Customer Reviews

Park Tool SW-7 Triple Spoke Wrench for Nipple Sizes of 0.127 , 0.130, and 0.136- Inch

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This tool will get the job done. It is difficult to tell which slot fits your spokes the best. Also they are not marked with sizes, so if you set the tool down, it takes some thought to get the correct slot again. I prefer my concentration to be on the task at hand, not on using my tools correctly. Of course the option is to get dedicated size spoke wrenches. This is costly compared to this unit. No more often than I adjust spokes, it is worth it to me to struggle with a clumsy tool. It could be vastly improved with a simple number system stamped with the logo though.

I think this is a so-so innovation, having all three sizes on one key. I always find myself fumbling for the right one and sometimes I strip nipples as a result. For the same price you can get the three wrench set from Avenir Avenir Pro Spoke Wrench Set and then you can focus of thinking about how much to turn the nipple and whether you are turning it in the right direction instead of whether you are using the right size wrench. That's slightly less portable, but do you really need to be able to bring three spoke wrenches with you? I don't.

I have gone through two of these spoke wrenches over the years. Both times the wrench has broken in half. Mind you I have built many wheels and I know not to torque on the spokes. Each time the wrench has just cracked in two in my hand. I would recommend getting a single nipple sized wrench instead. Park usually makes decent products but have missed on this.

This is a great tool to have in your toolbox.

Since I started using this spoke wrench I have never stripped a spoke nipple's flats -even when I was lazy or in a hurry and didn't want to wait for penetrating oil to work on the spoke threads & nipple.

It's a cinch to use. If it fits PERFECTLY it is the right corner. If it is too loose then you need to try the next size smaller. If it doesn't fit then try the next larger size. Simple -if a bit slow sometimes if you put the wrench down and pick it back up.

All 3 corners are plainly marked 0,1, or 2. All you need to do it look at it and you know which corner is which. Those who feel that this wrench has too many options could simply get some paint and color-code each corner to the Park Tools standard if that is what you are used to. I don't know why park didn't do this for this tool because it seems some of their customers are having a hard time reading the tiny little numbers imprinted on each corner and I can see how that would be annoying if one were doing a lot of work with this tool. This tool is like a multi-screwdriver which is nice to have around when you are doing general wrenching but can never be as good as the correctly sized uni-purpose/uni-sized screwdriver.

Cons:

This is a multi-sized tool and the size numbers are somewhat hard to read (small print on the backside of the tool jaws that you are using). If you are building up a wheel a single-sized spoke wrench would be handier. Should be color-coded on each corner with the standard Park Tool spokewrench color codes.

This tool is HEAVY for its size. My version tips my accurate kitchen scale at 45g! Yeah, it's a lump of hardened tool steel. It has to be heavy as there are tool faces at all three corners and the nature of fragile spoke nipples means that the the tools tolerances cant shift. That means quality tool steel throughout instead of just at the one corner that has the flats on it and a lightweight plasticy handle.

If you were a Ninja you could probably knock someone out (or worse) by throwing this tool at your victim's head. It's that heavy. While this isn't quite the biker's defensive weapon that a U-lock is it is a heavy load for its size and its limited purposes in your tool roll. I don't carry mine because of this. A lightweight single-size spoke wrench sized to the bike you are riding would be a better option for those of you who don't want to lug around a 4 kilo tool roll. Sure 45g isn't a ton but for just one tool it's pretty hefty.

This tool does exactly what it is supposed to very well. It is just the right size and easy to hold and use. Definitely the best spoke wrench that I have used because of its compact design, ease of use, solid feel, and price. I would definitely recommend this tool to anyone who needs to adjust spokes.

Bicycle manufacturers offer a wide range of differing spoke sizing specs. Some like Park Tools use inches (0.127" and greater), some use gauge size like G15 and G14 and others use two different millimeter measurements (1.80mm and/or 3.23mm). I bought this tool because I wasn't sure what size spoke I had on my mountain bike and this tool covered most of the spoke sizes out there. I guess I could have taken my bike to a bike shop.
Some bike component manufacturers now make 4-sided spoke wrenches. These are far superior than the Park Tool SW-7 3-sided spoke wrench I bought because of their superior gripping ability. Apparently, spokes are easily stripped and damaged. Park Tools offers 4-sided spoke wrenches as well as Delta Spokey (DT Swiss) and other manufacturers.

Great tool! I assemble bikes for a living (approx. 2,500 bikes a year) and have used this tool at least 100 times this year. so much easier that trying to adjust spokes with a wrench or pliers.

Great price and versatile little item. Seems to be made of very high quality metal and feels solid in your hand.

The only negative is that it is quite small and thus easy to lose and more difficult to turn than the more common type of spoke wrench.

Great tool as usual, Park Tool.

This wrench was exactly what I needed. Usually I like purchasing specialized tools instead of combined 3-in-1 type, however, when I've compared the idea of three separate Avenir wrenches (Avenir Pro Spoke Wrench Set) with this triple wrench from Park, my choice was clear.

It is surprising to read that another reviewer has experienced this wrench breaking in half. This solid piece of metal feels so strong that could probably be used to connect two cars for towing! If it will break in my hands, I'll definitely update this review!

The main five reasons that have affected my purchasing decision were the following:
* Precision of the craftsmanship.
* Long grooves that can be used on nipples of any length.
* Solid, heavy feel of the tool.
* Three sizes in one tool, which has proved to be critical while working on cheap/departmental bicycles. Since the nipples on such bicycles are not exactly the same size, I don't have to switch tools for every nipple.
* Made in the United States, which usually gives me confidence that the metal used will not be soft.

In addition, while using this wrench, I've discovered that it is very useful in tight spaces, where spokes are close to each other.

A desired improvement would be to put the size numbers on both sides of the tool. In my case, I've used a permanent marker and wrote the same numbers on the internal side.

Also, some people think that this wrench is not really comfortable for fingers. Perhaps I could agree because of the straight corners, however, I use garden gloves that have a dipped-in-rubber coating and such arrangement works perfectly. The tool is not slipping out of my fingers and I don't feel the corners.

I received the item recently and have not used it yet but the quality seems to be superb.