Today I will detail out the Alternate Tools on the list and after that will come a post about he supplies and how I use them. Then we will finally get to some action. Hang in there! For now though, let’s see that picture of the Alternate Tools again…………..

Starting from the left again:

#1: Head Set Wrench: If you have the old school threaded head set, a thin wrench like the one I have pictured here will be necessary to properly adjust it. The adjustable wrench, coming up in this list, will be the other tool used in this procedure. While the 32mm head set wrench covers several commonly used head sets, you should have your head set adjustment cone/nut checked for size due to the fact that several different sizes are floating around out there. (Note: The example shown here is mated with a pedal wrench on the other end. Not all head set wrenches will have this feature, although it is a bonus if your head set happens to take a 32mm size wrench!)

#2: Bottom Braket Wrench/Tools: Some bikes will have the old school adjustable bottom brackets and to properly adjust them, you will need the right tools. They could include a spanner, like the one pictured here, or it may need a pin spanner, or some other special tool. I’ll detail this out when we get to it in the Tune Up portion of the series.

#3: Special Brake Tools: Some bikes, especially road bikes, will require special brake tools to adjust their caliper brakes like these two brake adjustment spanners. Again, I will detail this out when we get to Brakes in the Tune Up portion of this series.

#4: Adjustable Wrench: Most often used to tighten and loosen the lock nut on threaded head sets. It could be pressed into service to remove nutted axle wheels, but I’d rather not do that!

#5: Small Groove Joint Pliers: I use these mostly on low end cantilever brakes and to straighten cantilever brake shoes on “mart-bikes”.

#6: Ball Peen Hammer: I use this to help adjust low end center mount brakes on “mart-bikes” for the most part.

#7: 15mm Combination Wrench: I use this to remove nuts on nutted axle rear wheels and some front wheels. (Note: #7, #8, #9, and #10 in the photo are all ratcheting wrenches, but it isn’t a necessity to have a ratcheting feature.)

#8: 13mm Combination Wrench: Used to remove some front wheels axle nuts.

#9: 10mm Comination Wrench: Used on cable anchors on brakes for the most part.

#10: 8mm Combination Wrench: Used on some brake cable anchors.

The specific instances where these tools are used wll be detailed out as we go along. Stay tuned for the post on Supplies coming up next.