/8" Craftsman wrench that reads in foot pounds, available at Sears for about $20. This is used for tightening the crankbolts. You will also need a 3/8" wrench that reads in inch pounds, available at jcwhitney for about $9. Used for tightening stem bolts.
Hex Allen Wrenches
L shaped hexagonal wrenches in metric sizes 2mm to 10 mm. Also 3/8" socket drive allen wrenches, these are used with the torque wrench.
Spoke Wrench
Special wrench that fits over the spoke nipple. Need to match wrench with spoke nipples. Included with spline drive nipples.
Truing Stand
Stand to hold wheel during wheel building. Measures lateral, radial trueness and dishing.
Recommendation: Performance Spin Doctor or Minura Truing stand. Feeler gauges on left and right side, reasonably priced. Minura stand includes T alignment gauge. Alignment gauge isn't really necessary though, you can use the front wheel once it is true.
Cordless drill
Handy to convert presta rims to schraeder. Recommend Makita 7.2 volt cordless drill. Controllable speed, keyless chuck Lots of power, long charge.
Spoke nipple bit
Take a Phillips #2 screwdriver bit, (one of those hex bits) and file off two of the opposing ribs. You just made yourself a $12 spoke nipple driver.
Bike Repair Stand
Stand to hold bike upright while you are working on it. I got the Park CS1.
Chain whip
Bar with chain attached to grip on rear cogs to remove rear cassette. I got the Park SR1.
Lockring tool
Tool to turn lockring on rear cassette. I got the Park FR5.
Crankarm puller
Tool to pull crank arm off bottom bracket. I got the Park CWP5. It allows you use a separate wrench for more leverage and realign for a better working angle when the wrench is close to the crankarm.
Bottom bracket tool
Tool to turn bottom bracket mounting rings. I got the Phil Wood bb tool. The Shimano tool doesn't work with the Phil Wood bottom bracket.
Alien multitool
Allen keys, wrench set and tire levers combined into one compact gizmo.
Tire levers
Pry bars to coax tire onto wheel rim. I got the Park blue plastic levers.
Tube cutter
Rotary cutter mounted in a clamp. Look in the plumbing section of Home Depot. Get one that can cut at least 1 1/4" diameter pipe.
Cable cutter
Although a little more expensive, the Shimano cable cutter for SIS derailleur cables and brake cables is the best. Mtbr.com reports alot of people not happy with the Park cutter.
Chain Tool
Tool to remove chain links. I bought the Park CT 5.
Rubber mallet
Reduces risk of damage to finish by errant blow. Didn't think of buying one but they were on sale for $1.89.
Chain ring nut wrench
Tool to hold chain ring nut from turning while wrenching the chain ring allen bolt. Some people use a large screwdriver but I find it incredibly awkward to torque the bolts while gripping onto a large screwdriver. I bought the Park CNW1.
 
Tip:Check if your tool is too wide to seat properly on the chainring nut. If so, file the side of the tool until it seats well within the nut groove. Wrap some tape around the handle to prevent scratching the crank finish.
 
 
Back to Build