[CR]Campy Tools Needed and Must Haves

(Example: Humor)

From: "JOE HUGHES" <rotab@msn.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 08:52:22 -0700
Seal-Send-Time: Fri, 5 Jan 2007 08:52:22 -0700
Subject: [CR]Campy Tools Needed and Must Haves

If you plan to build up several bikes with Campy you really should have a 721 BB tap set, 725 BB face cutter, 733 head tube mill/HS press and a 718 crown race cutter. You need the 730 handles to go with the 725 cutters too. A 793/A fixed cup tool would be nice but there are work arounds for that one. A 719 bottle brush is cheap and very useful. A set of "H" dropout tools is cool but again, brand X will work. Any sub for a 769 peanut butter wrench is a tawdry imitation and shall harm the bike. Almost all these are available new or used and a 3381 reduced tool kit would be the way to go if you could find one. A frame needs to be prepped correctly one time for it's life. It is also nice to run a real die down the steering column as so many of them were not very round to begin with and it gives a nice clean up to the threads. Not a thread "chaser" but a real die. This is how I have done it for 30 years and it makes all the difference in a proper build and long lasting equipment. Plus I have always had access to real tools...... and I prefer Tap Ease (sp?) cutting fluid. You can prep Ti frames when using this stuff. AAA Metric here in Denver sells it. The best I have ever used by far. If you find a shop that can prep all and install HS cups and fixed cup you are looking at about $75-95 per frame. The die job on the steerer would be a bit extra and you would be charged large $ for any additional threads needed. I would want to have the seat cluster checked for roundness and trial fit each seat post at that time. Again, many are not round after brazing and may need a glaze breaker run down them or an adjustable cutter for final sizing. All 27.2 posts are not alike so I like to check fit on each and have your pinch bolt installed for a tighten down too. A chrome frame needs to be dremeled before cutting so that is more $. Nobody I know will cut a chromed fork crown as it trashes the cutter. Often the dremel/cut operation will lead to chrome flaking in the surrounding areas so be aware of that. Esp on thin, marginalized Italian chrome. A brief primer.....