Tools
Workshop tools that go with the parts sold on MAAKE, to fit and remove them yourself. Choose a tool for the part's interface: the right profile, the right number of teeth.
The ISIS 20 tool for Cybrei cranks
The Cybrei GP-3 carbon cranks come off with an ISIS-standard tool. The ISIS 20 tool fits onto these parts and turns with a ratchet via its square drive or with an open-ended spanner via its hex. Before ordering it for another part, count that part's teeth: you need 20, with the ISIS profile.
A tool that bears on its whole surface
A mechanic's tip: a tool that "more or less fits" rounds off the teeth it should grip. Clean the interface before engaging the tool, push it all the way in, and keep it in line while you apply force, with your free hand pressing on the tool. Its 5 cm body is made of 45# steel, the Chinese equivalent of European C45, a non-alloy carbon steel.
Refit to torque, and adjust your position
A carbon crank is refitted with a torque wrench, to the torque given in the manufacturer's instructions: too little and it develops play; too much and the interface suffers. Removing the cranks is also a chance to try another length. Going from 172.5 to 165 mm raises the foot by 7.5 mm at the bottom of the stroke: you raise the saddle by the same amount, and the hip opens up at the top of the stroke.
On the road, the repair kit
The tools for the ride travel on the bike. The Kreuza Internal Tool Bag slides into a frame with a storage hatch, carrying a TPU inner tube, a 16 g CO2 cartridge, its inflator head and two tyre levers. Without a hatch, a small saddle bag does the same job. Wrap the tools in an old rag: nothing rattles, and it comes in handy for putting the chain back on.
Frequently asked questions
What tools do I need to maintain my bike?
On the road: tyre levers, a hex-key multi-tool and a pump or CO2. In the workshop, a torque wrench for carbon parts and the specific tool for each interface: bottom bracket, cassette, cranks.
How do I remove an ISIS crank?
With the tool that matches the part's profile, here a 20-tooth ISIS tool, pushed fully into a clean interface and turned with a ratchet or a spanner. The removal direction and the refitting torque are in the crank manufacturer's instructions.
Do I need a torque wrench for a carbon bike?
Yes: carbon handlebars, stems, seatposts and cranks are tightened to a precise torque, often marked on the part. Too tight, the carbon can crack; not tight enough, the part slips.