You are reading a single comment by @DFP and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@DFP
All tools used innappropriately can be ruined quite quickly. It might sound basic, but when using tools you need to be patient and precise. Like chain tools for example, I have been using the same one from a lidl multi tool set for around 5 years now.
It is weak enough to be destroyed on the first go if you are not careful, if things do not line up correctly, do not force it or things will get bent/broken.
D.Cheese recommended real pedal spanners in preference to normal spanners. I sort of disagree. Most average pedal spanners are made of flat pressed steel which is thinner than a regular spanner. This means the extra leverage of the greater length can simple lead to damaging the faces of the opening, potentially so badly its becomes unusable.
Professional pedal spanners are durable, but the extra leverage is only useful for removing siezed pedals. For installation a normal spanner is more than enough to get pedals on super tight. It is also made out of forged steel like a pro pedal spanner so is super strong & durable. Ive always used normal spanners, even when working in shops as a bike mechanic, to me they are much better.
You have to learn the right careful technique like this for everything, a headset spanner can mangle the edges of an aluminium headset. Any cone spanner can be easily destroyed by innappropriate use.
Basically, I dont thinks its about purchasing expensive specialised tools to guarantee sucessful bike mechanicery. But more so, learning how to use them.