Favorite kit building and/or maintenance tools.

[tomjasz]

I think this could be fun and I can learn more as well as share experience with tools we use.
New order tonight, I needed to replace a tool I loaned and it seems has been permanently liberated from my tool box
Zip ties are the savior and absolute kit builders necessity. My hands are rather weak and this tool can really snug up a zip tie where needed. Caveats include over-tightening wiring harnesses can cause shorts. Some zip ties are weak and may fail sooner if overtightened. But still inexpensive and very useful around the house too. Zip tie junky here...

 

[PDXzap]

I remember back sometime in the late 80's maybe when the FAA banned the use of zip ties. The ties were wearing through metal parts and everyone was using them, I remember seeing an engine mount that was near failure from a zip tie wearing the chromoly nearly through. AFAIK some are approved now. As for me, I'm no junkie but I love them, great for prototyping!

A crank puller and a freewheel remover... how can anyone live without those?
A repair stand! For decades I used a bent wire threaded into a length of chain to cradle/hook the handlebar and a loop of rope around the seat all tied to a rafter, my brother showed me that more than a half a century ago. Any more, lifting any bike weighing more than 35lbs is not fun. A repair stand almost makes it fun!?!

 

[harryS]

The most frustrating tool I have is a JST crimper foe changing the connectors on controllers when needed. I have 50-50 success rate. Sometimes, to change wire order, I can swap pins on existing connectorw w/o having to crimp on a new one.

I have the crank puller, freewheel tool (Park FR1,3 for ebikes), tire irons, spoke tool. and a chain breaker (plus some KMC snap links). Some 3/4" threaded rod, nuts, and washer for a home made tool to seat crown races on the frame and fork.,

Also a lifetime supply of zip ties and a diagonal cutter to cut them.

I have one of them $10 ebike testers. It's nice to have.