Adjustable Wrench recommendations

Posted on
  • Can anyone recommend an adjustable wrench for general bike maintenance? I'm imagining they may all be much of a muchness, but I'm interested to know if there's any are particularly useful for bike maintenance. Ta.

  • They are generally much of a shitness. Jaws wiggle, nuts get rounded.

    Buy proper spanners.

  • If you're going adjustable, Bahco are good. I'd also take a punt on anything made by C.K. or snap on tools.

    They're only really useful (I find) for big jobs, so get one with a long handle. Like DJ says a full set of dedicated ones is much better especially for smaller or fiddly things. Much less likely to round off bolt edges

    Edit - and useful to save weight and space like Stevo_com says

  • There are loads of good brands out there at a vast range of prices. Also, size is another factor. Smaller ones will extend out to fit a 15mm track nut for example but will obviously give you less leverage than a larger adjustable.

    I have a couple of 4" ones that are handy to throw in a bag without too much weight or space and I am usually able to get enough torque to loosen and redo track nuts. Also handy for other random nuts on a bike with older components where not everything is allen bolts.

    I would say get a small one for carrying around and a larger 10" or 12" for keeping at home for the less delicate stuff. The large one can even be used in a pinch for straightening steel derailleur hangers and brakes discs. I use mine mostly to operate either a cassette lockring tool or BB tool.

    No recommendation on brand but take a look in a hardware shop and look for ones with little to no play in the sliding jaw and thumb wheel. This will reduce the risk of rounding off nuts.

  • Don't be tempted by fancy marketing on ones that offer a locking mechanism similar to vice grips or serrated jaws. They are trying to cram two tools into one and that never usually adds up to the sum of the two parts. Nice, well machined flat jaws will be far better for regular nuts. If you end up needing to remove rounded nuts, get some dedicated vice grips. In fact, if you don't have them, get them anyway.

  • I know, I know. I just want one spanner instead of a set which will get lost in the chaos of my life. There's no adjustable spanners that have a locking mechanism once you've set the jaws?

  • ^^ well that answers my question before I'd even asked it. Cheers!

  • Post a reply
    • Bold
    • Italics
    • Link
    • Image
    • List
    • Quote
    • code
    • Preview
About

Adjustable Wrench recommendations

Posted by Avatar for Tonts @Tonts

Actions