[TheThinkTank] On Shop tools

[joshua muir]

Tools break.  but as to the chain tool and pumps:
I like the Park  tool (CT-3?- threaded replacable pin).  before I hand
someone a chaintool at the Bikechurch, or use one, I look at two things:
spin the handle to see if the pin is bent, and look closely at the end to
see iff it's mushroomed.  if either is the case, use in that condition can
brake the pin or cause it to become stuck in the chain/unthread itself,
etc.- all negative situations.

if the pin is mushroomed, grind the edges off to a little bevel. (we have a
terrible little hand crank grinder for such tasks).  If it's bent, replace
it.

as far as pumps go. . . silca pumps are the most durable and most
servicable.  generally, the presta chuck is ruined by folks shoving it on a
schrader valve-  clear labeling and user education is the answer.  I am
generally responsible (as oposed to irresponsible) for the pumps here, and
they need frequent maintenence- my complaint is about the lack of good
schrader chucks.

josh

On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 9:53 AM, Sherief <sgaber at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> This is Sherief from the Austin Yellowbike, and I was hoping to pool the
> thinktank's experience with shop tools prone to breakage and the like.
> We're currently having huge issues keeping up with Chain Tools and Presta
> Valve pumps especially... it feels like not a week goes by without at least
> one of each of these tools breaking.  W/r/t the chain tools, we recently
> switched from the nicer Park tools to the cheapest we could get out of the
> catalog, but with the way those break there's effectively no net savings and
> even when they are functioning the new cheap ones are no good.  We try to
> make sure people know how to use the tools before they do, etc.  But my
> question(s) today is: Do people have any similar experience out there with
> broken/breakable tools-- specifically good ways to prevent these breakages?
> Does anyone have any recommendations for good chain tools /PV pumps that can
> withstand a bit of overeager volunteerin g?
>
>
> Best,
> Sherief
>
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>
>


-- 

Joshua Muir
joshua at santacruzhub.org

Frances Cycles  --  francescycles.com
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The Bicycle Church Collective
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(831) 425-2453
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