Welcome to the latest edition of Torque About Tools and, boy, have there been some exciting releases recently.
In this installment of our semi-regular round-up of tool goodies, we’ll take a detailed look at Abbey’s new LL Chain Wear tool, which reimagines how to measure chain wear.
Efficient Velo and Minoura have collaborated on a rather exciting new portable workstand too and Park Tool’s been busy further refining some of its most useful tools, as well as bringing out some ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ solutions to common workshop problems.
And that’s before we get to some exciting new hex wrenches from Runwell and Topeak, as well as a nifty carry case from VéloColour and more.
Abbey Bike Tools LL Chain Wear Tool
- £49 / $45 / €40.92 / AU$67.79
For years, it was easy to check a chain for wear – replace a 6- to 10-speed chain when it measured 0.75 per cent on a chain checker and replace an 11-speed chain when it was 0.5 per cent worn.
However, the rise of 1x drivetrains and 12- and 13-speed systems has complicated proceedings. SRAM’s FlatTop chains use oversized rollers and, as a result, the brand has a specific technical document on its site highlighting which chain checkers are compatible.
Abbey says you also tend to cross-chain more on a 1x drivetrain, although both Shimano and SRAM refute cross-chaining being something to worry about on 1x.
As such, Abbey’s LL Chain Wear Tool checks not only linear, but also lateral wear. Correct me if I’m wrong, but until now, I've struggled to think of a tool you could use to check lateral wear.
To check linear wear, locate the V-shaped notch at the bottom-right of the backside of the tool. Slip the chain roller into it and then flip the tool round while holding the chain. On the opposite side of the tool is a sliding scale in increments of 0.25.
Pull the chain up until you can see the pin align with one of the holes et voila… there’s your linear result.
To check lateral wear, line up a five-link length of chain and position the fifth pin at the edge of the plate above the V-shaped notch. While holding the pin in place, let the chain sag down. There’s another set of indicator holes from 1 to 9 – if the chain drops past 6, it’s laterally worn.
While Abbey has clearly sweated the details with this tool, there are two shortcomings when it comes to checking lateral wear. First, the chain has to be removed from the bike. Secondly, Abbey recommends cleaning the chain to ensure the most accurate result.
I don’t know about you, but if I have a hunch a chain is worn, it seems like a waste of time and degreaser resources to clean it only to then chuck it away.
Still, it’s undeniably an impressive solution and outside of KMC’s Digital Chain Checker, the most thorough chain checker I’ve come across in a while.
Enduro Bearings Linear Headset Press BRT-058
- £199.99 / $189
Hot off the heels of its Linear Bearing Press for hub and suspension pivot bearings, Enduro Bearings has released an equivalent bearing press for installing headset cups.
The kit includes a length of 3/8in threaded rod, with a 29-degree Acme thread design to ensure perfectly straight movement under pressure, unlike standard V-shaped threads.
The nuts on both ends of the press run on thrust bearings, resulting in a silky smooth operation.
Like the Linear Press, you get two 'Linear Quick Handles' to use if you wish. These fit onto the ends of the press for extra leverage, and there are fittings on the press heads for a 10mm hex key or a spanner if you'd rather use one of those.
In a similar vein as Wheels Manufacturing, the drifts are double-sided, with options for almost all the headset standards you're likely to encounter. It's all presented in a nylon bag for convenient storage.
Included drifts
- 34mm / 44mm
- 1.5in – 44mm
- 1 1/8in – 34mm / 1 1/8in – 44mm
Effetto Mariposa Giustaforza 1-15Nm Pro Evo Torque Wrench
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- Torque wrench only – £255 / $346 / €314.95
- Deluxe edition (includes torque wrench and bits) – £285 / $388 / €352.95
Effetto Mariposa’s Giustaforza torque wrench is often considered the best torque wrench from a cycling-specific application among many mechanics, praised for its consistent reliability, well-pronounced click and premium construction.
I’m definitely a supporter of that opinion and the Giustaforza II 2-16 Pro Deluxe took our Editor’s Choice award in our in-depth torque wrench group test.
The Italian brand has revamped its revered wrench for 2024, with the most significant change the switch from a knurled to a self-locking black dial. You previously had to twist the knurled dial to move it up or down the scale, but now you pull and rotate it.
The new dial features adjustments in 0.1Nm increments, with an easy-to-read scale so you can be sure you’ve set the torque wrench correctly.
Speaking of range, the new wrench has been altered slightly from 2-16Nm to 1-15Nm.
Effetto Mariposa’s also updated the profile of the ratcheting head, but in keeping with its predecessor, it’ll still work with both standard and reverse threads.
Finally, it’s out with the classy red (or black) finishes of old and in with this striking oil slick.
It’ll certainly make quite the statement in the workshop and if durability is anything like my existing Giustaforza, I’m sure this one will last for years to come.
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Efficient Velo x Minoura Field Unit Workstand
- $599
A workstand lives and dies by the quality of its clamp and Efficient Velo Tools’ (EVT) Right Arm Clamp is undeniably the best money-no-object, cream-of-the-crop pick.
Its genius comes from the fact you only need 2in / 50mm of exposed seatpost to clamp the bike in the stand, and it’ll fit just about any seatpost shape. The counter-weighted handle is beautifully smooth and elegant to use – it’s the stuff of dreams.
You’ll sometimes find the Right Arm Clamp in premium workshops, where the clamp will either feature as a $450 upgrade to the existing clamp on a repair stand or the shop may have shelled out for one of EVT’s full workstand options.
Starting at $2,600 and rising to a whopping $5,500 for a twin clamp, the brand’s EZ-Lift Repair Stand represents a serious investment.
Imagine my delight when EVT announced its first portable repair stand, in collaboration with workstand stalwart brand Minoura. And when I saw the revered Right Arm Clamp featured on it, that delight turned into giddiness.
This collaboration workstand is rated to hold up to 36kg and everything about it screams robustness.
The Field Unit is constructed from 45mm and 65mm oversized aluminium tubes with a height-adjustable tripod design. The base is seriously wide, with heavy-duty rubber feet and holes on each leg if you want to stake the stand.
There are steel quick-release levers to adjust the stand’s height (which is rated from 50 to 66in)
EVT specs what it calls ‘Indexable Locking Levers’ (quick-release levers, which are essentially supersized versions of the DT Swiss RWS) for adjusting the clamp’s rotation.
I’m looking forward to putting the stand through its paces over the next few months – stay tuned for a review soon.
A slew of new Park Tool releases
Park Tool CT-15 Professional Chain Tool
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- £124.99 / $147.95
The CT-15 is Park Tool’s new workshop-quality chain breaker and is a ground-up redesign of the outgoing CT-4.3, with a markedly different appearance. It’ll work on anything from beefy singlespeed half-link chains to the latest 13-speed systems.
There’s a new triple-wide floating shelf, to ensure every chain is sufficiently fixed and centred when the pin’s being driven out.
At the base, there’s hidden storage for spare driving pins (two are included), as well as a peening anvil for Campagnolo chains.
As is customary for Park’s workshop-quality products, the CT-15 is fully rebuildable.
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Park Tool FCT-1 Fork Cap Tool
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- £13.99 / $13.95
Ever tried to remove an overtightened suspension fork cap? It’s not fun…
Park’s nifty new FCT-1 acts as a foolproof way to remove them. Akin to a die, the FCT-1 has six faces, each one compatible with different fork-cap designs.
These include various RockShox and Fox caps, as well as DVO, Marzocchi and Öhlins.
While I expect to hear some groans that such a tool now exists, I think it’s a practical option for overtightened caps – your hands will certainly thank you in the long run.
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Park Tool TH-3 Tap and Bit Driver
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- £24.99 / $26.95
The TH-3 is a new low-profile driver, with one side for 1/4in bits and the other for taps.
The tool has a small and conveniently round shape to get into tight spaces, such as bottle-cage rivnuts or rack mounts. You’d typically struggle to access these with a traditional tap handle.
The tap side accommodates most square-shank frame taps up from 3 to 6mm, which are held in place by a 2mm hex set screw.
Or, like me, you could opt for a tap set with a 1/4in fitting – Wera’s 844/7 7-piece tap kit in my case.
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Park Tool BO-6 Bottle Opener
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- £34.99 / $34.95
Ending this section on a note of good cheer, Park Tool has brought out a new BO-6 bottle opener if its £9.99 / $8.95 BO-2 doesn’t quite do it for you.
The swanky bottle opener is modelled after the brand’s iconic PW-4 Workshop Pedal Wrench and you get not one, but two openings, which Park says is for “optimal mechanical advantage”.
When you’ve reached the end of servicing an energy gel and filth-encrusted time trial bike with integrated cable routing, the BO-6 will make the experience of cracking open a cold one that little more special.
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RedSide The Fork Seal Remover
- $54.99 (converted to local currency for international customers)
RedSide is a burgeoning brand from the USA and we previously featured its nifty BleedPro Hydraulic Brake Bleed Syringe Holder Kit.
The brand has moved away from brakes this time round to suspension fork seals, with its literally titled Fork Seal Remover.
Until now, the conventional way of removing the wiper seal was by carefully prying it out with a small pick or lever. However, you run the risk of scratching or denting the fork lowers.
This tool removes any such risk, with a handle to provide extra leverage and an expanding collet that grips the seal evenly.
The tool’s made from ‘high-strength thermopolymers’ to prevent any damage to your fork, in case you’re faced with a stubborn dust seal, and it’s available in six stanchion sizes – 32, 34, 35, 36, 38 and 40.
We have the 35-stanchion size for RockShox forks – RedSide also offers a kit with all six sizes for $314.99.
Runwell Genex hex wrenches
- £18 for 4 and 5mm wrenches, £19 for 6mm wrench
Influential deputy editor Jack Luke has long championed Runwell tools – in this First Look Friday article alone, he manages to write rousing copy on the Toostier cocktail stirrers and a cheesepick. Yes, a cheesepick…
With my fetish for shiny workshop paraphernalia, it’s only fitting I see what the fuss is about.
The Genex tools are an interesting take on the hex wrench, a cross between the L and T-handle, with Runwell describing them as an X-handle.
The keys are made of hard (and oh, so shiny) chrome with a knurled section at the base of the long shaft.
On a T-handle, you can typically slide the T-bar, but not only is it fixed on the Genex, only one side is usable.
Runwell says it opted against a sliding T-handle because it says they can slide when working – sometimes, but not always true. The shorter, stub-like side is rounded, which Runwell says is to provide a “good skin sensation for the fingers”.
The tool is modular and you can simply unscrew the rounded top to remove the T-bar if you want to fix it in place with a set screw.
Topeak T-Hex Speed Wrench Set
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- £134.99 / €149.95
Let’s now move on to a set of more conventional hex wrenches.
I’ve professed my love for T-handle hex wrenches many times on the site and my gold standard is the Silca T-Handle Folio.
Topeak has now brought out its offering, with the T-Hex Speed Wrench set comprising eight wrenches from 2 to 10mm. The tools are constructed from a combination of chrome vanadium steel and S2 hardened steel.
The 4, 5 and 6mm keys have different colour-coding for easier identification, given these are the ones you’ll use most frequently.
Like the Park Tool THH-1, the Topeaks incorporate a Speed Sleeve to quicken the job.
The set even comes with a holder, which includes a small magnetic tray for keeping small parts secure.
While on the surface, these tools aren’t as pretty as the Park Tool or Silca versions, I’ve been impressed over the last six months or so using these keys.
They have a nice snug fit into the bolt (although not quite the same level as the Silcas) and I love the Speed Sleeve function. It’s too early to comment on long-term durability, but these seem well-made and Topeak hasn't tried to pack in too many functions – which can be the undoing of competitors.
There’s also a T-Torx set, which retails for the same price. You get eight keys – T15, T20, T25, T30, T40 and T45, as well as a T40 IP (Internal Plus) wrench. You won’t have much use for that T40 IP wrench unless you’re working on some electric bike motors, such as Bosch, which use this standard – but it’s nice to have.
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VéloColour Pro Bicycle Tool Case
- CAD $295 (price converted to different currencies)
VéloColour is the brainchild of Noah Rosen and Suzanne Carlsen, a Canadian custom paint facility, but the brand also makes some thoughtful accessories.
The Pro Bicycle Tool Case is designed primarily for the travelling mechanic after the brand was approached by the mechanic of the Canadian national team, who presented a laundry list of features they wanted.
It’s got 40 pockets of all shapes and sizes and is a fully modular system, meaning you can add or remove parts to suit your needs. The removable panels can also be wall-mounted when you're not on the road.
The brief was to make a small, yet comprehensive tool-management system while being tough and durable.
When closed, the case has a briefcase-like design with a carry handle. The outer shell is made from a durable repurposed waterproof vinyl from a local fabric recycler. The outer case liner comes from Norco and the interior is recycled Cordura from a standard fabric supplier.
There are interchangeable tool palettes and three additional pockets to set it up how you like.
You can pick from four colours – Slate Grey, Light Grey, Dark Blue and Light Blue.
Wera 7515 Safe-Torque Speed 2-6Nm
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- £94.99
Let’s finish proceedings with a new torque wrench from Wera, which uses the same SafeTorque technology as found on the Wera Safety Torque A2 torque wrench I featured in this series a while ago.
This prevents accidental overtightening of a bolt when you’ve reached the desired torque.
The 7515 Safe Torque Speed is a similar product, albeit in the shape of a torque screwdriver.
As the name suggests, it has a 2 to 6Nm range in 1Nm increments and accepts 1/4in bits. It also has what Wera calls a ‘Torque Lock’ function, enabling you to use the tool as a standard ratchet.
To set the torque, simply move the slider up or down and observe the number in the indicator window.
The knurled handle is pretty sizable, so it’s not going to be the best option for hard-to-access spaces on a bicycle, such as a saddle clamp. But for stems or non-integrated seat clamps, this could be a good option.
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