Home Mechanic Tool List: Advanced
Maintaining your own bike can be fun, but it can also be confusing at times to know which tools you will need to perform the service you want. Below are a series of recommended tool lists for general maintenance of the average road or off-road bike. Attempt to develop two sets of tools: one for inside a seat bag for on-the-trail/road use, and another set for home use.
Advanced Tool List
Because these lists are for “average” bikes, your particular bike may need more, less, or slightly different tools than what is listed here. For example, if your bike has a “threadless” headset, you will not need the headset wrench listed for threaded headsets. When in doubt, bring your bike to a professional bike shop and ask about a specific procedure or tool. Better yet, sign up for the Park Tool School, a class in bicycle maintenance at your local shop.
There are several sources of tools. Non-bicycle specific tools are usually available at better hardware stores, automotive shops, tool stores, and some department stores. Check with your local bike shop for specialty bicycle tools. When a Park Tool is our recommendation, the tool number is given. There are some cases where there may be more than one Park Tool that will work—in these cases, we will recommend either the most common or the simplest tool.
The advanced home mechanic is tooled to fix most any bike a friend brings them. You can replace most all parts as well as cut and install new fork. You can pull bearings apart and service them. You want to be able to perform what bike shops typically call a “complete overhaul.” You will be working on your friends bikes as well as your own, so you may need more equipment than just for your bikes.
| Tool Description | Park Tool Product | More Information |
|---|---|---|
| Bicycle Repair Stand | See Portable, Shop, and Wall-Mount Repair Stands | The stand forms the base of any good shop |
| Socket and Bit set | SBS-1.2 | 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10mm hex bits T25, T30 and T40 Torx® style bits 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15mm and 1″ sockets |
| Torque Wrench | Park Tool Options | For use on small threads, use TW-5.2 For larger thread and larger torques, use TW-6.2 |
| 3/8″ ratchet handle | Hardware store | Speeds installation and removal |
| Handlebar Holder | HBH-2 or HBH-3 | Keeps bars from swinging around while bike is in stand |
| Hex Wrench Set—hand set | AWS-10 | 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm |
| Hex Wrench Set—individual L-shaped | HXS-1.2 | 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10mm with holder |
| Screwdriver Set | SD-SET | 3/16″ and 1/4″ Straight Blade plus cross tip #0 and #2 (“Phillips”) |
| Hammer | HMR-4 | Double ended, steel and plastic |
| Combination Wrenches | MW-SET.2, MWR-SET | Box end with open end on other side. 6mm thru 17mm |
| 12″ Adjustable Wrench | PAW-12 | |
| Seal Pick | UP-SET | Includes a set of three picks each with magnet |
| Magnetic Parts Bowl | MB-1 | Useful during overhauls to hold small parts |
| Digital Caliper | DC-2 |
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| Tape Measure | RR-12.2 |
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| Needle nose pliers | NP-6 | |
| Side cutting pliers | SP-7 | |
| Snap ring pliers | RP-SET.2 | For C-clip removal |
| Hack saw | SAW-1 | Purchase also extra blades at hardware store in 32tpi |
| Carbon fiber cutting blades | CSB-1 | “Grit” blade of tungsten steel |
| Shop scissors | SZR-1 | |
| Air compressor | Hardware store | Minimum 3.5 hp, 30 gallon tank, get larger if running air tools. Also get air line, quick couplers and air gun |
| Air compressor head (air chuck) | INF-2 | |
| Files-various types and sizes | Hardware store | Flat mill bastard, rat tail, etc. |
| Hand tap—M10 | TAP-10 | Tap for 10mm x 1mm threads, such a derailleur hanger cleaning/repairing |
| Hand tap—M5 | TAP-8 | Tap for 5mm x 0.8mm threads, such as water bottle bosses |
| Tap handle | TH-1, TH-2 | |
| BOTTOM BRACKET TOOLS | ||
| Lockring Wrench | HCW-5 | Fits most all lockring types for adjustable square BB’s |
| Adjustable Cup Tool, hinged, heavy duty | SPA-6 or SPA-1 | Adjustable type bottom brackets |
| Fixed Cup Tool, 36mm | HCW-4 | Adjustable type bottom bracket fixed cups |
| Cartridge BB Tool | BBT-22 | Fits 20 tooth internal spline cups such as on Shimano® cartridge bottom brackets, FSA®, and Race Face® ISIS Drive bottom brackets |
| Bottom bracket external bottom bracket cup wrench | BBT-9 | Threaded cups 44mm in diameter and 16 notches: Shimano® Hollowtech II®, Campagnolo®, Race Face®, FSA®, SRAM®, and more |
| Bottom bracket tool for torque wrench | BBT-79.3 | As needed—Threaded cups 46 mm in diameter and 12 notches: Race Face® Cinch™, Rotor® BSA30, Zipp® Vuma™, Hawk Racing™ BB3086™, and more |
| Bottom bracket tool for torque wrench | BBT-69.4 | Threaded cups 44 mm in diameter and 16 notches: Shimano® Hollowtech II®, Campagnolo®, Race Face®, FSA®, SRAM®, and more |
| Bottom bracket tool for torque wrench | BBT-59.3 | As needed—Shimano® threaded cups 41 mm in diameter and 16 notches: Shimano® BBR60 (Ultegra® 11-speed 6800 series) |
| Bottom bracket tool for torque wrench | BBT-49.3 | Threaded cups 39mm in diameter and 16 notches: Shimano® XTR® BB93, Dura-Ace® BB9000, Token® |
| Bottom bracket tool - 8 notch cartridge cups | BBT-18 | For ISIS Drive models using 8 ring notches |
| HEADSET TOOLS | ||
| Headset lower race wrench (32 & 36mm) | HCW-15 | For threaded steering columns |
| Crown race setter | CRS-1 | Installs fork crown races. For oversized columns, add the CRS-15.2 |
| Headset press | HHP-3 | Also used for press fit bottom brackets |
| Headset race remover | RT-1 | For oversized headsets, see the RT-2 |
| Crown race remover | CRP-2 | Pulls off the fork crown race |
| Steering column saw guide | SG-6 | Good for 1″ and 1-1/8″. For oversized columns, see the SG-7.2. |
| Star nut installer | TNS-4 | For 1-1/8″ and 1″ columns |
| HUB TOOLS | ||
| Axle vise | AV-1 and/or AV-5 | Holds axles without damaging threads |
| Cone wrenches | SCW-SET.3 | 13mm thru 28mm excepting 25 and 27mm. |
| WHEEL AND TIRE TOOLS | ||
| Truing stand | TS-2.3 | Speed repair of wheels |
| Truing stand base | TSB-2.2 | Tilting base for truing stand |
| Spoke tension meter | TM-1 | Check tension on spokes |
| Wheel dishing tool | WAG-4 | Also see optional WAG-5 |
| Spoke wrenches | Spoke Wrenches | Many possible sizes and options. Select smallest size that fits. |
| Tire levers | Tire Levers | Levers vary in design and fit |
| Patch kit | GP-2, VP-1 | VP-1 has glue in tube; GP-2 has pre-glued patches |
| Floor pump | Floor Pumps | Pump head fits both presta and schrader |
| Spoke ruler | SBC-1 | Measures spoke length and ball bearings sizes |
| DRIVETRAIN TOOLS | ||
| Pedal wrench | PW-3 or PW-4 | PW-3 has 15 & 9/16″; PW-4 has 15mm only |
| Crankarm pullers | CWP-7, CCP-22, or CCP-44 | CCP-44 is for round, splined ISIS Drive® or Shimano® Octalink only CCP-22 is for square type spindle only CWP-7 works with either square or round spindles |
| Cassette/freewheel removers | FR-5.2G for the common cassette lockring | For the common threaded freewheel — FR-1.3 |
| Sprocket removal tool (Chain Whip) | Needed to hold cassette while lockring is removed | |
| Chain rivet extractor | CT-3.2 | Compatible with 10 speed chain systems |
| Chain masterlink pliers | MLP-1.2 | Speeds working on masterlinks for derailleur chain |
| Chain wear checker | CC-2 or CC-3.2 | Check chain for wear |
| Drivetrain cleaning kit | Includes CM-5.3 Cyclone Chain Cleaner, GSC-1 Gear Brush, and CB-4 Bio ChainBrite™ fluid | |
| Derailleur alignment gauge | DAG-2.2 | Aligns rear derailleur hangers |
| BRAKE TOOLS | ||
| Fourth hand tool | BT-2 | Tightens cable slack by pulling cable |
| Cable cutters | CN-10 | Cuts both cable and housing |
| Hydraulic brake piston press | PP-1.2 | |
| 8 mm metric flare wrench | MWF-3 | For hydraulic line compression nuts |
Miscellaneous Parts and Supplies
| Part / Supply | More Information |
|---|---|
| Shop apron | SA-1, SA-3 |
| Bearing grease | PPL-1 — Safe for suspension elastomers, ceramic bearings, and carbon fiber |
| Bicycle cleaning kit | BCB-4.2 |
| Dummy hub for bike washing | DH-1 |
| Chain lubrication | CL-1.2 |
| Thread locking adhesives | TLR-1 |
| Degreaser for chain and parts | CB-4 Bio ChainBrite™ |
| Hand cleaner | Available from grocery and hardware stores |
| Alcohol | For cleaning brake surfaces and press fits |
| Polisher (glass cleaner) | For cleaning frames |
| Spare tubes | Purchase to fit your tire size and valve type |
| Spare gear cables | Use only high quality cables |
| Zip ties | Various sizes and colors |
| Rags | Lots and lots of cotton rags |
