Testing the Cheapest Bike Tools on AliExpress - Part One
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 เม.ย. 2024
- In a perfect world, everyone should own high-quality bicycle tools. However, in the real world, a broke college student needing to replace their cassette doesn’t always have the means to pay a bike shop. Thus, the $3 cassette tool enters the scene.
We know that anything of good quality carries a premium and, at a point, a diminishing return, especially depending on the volume of use it gets. Today, we'll see if the opposite is true with some of the cheapest tools I could find.
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"It's possible a child made these tools" 💀💀
never change seth
😂😂😂😂
Sadly, Park Tools are most likely made by the same child. They are made in China as well but to a higher standard. However, probably not a 5 to 10 times higher standard. Got to pay for that name and all the promotions they run.
First laugh of the day goes to Seth
@@explorenakedpark tool is great tho, I have only a couple of tools from them one being a Allen multi tool that’s lasted me years and I’ve had a crankbrothers I’ve had for 3 months and already rusting and torx piece is already twisted, park tool hasn’t rusted and I keep them in the same area
I was sipping coffee when he said that and almost spit it on the screen 😂😂😂
The child labor joke was appreciated lol
The affordable tools that you CAN recommend follow-up is a really good idea. I look forward to that.
Harbor freight everything.
Buy your last tool first. Buy crap and you’ll never stop buying. How much are your knuckles worth?
Same. Maybe do a couple of videos with a $100 toolkit and a $200 toolkit etc then a comparison video.
There's a lot of variation in what you can find on sites like AliExpress -- the combination sets tend to be pretty poor, but you can usually find tools on their own that are higher quality for not much more.
Brands that I've found make pretty consistently good stuff:
ZTTO
Toopre
LeBycle
Muqzi
@@kellybrooks9899 I agree completely, and that's how I operate but it would be an interesting video.
You know what I love, a channel that goes backwards. Gets big, gets real sponsors, and then in like "Nope" I'm going back to Ali Express bike part reviews.
Rock on.
Seth is a real one through an through... He really gives the people what they want
11:20 this tool actually works. You need to put the chain in the middle opening and tight the end cap screw to hold it in place. I have one of this and it gets the job done.
Thank you!!! You’re the first person in the comments I’ve seen mention this, and it drove me absolutely insane. I’ve used a near identical tool across 3 different bikes with zero issue.
11:22 I bought the exact same tool probably 9 years ago as a broke 15 yo and I'm still using them. Yes 11 and 12 chains dont fit onto the 'fence' but you can still push the joint with the pin in there and it will work flawless. dont forget to wiggle out the old pin off the tool otherwise you cant push another one out of a chain.
I love that you kept that allen wrench launching into your face in there, safety glasses my friend. You never know when a tool will become a balistic missle heat seeking your eye😂
Yep, that's why I almost always wear at least some glasses when doing anything with a lot of force on a bike
Good news is TH-cam has tutorial videos on what to do if you puncture an eye..
100% this. I foolishly decided to use some cheap chinesium wire flush cutters on... brake cable...! one of the blades launched itself at my face and missed my eyeball by 5mm. literally hit my lower eyelid. so yeah. don't cut steel cable with cutters rated for copper! in fact just expect catastrophic failure with any tools made from purest chinesium
I just set my hands in the direction they need to go in and turn away lol. Either that or I break out the 8ft breaker bar we've got in the shop. (Cross threaded bb's aren't so bad with infinite leverage)
Keeping a firm grip on the tool and pulling instead of just pressing on it helps, too.
The small bit of wire to hook on the chain is one of those insignificant tools that actually helps so much in a bike shop when you’re doing it dozens of times in a row. We made ours out of bits of broken spokes.
Same, I saw a bike mechanic with a piece of spoke bent into that shape almost 10 years ago. I made my own and it has come in handy so many times. Now with clutched MTB derailleurs I don’t have to use it as much.
My Pedro's chain wear checker has one of those built in, it is super handy.
I have a bike tool that came with one too. Had it for years before I knew what it was for.
I have that Topeak chain breaker that also ha
s that little piece of wire in. It is handy, but it is in my on bike toolkit, so I never bother grabbing that when working on the bike at home. Including it with the master link tool makes more sense, although it is disappointing that it seems the tool doesn't store the wire on the tool like the topeak chainbreaker does. So I'd be afraid to lose it into the depths of my toolbox. That little tool would be perfect if it had that feature.
E: now that I mention it: Topeak Super Chain tool it's called. It's not super cheap, but also not super expensive. Might be a candidate for the actual recommended budget tools list.
You can use a lace from your shoes in a pinch.
My recommendation is to buy cheap tools at first and then replace the ones that wear out or break/cause damage with something higher quality. There is no need for most people to have Park Tool everything. Having said that, if you can afford high quality tools it makes working on the bike much more enjoyable. That means you'll probably work on your bike more, which in turn might lead to less money spent on parts and/or shop repairs. I would always recommend getting the highest quality allen/hex wrenches you can afford though right out of the gate, as these will be by far your most used tool on any modern bike.
Absolutely agreed on all points! If I find myself using a tool enough to upgrade to the /luxury/ version of it, i usually demote the affordable and still working tool to a spare toolset or travel kit. Donating to a tool library or making a toolkit for a friend or neighbor are my go-tos with larger tools or anything I genuinely no longer need.
With very few exceptions, selling common off-the-shelf tools doesn't even pay for the effort of listing them and answering messages, but the small roll of basic hand tools you give away might get a friend back on their bike or to the grocery store or in the park with their kids. Local bike co-ops and cycling groups also do giveaways and community events and are always thankful for tools and parts in good shape!
I don't understand why people always recommend to buy cheap tools first and then replace when they are broken or worn out.
At least for common hand tools that doesn't make much sense to me.
Take the $8 hex-wrenches for example. You can buy decent ones for around $25.
With the cheap ones at best you will be able to use them for a few years and hopefully they wont break just at the moment when you need them the most. And then you go out and buy a decent set. So now you spend $33, had to pause your project and wasted quite a bit of time.
Or you could just spend $25 right now and have a tool that will outlast you.
The only time where it makes sense to buy cheap tools is when you just want to use them once or twice (or when you can't afford anything else right now). But non of the tools in this video fall into that category.
So you want to spend more money on tools than you actually need to if you buy some more expensive quality tools to begin with? What you are saying is that everyone should use twice as much money on tools for their bike instead of buying tools that never break. Remember that it is cheaper in long term to buy good quality tools that lasts for many years or even decades compared to buying cheap useless tools that are broken after you have used it one or two times.
Some tools you only need once or twice. I agree with the original comment about buying cheap rarely used tools. If you wear them out using them more than you thought you would, definitely upgrade.
But something like allens or whatever that would be used frequently, definitely spend some money the first time. I’m sure most of us have experienced the pain caused by cheap allens.
(Even though the expensive one is what almost cost our boy Seth an eyeball) 👁️ 😉
@@jasonbecker4997 No i dont use my bike tools only one or two times, i use all the tools i have for fixing my bikes frequently and therefore i buy good quality tools to begin with instead of buying crappy low quality tools that dont work or is broken after its being used one or two times. I have never bought cheap tools for working on my car or my bikes and i will never do it either just because i dont waste my money on low quality tools. Of course you can do it but it will be more expensive to buy low quality tools first and then upgrade to tools that actually works and have good quality to begin with.
When I bought my first "modern" (compared to what I had in the 90s) MTB 2 years ago, I had no idea of axle standards. So I ended up getting one with QR standard, without knowing what kind of a deadend this is - I only noticed when I looked for more sturdy wheels with QR and microspline hub during black friday, I found basically no BF deals and generally only a very limited (and quite pricey, in particular compared to the price of the bike) selection.
In particular in the ~1000€ bike price segment, QR is still surprisingly common.
I can only warn any beginner to not get distracted by high spec components (like XT derailleur and brakes in my case) and rather buy a more future proof frame and fork with boost standard.
The "bike hand" tools on Amazon and AliExpress have worked great for myself so far.
Yes!!!! bike hand is the only affordable tool I will buy. Pedros 1st choice, park tool 2nd, and bike hand 3rd. Also that little cap on the crank puller on the end of the video isn't for spinning. It's needed for removing shimano hallow tech I cranks.
Especially recommend the bike hand chain break tool since the park tool and pedros are 2x as expensive
Yup, one up! Built and maintained couple of bikes with these over time
Would not recommend the chain tool. I had 2, first broke after 3 uses, second bent after the first use and I ended up returning it. They have some okay tools but especially if ur gonna work on your bike a lot you might as well bite the bullet and get park tools which will cost about 2-3 times as much and last 100 times as long (as well as be able to be resold when you quit biking or die)
Also the bike hand stand is mediocre at best… mine started to bend after only a few uses. Just get used park tool stuff if ur tryna save!
Love the foreshadowing,
” Tighten the thing with no limit “
10mm said: You sure about that? 🤣🤣
It's great to know you acknowledge that not everyone can afford a 1000$ tool set from the big blue, for home mechanics! It is a good idea to share what would be a good, affordable solution! Keep going!
I think grinding the end of the bottom bracket tool would create more contact surface and it would be more usable. Great video, thank you!
Use a bolt on the bb cup tool. Use it to attach it to the spindle. M8x1 I think. Then the tool wont slip out. Use an open end or adjustable wrench on the tool's wrench flats. This is how to get out really tight or stuck BBs.
The best way to fix that tool:
put the tool on a ratchet wrench: Use a bench grinder to grind the rounded end. Use the ratchet direction which allows the tool to spin while grinding it. This will get you an square end. Grind until its clean a sharp edge. You could also use a belt sander or an angle grinder.
Ive done this with Park's bb tools also. The bigger one also used for center lock rotors, and it functions far more securely this way.
The crankpuller would work far better if you just grease all threads/moving parts.
The chain tools might work fine up to a 8 or 9 speed chain, which is ok for a tuneup of an old bike.
The bottom bracket tool should have come with a screw to fix it through the center.
Please test some of the bike-multitools out there!
I have run through a lot of cheapo chain tools, they all eventually break or bend. Park is the the only way to go here, it's literally a night and day difference.
With cheap bb tools or really stuck bbs you can get a bolt and run it through the tool into the bb spindle. It will lock the tool in place while getting it free. Then you take the bolt out and finish getting the cup out.
also, i think some bb cups (thinking old raceface) used a tapered edge on the tool.
The Toopre BB tool on AliExpress looks like it's available with a bolt for that (similar to the Pedro's version) -- haven't specifically used that tool from them, but their other stuff has worked pretty well.
Most of those BB tools come with a bolt. I'm surprised the one he got didn't.
You can also take that tool to a belt sander, and square off the teeth.
Most older/cheap chain breakers have driving pins that are too big for 11 and now 12 speed chains. I figured this out when the 7 year old multitool in my bag was too big to fit my 11 speed XTR/Ultegra chain.
Makes sense honestly considering that the time when they were made, and also the people that probably buy them, won't be having a 11/12 speed bike anyway.
Thank you. These videos are important to any new cycling enthusiasts young or old. Love your channel👍
Man, I know it has nothing to do with the content, but I wanna say your videos helped me A LOT with my depression and autistic crysis. Thank you very much, you seem to be a very nice person.
the hole in the back of the crank puller is actually a 14mm "socket", you can put a wrench on it and use it to remove the bolts that push the crank into the spindle, this is really useful because usually you cant get an adjustable wrench to fit there.
Here in the UK we have a store called Halfords that can be found in most towns/ cities. They do a 43pc bike tool kit for £60 ($74) that is pretty comprehensive and good quality. Only thing it doesn't come with is the pliers, but they sell those separately for not a lot of money.
Be pretty easy to save that amount in repair shop visits by having the basic tools and giving it a go yourself!
Just don’t buy the bikes from there…
Why not?
@@michaelgharib9028horrible at assembling bikes and aftercare plus not the best quality bikes. Decathlon is the best budget brand for bikes here or local bike shops if you can afford it.
Halfords advanced range are amazing tools for the money. Not tried their bike stuff yet though.
Crivit "makes" (I think there multiple brands selling the same set from the same factory) I think a similar toolset for LIDL that is similar quality, as you described it, in a handy hard plastic case. I've seen similar cases in other supermarkets on temporary deals too, though I can only vouch for the crivit.
@@RenAiguI bought that set a couple of weeks ago, seems alright but I haven’t had to use it in anger yet
being a mechanic and having a ton of tools, i enjoy all sorts of tool videos. I own tools from all over the place, from cheap stuff from the jungle site to high dollar tool truck stuff, for me it boils down to how much i will use a tool and if a higher dollar more precise tool is needed. some stuff its worth spending the coin and getting a good quality tool, other things, the cheap stuff does just fine, especially for occasional use.
Thanks for this video, I hope this becomes a series!
I really like RISK cycleing parts and tools. They sell all kinds of things.
[RISK , Professional Bicycle Part (Riding Is My Life)].
I got a tapered headset, titanium skewer through axle quick release,
Headset removal tool, master link pliers, internal cable housing kit, titanium M6 bolts for rear disc break rotor, titanium valve caps. I think that's all I have from that company. I like RISK 👍. Need to get more to test out. Like there ceramic jockey wheels, sealed bearing in ceramic/ Titanium/ Steel. Good luck.❤
I bought a pair of park tools cable cutters, and they are the nicest tool I own.
Yes, they are nicer than my air compressor.
bike cable cutters is one tool when you just must splurge on something good, even if everything tou have is cheap crap from
Ali.
They also last for ever. I build 40 bikes a week and still have the same pair for 5 years now and still cut amazing
A good bypass cable cutter that actually cuts rather than smash is a GAME CHANGER. Must buy.
Same here, I hardly ever need it but when you do it makes the whole process so much easier and enjoyable, now the magnetic cable router that I cuss at a lot. 🤣
Yep I hvae a balance of tools from some good Park tool cutters and Spline tool (BB, cassette) to having some Bikehand items and some no name stuff, like head set press.
With a bunch of these cheap tools and your videos, I offered free bike repair on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait during my 2017-18 deployment. I fixed a lot of bikes, even completely building a few wheels. All they had was cheap Dynacraft stuff there or some other big box bikes, so I was kept busy.... but learned a lot and honed my skills. I still have and use the tools!!! Oh, but I found you can never go cheap on a chain breaker like that. They all break. Name brand or nothing. I've been a professional mechanic (auto/hvy truck) for 30 years, so I do know what you're talking about with good tools though.
Hey Seth,
You're the realist Guy out there! Testing cheap stuff, but when it's succsesfull you say it! Every young Kid out there who's shredding, going trough some struggle while finding the right Tool for the right Part of the Rig!
I Wish i had you're Vids Back in Time ❤
Much Love ! Keep up the good Work
Greetz from Germany ❤
Its hilarious that every tool in the "$30" set of tools looks EXACTLY the same as mine
I felt something alike. A chain breaker I even bought at an actual bike shop.
I certainly recognised the chain tool and now I'm slightly concerned it's too big for my 12 speed chain. I've never tried since I bought it for my old 8x3 set.
@KindredBrujah I used it with some success. Some have a counter screw. The pin bends fairly easily and can't be ordered as a spare part. When I have to crack a chain, I make sure it's well lubricated, wd40 or something thin. That helps some.
but made of softer metal
Grind that bottom bracket bearing tool down so the teeth at the end are not sloped anymore
But with what? A machine that's ten times as much as all the products in the video?
@@sp00n You can grind it down on a concrete paving stone or something.
Also you can buy a cheap angle grinder for like 20$.
@@sp00n almost everyone has angle grinder, or even hand saw
6::53 Just makes my day! And the squeaky sound makes it complete I'm in tears 😂
The risk chain pliers is a life saver. Had mine for years and it works every time.
10:20 Seth suddenly with blood on his chin, bleeding being very realistic for an amateur working with the cheapest possible tools! He is here with us
And he got the cut while using the more expensive tools.
Check the wrenches for size!!
If they are off they will round your bolts, especially the small ones
Also if they're too soft, they will wear our really quickly and can then damage the bolts
The bane of my existence when I was 12 working on bmx bikes in my garage was cutting brake cables and housings, so amazed years later when I got a job at a shop and cut them like butter with park cutters
I spent 8 years as a community bike shop mechanic. I showed my husband how to rebuild his wheels when we started dating. If you have a good community bine shop near you, they can be awesome for knowledge and tool access. Also one of my best moments was smacking myself in the face with a pedal when I was checking for a squeak.
My strategy across many different hobbies is to have a quality set of tools in the garage I use most of the time, but then prefer to have a "good enough' version in a travel kit, truck kit, etc. but such that I can keep those kits intact and where they belong vs. needing to remember to move a tool from one kit to another. I have a decent set of needle nose pliers (either standalone or part of a Leatherman style multitool) in my shop, on my ADV motorcycle, in my dirt bike pack, in my truck, in my bike pack, kitchen (😆), etc.
that's gotta hurt
Tinitigan ko
Nilapitan ko
Miss ko na siya.
Thanks for the great budget tools demo. Very helpful.
Flip bike has been a godsend for useful and detailed fixing tips!
Also, possible to dramatically improve most of these tools with a needle file and some sandpaper. Not ideal but great on a budget.
Seth can we get a nonsense guide to bike service! Just a brief overview of what you need to do to your bike to keep in ideal riding condition please and thanks :)
Park has a basic chain tool that's very cheap and very functional. It's not NICE to use, but it works and doesn't destroy itself. Park has a few tools that are actually affordable and worth buying (including that BB tool and the cassette sockets). A lot of the basics like pliers and Allen keys can be bought MUCH cheaper though.
Also: many of the park tools can last you a lifetime. The cheap tools last maybe a few years, at most 10-20. Often they break when using them for the third time
Best way for a absolute beginner to get a chain tool is to buy a reputable multitool from a good company that includes one, and use that.
The best cheap chain tool is a motorcycle chain tool with a resized pin - it’s 2-3 USD online. It’s damn heavy, though.
REALISTIC, even park tools wear over time, so they don't last forver
The basic park chain tool CT-5? Thats $29, not worth it when you can get the proper CT-3.2 for $10 more.
Seems like its actually on sale for less than the CT-5 right now.
I upgraded the drivetrain on a Giant Talon 3, which was the only bike that I could find during the plague, from a 2x8 to a 1x12 using reasonably priced tools from Amazon. Even my repair stand came from there. They worked flawlessly and I did not have to spend Park Tool money. Oh, and the bike is now my favourite bike, after it got a new Rockshox fork. I ride it more often than my Trek Fuel EX8, which finally showed up after waiting 8 months and my Giant TCR road bike. It would have been easier to pay someone to do the work for me, but I learned a lot and am now totally proficient at looking after my own bikes and will tackle any job.
I definitely enjoyed this video. I really like the idea of testing tools and sharing that info.
I have THE EXACT tool set and ive sucsessfuly dissassembled and assembled two of my bikes twice with them
The tools are rough ngl but they did their job
crivit bike tool kit is really good for price
I've been putting some of these tools in and out of my AliExpress cart over the last month and hesitated to buy any of these. I now know what to do, thank you very much, Seth!
The $8 Oumers chain tool has worked really well for me, used it on everything from 9 speed to 12 speed chains.
hey Seth i love your content hope you are doing well i have a bike that i am looking to get rid of and i was wondering if u knew what i should do
Look for a local bike co-op or a local shop may know best
I have every single one of these and they work extremely well and they are priced for the south east asian market so for americans it is "cheap"
but here in SEA the prices are more or less average for a bike tool
If I have to choose one though the hex wrenches are by far my favourite among all these
Same, though I personally think the square tapered bottom bracket remover and chain link remover is extremely garbage. Unless the square bottom bracket isn't seized, it won't work properly just because it wobbles everytime. The chain link remover is so hard to use cause it's so small lmao
@@andrei-desu5361 The BB tool usually comes with a bolt to keep it in place.
@@iddra1868 ah... thats why lol idk why mine doesn't have one
@@andrei-desu5361 Yeah... I'd also recommend a box wrench because it can't slip. I found a BB tool, cassette and crank puller and I can use all 3 with one 24mm wrench.
I have that exact Crank puller and bottom bracket tool. I used them to attach my aliexpress bottom bracket and cranks.
Everything did their jobs just fine and held up years.
I love these kind of videos can you please keep making more
When removing and installing external bottom brackets you should you a plastic bag over it to prevent scratching. Also on square taper it's so worth it to get a long bolt that threads into the spindle and use washer and spacers to hold it in place to you Crack it open
Yeah, but on tools that have sharp jagged edges on the teeth it's going to take some pretty thick plastic to keep the tool from just cutting right through
I've learned that what my Dad told me as a kid was accurate. Don't waste your money on cheap tools. So . . . I never have. I own good quality tools. My kids will inherit good quality tools. They may not know what they're for or how to use them, but . . .
Realistically if your kids are the type to use tools, they'll have had their own for 30 years before it comes time to inherit anything.
@@mitrovarr Definitely. My Dad has a toolbox full of decent tools, but I've already bought most of what I need (also all decent tools).
Very true
My dad was so cheap,if the doctors told him both my kidneys needed to be replaced, he would have argued "HE DON'T NEED BOTH,HE DON'T EVEN DRINK YET". He always bought the best coat,and boots he could for us without question and always swore that for the price of stitches,you could have bought a quality tool twice.
My dad told me the same thing. He was not much of a mechanic though. Had more of the farmer I can do it with what I have mentally.
Now he borrows my tools. 😅
Love this type of content, Seth!
First chain tool works but you need to backup the black screw to adjust the width.
You must be the only bike mechanic without a Knipex pliers wrench! Adjustable wrenches are so 2008 ;)
That's what my tools look like lol, they do fine for doing home repairs
I have those same masterlink pliers in the toolkit I take on rides. Super compact and they do exactly what they're supposed to. Nice to learn what that piece of wire is for, though - I've never realized its purpose previously. Great video as always, Seth!
It is worth mentioning that for the needle nose pliers you can probably get a very good quality set of non mtn bike specific pliers for less than the park tool one if your on a budget
@00:50 We didn't want to know that, but OK😅
Never buy cheap tools,they'll never last...Ha!
Crankpullers used to all be like that before Park came along, we used to stick a penny in there to stop the spindle going into the threrads. So glad tool shave come along way since those days.
I have most of these and I can recommend the bb/chain whip for removing centerlock rotors if you want to have bloody palms again and as a plus you'll have a thin threaded ring on your hub 👍👍
i have a question is it the whole mtb industry or only your channel dead i mean previously you used to gain lot and lots of views in a single day but these days its not the same
Whole cycling industry became extremely popular during lockdown, for obvious reasons, and has now experienced a massive drop off in popularity with the return of life to normal, again, for obvious reasons.
A few of us will be here watching & riding bikes no matter what though ;)
@@FendergodGamingidk I feel like that child labor joke was pretty edgy 😄
So many variables: TH-cam algorithms change often, TH-cam home feed and suggestions to viewers change constantly, there are so many creators out there now (bunch of supply), and this is Seth's second channel (which still gets very good viewership). Just because every video isn't a million plus views doesn't mean a channel is dead. 100k+ views on every video is incredible, plus that happens on both channels. The consistency of viewership is a big deal in conjunction with the longevity of this channel. He's still in the game after years and that's super respectable
It was literally posted 30 minutes ago...
This is also his secondary channel. Not sure if you’re comparing the primary channel to the secondary?
A GOOD tool is not cheap and a cheap tool is not good.
Hi Seth. on 10:58 for the chain breaker tool, you have to put the chain closer to the side of the moving handle that screws inward. It can break chains from 9 speed onwards. It would be difficult to break a 6-7-8 speed chain.
As a user of that cheap chain tool for years, actually it would work better after the fences has broken. Yes, I had to align it manually but now there is no width restriction. To keep the chain from moving, I pinch it using the screw-with-a-hole from the opposite side of the pin pusher. The pin can then still slide through the hole. It is not perfect, but good enough for once in a while chain length adjustment. We can even unscrew the handle, align it with the main body to reduce its foot print, hold everything with rubber band, and voila, now I can take it with me on my EDC kit without taking up much space.
As for the masterlink plier, there is actually an even cheaper one. It is basically thick metal wire bent in a particular way, kind of like the letter V with some curves in the middle of the arms. I got it for half a dollar. No moving parts (does flex count as moving?). Lightest and cheapest tool I ever have.
Lovin your videos man I'm so into tinkering bikes now!
I have many budget tools for my tool kit and most work just ok. However, as I've gotten older and more experienced as a bike maintainer (mainly for my bikes and friend's bikes when they need assistance), I have selectively replaced certain tools. Love the content, it's all super entertaining and extremely helpful!! Can I suggest a future video (How to properly size a chain for MTB, Gravel, 1X, 2X, etc.)?
Aside from the chain cutter and long nose pliers, I have the same set of tools... I've been using them years now...
the crank puller will not damaged the thread as the metal stud (although not spinning) only presses on the head of the spindle and since most spindle are steel, it will have minimal or no damage at all. Also, the socket part (the stainless one) of the tools is for older bikes that still uses nuts, unlike the newer ones that uses hex bolts...
The bottom bracket tool is a little finicky, I also hurt myself using it for I think 3 to 4 times now, what I did is I asked a friend to grind the head, grinding it until the "curved" end is removed. BTW that curved part are for very old bottom brackets, I was able to use it on a very old Shimano road bike frame (and yes Shimano make bike frames before)...
The bottom bracket wrench (the one with chain whip), it will work but it will really scratch the notches, as for the handle, wrap a tire tube around its handle several times, I doesn't hurt any more, and if i need a little leverage, I have a steel pipe the I insert on the end and use it for leverage...
The master link pliers, I only used the one similar to what KMC has, the one the can be used as tire levers... It's more cheaper that the one you showed, as for the wires, I have one made of big paper clips.
As for the chain cutters, I didn't have any luck on cheaper dedicated chain tool, what I'm using is the one from my Multi Tool, the brand is "Super 8" and I have that multi tool for almost 10yrs now, and surprisingly it can cut 11speeds chains.
Cassette Lock Ring Tool + Chain whip combo, works like a charm, however, I once damaged a 11s cassette by using that chain whip, so be careful
as the pliers, I don't use anything that didn't come from a reputable brand, invest with your side cutters and pliers, good ones last for years... I have Stanley Side Cutter and Nicholson Long Nose pliers handed over to me by my father...
If you're on a budget or if Park Tools is not available on your place (like here our place) and you're only option is Ali Express or Shopee, look for tools from Risk and ZTTO, they're the one i could really recommend...
Fantastic video. Informative ❤
my advice to anyone who would use the crank puller is to grease up the threads nicely and the end cap too so it won't be as hard to use
I actually have the first chain tool mentioned where he had issues getting it to fit. It worked great on my 12 spd. Also it did not bend like the second one did.
I had it too and the fin snapped off :)
I love those kind of videos, my man
2:23 always pull tools toward you, never push away
These are the types of videos I enjoy from you.
If you're in the US, you might also want to pick up a Harbor Freight generic tool kit as well. I picked up a SAE/Metric allen t-handle set for around $20
5:23 use the half inch drive with a low powered impact. Much harder to misalign when you are not muscling it.
I have had the Crank brothers multi tool for 3 years and 30,000 km. I can fix pretty much everything and lasted tons of abuse. Really great chain break also. I would say start there.
I have a set of the Risk link splitters. I keep them in my saddle bag. Perfect size for occasional use. Actually a lot of the Risk stuff is good. Their sealed bearing headsets are very good.
This is a great overview - I can recommend using chain whip for car oil filter removal - they often much better quality than cheap one for bicycles. Also from the tools I'd recommend to buy more expensive are hex keys (I've destroyed many bolts with cheap ones), and nipple key (but that has already been mentioned - especially for aluminium nipples). At some point I've bought a Park Tool cutter for both wires and housings and my life got much better :) - they do make a difference.
To stop the BB getting chewed up you can put a small metal disc in first. There is a risk of it getting caught or damaging the threads, but reasonably low. You also have to make sure it's thin enough that you're still getting lots of thread engagement on the crank arm.
An undersized bolt where the head fits the hole reasonably well can work, particularly if you can get one with a thin head. This was a dodgy trick I used when Octalink first came out and I only had a square taper crank puller. It's entirely possibly a US nickel would work - I've got a vague memory of using an Australian 5 cent coin.
When i first started repairing and building my bike tools I used Bike Hand tools. A simple tool kit can cost between $40 and $70. Its good for using just to repair a bike but not good enough for continuos usage like in a repair shop where the tools would be used on multiple bikes daily.
i used to have one of those aliexpress crank pullers.
however i didnt use it for a crank that was just put back on, it was a 4 or so year old bike and it simpy destroyed itself while i was using it.
after that i bought a little better quality with a spinning cap and it worked amazing.
I left similar comment on 2ndlife bikes.. I actually use an IKEA ratchet that takes only goes one way but is an open drive so you flip the handle.. used with expensive impact bits.. an IKEA 6mm allen with phillips on long side.. RD one and done tool..
hanger alignment tool.
the BB square taper tool with threaded piece.. the crank tool that has the box wrench that is the same size as axle nuts..
I use the housing cutter to cut chains.. if you find the HG pin.. cut there.. old masterlinks same. Missing links are all I use.. I notice the all the same.. I never plan on replacing HG pins so no Shimano pin tool.
bearing remover and installers..
bleed kit
Good video sir. Regarding the limk remover, I must say the one on the Blackburn multitool I have has worked great for over four years now, and numerous chain links removed.
I would def love to see a similar video, but of actual mtb components, hubs, cranks, rims
love the vids been watching for a few years
My only bike specific tools are amazon special cassette lock socket, crank bolt socket and bb tool. Chain whip? I just use an length of old chain and vice grips.
The hex in the end of the crank tool is for the older style 14mm crank bolts
I have almost that same colorful hex wrench set packed into my on-bike tool kit that goes with me everywhere. I think having a few decent smaller cheap tools like this to carry on a ride is worth way more than the multi-tools in terms of usability. The multi tools are compact, but they suck to use if you really break something and need some more full size options. That's where the ali-express army of cheap and compact tools really shine. They aren't the greatest, but they do the job at a larger size and easier handling than a multi-tool will, which to me makes trailside repairs much easier and more enjoyable when you're not fighting with the tools.
I usually put the cheap BB tool on a belt sander to grind off the excessive chamfer.
also, I always wrap the hollowtech BB in reasonably thick plastic before I push the thin steel types of BB wrench into them.
We need a part 2!
When I was setting up a MTB tool box, harbor freight was my best friend. You can get a lot of good basic stuff there for cheap, and then you can get your other more specific stuff elsewhere.
I don't own a bike or anything bike related but love watching your content 👍🏽
Good on you Seth for leaving the slipping off the crank nut. Holy ! That park tools steel has flex and elastic ness 😂
I love that he’s showing off that you can do this with cheap tools but something he needs to add with that as a PB blaster. I’ve taken a part a lot of old bikes and I’ve messed up a lot of bikes because they get rusty parts of been on there for 30 years, they don’t wanna come off.
Enjoyed this, thanks
Risk make some genuinely good, high quality tools, my favourites are the fork seal driver, and internal routing kit, they are amazing.