park tools

[goldie lox]

i know most of you probably have never heard, hear or use them. they are for cyclist, they are excellent tools. the company is top notch. i just wanted to give the company a good review. they have always done me right when i have had a problem with a tool. i just broke a pin for a chain tool and called to order a replacement, they are sending me one free of charge. i'm sure if any one here is into cycling you know the quality of their tools.

btw they are a usa company and made in st paul mn

 

[GT6cops]

I'll echo goldie lox. Park tools are excellent, never needed any service from the company because they have never broken.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I don't believe all park tools are USA. Just what I think I remember!

Website link: http://www.parktool.com/

 

[90zcar]

I had a couple park tools when I rode bmx. Most of their tools were made for the cycling world but I either adapted them or made them work


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rlitman]

A lot of us here are familiar with the brand. I'm very particular to my bbq set from them.

 

[Thumper]

The ones I have did the job with no problems.

 

[bonneyman]

Have several Park tools. All of them were great except the cog remover wrench. Kinda flimsy - doesn't take too much force to bend it.

 

[4xdog]

There are other threads here discussing Park Tools, and bike tools in general.

Some of Park's tools are super -- their pro wheelbuilding stand, for example. Others are very "meh", including IMO their chain tool. I much, much prefer the Shimano pro version -- the one with the hardwood handles.

Their customer service is indeed good.

 

[Commendatore]

Park makes a lot of good stuff, but there is no substitute for Pedro's vice whip

 

[beatcad]

yeah, when it comes to bicycle specific tools park is damn good.
campy of course is better.
sun works good ....i've been using a pedal wrench for years that has searved me well, but it's getting sloppy. only cause i use it w/ a mallet to break free 50 to 80 year old pedals. yeah, i need a new one i can i can beat on.

 

[davidless]

Yup, got them in my basement bike work shop, my other passion, racing bikes to keep fit. Very reasonably priced too

David

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

We have several.. My son got the tool box / kit for a Xmas many years ago.. I have the thin / cone wrench set (and use them not only there but for all thin wrench situations). I also have their deluxe bike repair stand, and the stool pictured below..

All made in USA from what I can tell.. but I haven't purchased anything from them lately so maybe they've done some off shoring.

Dennis

 

[Notgrownup]

I've got a couple of they tools..amongst other brands... Seems well made, does the job on my CAAD.

 

[kgorman]

Lots of Park tools, love them all. Awesome stuff.

 

[bonneyman]

FYI, this company seems to make some outstanding bike tools as well. No personal experience, just from the looks of them.

http://www.bicycleresearchtools.com/

 

[K-Dog]

Been a BMXer most of my life so I have a few PARK tools. They are good quality.

 

[Farmall450]

Holy cow, I looked up "buy now" for local stores and there are MANY local bike shops that I've never heard of that stock them. A bit pricey tho.

 

[goldie lox]

its all in what you want and find value in. i woulnt spend 5000 on a toolbox but i have bought a bike for 5000.

 

[olytdi]

I have some Park bike tools and have found them more than adequate for the home wrencher. I recently needed a 10mm flare nut wrench and oddly enough, Park makes one. I just couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger though given how few makes are reliable and stout with regard to flare nut wrenches.

I almost bought it though!

 

[Stuart in MN]

The founder of Park Tools passed away recently: http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_27405034/twin-cities-bike-repair-pioneer-howard-hawkins-dies

 

[Tool.Nerd]

My only complaint with Park Tools is that some of their tools, like the cog remover (HCW-17 I think) is just a sheet of plate steel cut into the required shape. Would be nice to have a handle or something, or some surface to exert force against the tool that is not 1/8" thick...

On the other hand, probably not that bad of an issue considering it'd be quite a bit more complex to build this tool in such a way that you wouldn't bust your knuckle against every spoke as you used it, so considering how infrequently it is used, I don't think it's a problem.

Have you ever used anything from Lezyne? I like their bike tools as well.

 

[goldie lox]

i've used tools from almost all the bike companies. i am very brand loyal. i find a company that i like then i stick with them.

that chain pin that broke, which is no big deal cause they alway break, was mailed on thursday and i received two of them and a spare plunger on saturday. to me, cant beat that service

 

[e30bradley]

I have tons of park tools.. I used to ride everywhere on a bicycle. I mean 30 miles to a friends house and then back. Not anymore but I just moved the tools the other day.

 

[AJH]

I was a full time bicycle tech for many years before getting into diesel. I've worked in shops and traveled internationally as a race mechanic. Park is great in that they're always developing products to service ever-evolving bike systems. But since this is the Garage Journal, check out the Snap-On of bicycle tools!
http://www.abbeybiketools.com
Their chain whip and "crombie" cassette lockring tools are now found in mechanics' arsenals at every major event worldwide.

The stuff comes with a Snap-On price tag to match, but it is truly a pleasure to work with.

 

[Tool.Nerd]

Ever so slightly off-topic, but the preset torque wrenches from Bontrager are quite nice. I noticed they have a slight disadvantage: they have the allen key epoxied into the tip so you have to buy a different tool for every size faster you need to torque down...

Turns out, about 5 seconds of exposure with a butane torch to the very tip of the allen bit will loosen the epoxy and let you slide it right out (with pliers). Now you have a preset torque wrench you can use with any hex bit.

 

[4xdog]

...I much, much prefer the Shimano pro version -- the one with the hardwood handles...

Here's an image of one of those -- the Shimano TL-CN32. Not that easy to find (in any of the chain widths over the years) but a beautiful tool.

 

[4xdog]

Truth be told, I've converted most of my bikes to Wippermann Connex links. I'm a big fan of these.

 

[Tool.Nerd]

That is a SWEET chain tool! I wonder if there's a titanium and bamboo version out there to minimize weight?

 

[PFSard]

I was a full time bicycle tech for many years before getting into diesel. I've worked in shops and traveled internationally as a race mechanic. Park is great in that they're always developing products to service ever-evolving bike systems. But since this is the Garage Journal, check out the Snap-On of bicycle tools!
http://wwww.abbeybiketools.com
Their chain whip and "crombie" cassette lockring tools are now found in mechanics' arsenals at every major event worldwide.

The stuff comes with a Snap-On price tag to match, but it is truly a pleasure to work with.

You have one w too many in your link. Nice looking tools.

http://www.abbeybiketools.com/

 

[AJH]

Wow, I **** with this app. Long story short, I've edited my previous post with Abbey Tools' correct URL.

 

[espyking83]

I was wanting to buy some of their soft grip wrenches, but couldnt find any in SAE, those would work great for planes.

 

[FordTruckWench]

I volunteer at a bike co-op. We have _lots_ of Park tools! I'd say they are good solid tools, but they're no Snap-On. Hozan from Japan makes some really premium quality tools. Pedro's quality is a little below Park and they produce only a limited range of tools, but they tend to think things through a little bit better.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

I'm not very impressed with Park hand tools, generally. I have quite a few, but many of the hand tools are just stamped steel. They are near truck brand pricing for Craftsman quality. Campagnolo and Shimano tools, on the other hand, are excellent, but are quite spendy.

I've built all my own bikes since I was about ten:

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

I'm not overly impressed, either, though I've only got a few things.

Several of their axle-related tools such as freewheel and freehub removers have ends drilled so a thin QR shaft can fit through the end, but the holes are too small for larger axles. There is absolutely ZERO need for this tool to have such a small opening on the end. I had to buy a carbide drill bit and enlarge the hole myself. Carbide because it's hardened steel (so yes, they do use decent steel on at least some of their tools) but I went with a carbide-tipped masonry bit so fortunately it wasn't super expensive compared to a solid carbide bit (which are also very fragile).

As far as I'm concerned it was an engineering oversight - there is literally zero benefit from using the small hole instead of the large. The drilled-out tool will still work with QR axles 100% the same. I should not have had to do this work to make the tool work. This was an oversight on their part to only consider QR axles.

I emailed them about it and they didn't even respond, which in itself tells me that they don't have good customer service. I didn't expect them to send me a fixed version with a larger hole, but I think they should have replied that they would take my feedback into consideration for the future.

 

[n8n]

I was a full time bicycle tech for many years before getting into diesel. I've worked in shops and traveled internationally as a race mechanic. Park is great in that they're always developing products to service ever-evolving bike systems. But since this is the Garage Journal, check out the Snap-On of bicycle tools!
http://www.abbeybiketools.com
Their chain whip and "crombie" cassette lockring tools are now found in mechanics' arsenals at every major event worldwide.

The stuff comes with a Snap-On price tag to match, but it is truly a pleasure to work with.

Oh f**k you! Like my automotive tool addiction wasn't bad enough, you have to point out that all my Park bike tools are inferior as well.

FWIW every local bike shop I've been in, the mechanics seem to use mostly Park stuff, so it's certainly good enough for that use.

 

[n8n]

Truth be told, I've converted most of my bikes to Wippermann Connex links. I'm a big fan of these.

AFAIK the chain breaker is pretty obsolete now with the proliferation of 9+ speed cassettes.

My memory says that 10-speed Shimano chains now have a one use repair pin not a quick link. But I have not had to deal with that yet because both my bikes are running Shimano or SRAM (interchangeable) 9 speed drivetrains, that seems to be sufficient for my needs and replacement parts are a lot less expensive.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

AFAIK the chain breaker is pretty obsolete now with the proliferation of 9+ speed cassettes..

Why? The only difference is that they are thinner, no?

Oh, and personally I buy KMC chains. Not sure if it makes a difference in regards to the tool. They seemed highly recommended on various forums. Haven't had a problem with them.

 

[HenryAZ]

This little torque wrench is perfect for checking bearing preloads that require light settings, such as a pinion bearing or output shaft bearing on a transfer case.

 

[n8n]

Why? The only difference is that they are thinner, no?

Oh, and personally I buy KMC chains. Not sure if it makes a difference in regards to the tool. They seemed highly recommended on various forums. Haven't had a problem with them.

Pretty sure Shimano and SRAM both recommend using quick links to connect the chain, the only use for the chain breaker is when originally sizing the chain. In other words you can press a pin out but not back in again. For normal servicing of chain that would require chain removal e.g. if you are the type that soaks your chain in solvent and then dips it in melted wax etc. you just undo the quick link and reassembly is the reverse etc.

In any case that's what I've been doing on both my bikes since I built them, no problems so far (well, I managed to completely explode a vintage Huret front derailleur on my first test ride of the one bike, but a Campy one fixed it right up and it shifts better than ever even if it doesn't have that 80's feel. Yes, I mixed Campy and Shimano on the same bike, hopefully the purists aren't cringing too badly.)

 

[bczygan]

I have their least expensive stand for working on bikes. Very nice.