Most of the pressure loss you measure is when you attach the pump because the line is at 14.69 PSI (nice) before the valve opens and then floods the hose/line to equalize the pressure between the two sides. There is a little hack I like to use to mitigate this equalization where you screw on the pump most of the way but not enough to trigger the valve. Then add some pressure to approximately what you think the shock/fork will be at. Then screw it in all the way. This will give you a more accurate idea of what the shock/fork WAS at before you opened the valve. You'll still lose a little bit of pressure when you remove the pump, but it's actually quite a bit less than you might think and the hissing is mostly the depressurizing of the line.
Yeah, it's just the hose. And the air lost from disconnecting the pump should actually be negligible to zero if your pump is working correctly. If you reconnect the pump right after removing it, and follow the procedure you described, i.e. "pre-pump" the hose to the value you just saw before disconnecting, the pressure gauge should still show the exact same value as before when you screw it on all the way to trigger the valve. Of course this is easier to see/do with a digital display.
I bought a 13 buck bleed kit that came with brass adaptors, tools, bleed cup, a big syringe, a carrying case and a bunch of other stuff I don't even know what to do with. Really satisfied with it.
Seth, there is no rubber in the syringe because DOT and hydraulic oil react with the rubber. Proper bleeding syringe shouldnt have a rubber inside. Or it has to be separate specific syringes for DOT and for mineral oil.
From DOT standard "Brake fluid means a liquid designed for use in a motor vehicle hydraulic brake system in which it will contact elastomeric components made of styrene and butadiene rubber (SBR), ethylene and propylene rubber (EPR), polychloroprene (CR) brake hose inner tube stock or natural rubber (NR)." Based on DOT standard, rubbers are fine.
DOT fluid is designed to be rubber-compatible and all the DOT brake seals are usually made out of butyl rubber. Oil, on the other hand, will make most sorts of rubber swell, deform and lose strength. There are fewer sorts of oil-compatible elastomers, e.g. silicone or nitrile rubber. I haven't seen any commonly manufactured syringes with nitrile rubber seals and saw very few with silicone seals (e.g. a fancy SRAM brake bleeding kit). By the way, this is the reason why Shimano, Tektro and Magura brakes start leaking at freezing temperatures - they use nitrile rubber gaskets in the calipers and those turn to hard plastic at around -5 centigrade compared to -35 to -45 for a regular butyl rubber.
I’ve found similar products on eBay as well. As an aircraft mechanic I have an investment in quality tools. But some tasks are simple enough that a simple inexpensive tool can perform just fine. Might get a set of those “Boys” myself 🤔
Suspension pumps don't loose air while disassembling. You only loose air, when you connect pump and make some air escape to the hose of newly installed pump. And this is quite a lot. So if you want to check the accuracy of pump's gauge just use your air pressure gauge. Such as Topeak D2.
As someone who doesn't work on the bike often it's always nice seeing you work to feel more knowledgeable, even if it's when testing tools! That also includes talking about names/terminology such as the T-type here I didn't now.
To set my Sworks brain using auto-sag you have to put 300 psi in first. I have 2 quality shock pumps. They struggle mightily to get to 300 psi. It would be interesting to see if that one could.
noooo, don't over inflate the shock! It will have the exact pressure you set up! You lose pressuer the exact moment you attatch the pump and some air of the shock inflates the hose of the pump!!
The best thing about Aliexpress is distribution. Many times I just can't buy things in my country. Either it doesn't exist on local websites or the local bike mafia doesn't sell tools/repair parts to the end customer. And even big websites doesn't ship to Brazil because business deals with the local bike mafia. And if I still find it local, it's 3 times the price I would pay on Aliexpress.
@@illcomeupwithanamelatter3632 kinda. Over here, sellers can only buy officially from a couple of distributors at a stealing price (3-4x more than overseas). They do that because they have their own brands (chinese rebranded products usually), so it's a way to win on both ends.
@@illcomeupwithanamelatter3632 bro its a real thing. there are some families that run the business for around 100 years. most of the national quality subpar, below average, mediocre, pathetic. there are special taxes for bike products for "protecting" the local industries, even though there are the normal taxes
Eh I had that same pump and after a few uses it leaked air at the swivel point unless I held it completely still - which is impossible while pumping. So I ordered a replacement which had the exact same issue
There’s a lot of rubbish on Ali express but also a lot of good stuff. Nothing wrong with buying cheap tools for occasional use or to get your self started in the hobby. I’m really loving this series, think ill grab myself a set of the cone wrenches
Got a similar ZTTO tool to cut and push olives (in aluminium instead of nylon), quite happy with it for 10eur in promo shipped, did 3 pairs of brakes without any issues.
I have bought many many bike tools from AliExpress among thousands of dollars of other stuff, rarely had an issue and only once had one that couldn't be fully resolved.
I have never ever had problems with aliexpress. You'll get all the products you ordered. Sometimes the quality is not what you want but the products are real and do exist.
The Ezmtb brake bleed kits (the ones with the proper syringes in them) are really very good. They make "Home" kits, as well as "Pro" kits with brass fittings instead of the plastic ones in the home kit. I have three for use in my bike repair business.
Hi Seth! Thank you for the time to prepare for the tool comparison. I really enjoyed the demo! There are many qualities of a tool that are not visible that change the price. And test driving a tool is also necessary. I prefer to spend more for machined or grinded tools instead of stamped. Although, cone wrenches are commonly stamped. One has to sort through the details and compare. I just found you the middle of April. Since then, I've been binge watching your entertaining topics. You're an accomplished rider with your own style which is fun. I've also enjoyed seeing you aspire with home and hobby! Good on ya, mate! Thank you for sharing!!
I say buy that shock pump. Looks almost identical to my name brand one which does all the same stuff. The accuracy doesn’t matter that much since measuring sag is more important. Can at least be a backup one for the to-go kit.
Perhaps on your first-time setup, but if you already know your perfect PSI presets for different riding situations, it’s handy to have a pump that can accurately get you those pressures first try rather than going through the motion of setting via sag every time
If you set it by sag once, then you know your psi with that pump... Seems like it could work unless it's inconsistent and not just off by the same amount every time
@@santiagopbecerra I get what you're saying, but I guess the way I look at it is that if I'm setting the air pressure to make the shocks on my $3000 FS Ibis (or my riding buddy's $6000 Santa Cruz) work properly, I would pay the extra $15 just to be sure about my PSI. It's like buying a super nice TV and then using garbage cables to send the signal to it... why hamstring a really nice product with a low precision maintenance? Maybe the problem is buying an expensive bike in the first place... On the other hand, those cone wrenches seem like a solid deal.
@@JCintheBCC While your point is valid, these videos are about finding cheap tools for people on a tight budget and making diy maintenance/repair more accessible.
I wish you would make like a hour or so long video of just talking and tinkering…I LOVE all your videos and your voice is so soothing.. great stuff Seth‼️
I work on my rims on a wide bucket, that way if anything falls off and bounces the bucket will absorb it. Holding a bowl is fine but guaranteed you'll need another hand and the minute you move it one of those ball bearings will jump out and disappear. you can also but a light towel in there to soften the impact. and its convenient to wipe away the grease and grime.
Man I remember I used to watch your vids a lot. I always dreamed of having the things and experience you have, but never had the money to accomplish it. Ended up selling the bike I worked so hard for and just got fat a lazy. Maybe if my parents would have helped me out with some money, I wouldn't have given up the hobby. Your vids are just as good as I remember. Keep it up man!
I love this, since every so often you find something I can recommend to a friend who isn't in as deep as me, or doesn't have the means to buy expensive tools.
I see where you're going with this, and I agree. One can order a wide selection of cheap tools from Ali--several options for each use case--knowing that half or more will be junk. And for (nearly?) the same price (once you account for all the wasted time waiting on shipping from afar, and wasted money on junk tools), one could just order Park Tools. Heck, maybe even SAVE some money buying a Park Tool, if you discount the trip to the ER to get that removed from your hand, courtesy of your junk Ali tools. That's solid logic, Seth.
What would be really cool Seth would be like a bike build off with Ali express tools vs like park tool or something. Maybe with you and a buddy. Could be a fun challenge to see if the expensive tools really make a difference.
Seth! Shock pumps only let air out when you attach them and let the system equalize. When you are releasing it the valve is closed before the seal is broken, which keeps your fork at what you set it at. However, you do lose about 10psi attaching the pump
Love my cheap shock pump. Been running Fox Rhythm 34s and Fox float and I've had to adjust the air twice ever.... pump still works waiting for that 3rd time at some point in the future
I'm using that Risk chain checker. It works fine for me along with their quick link pliers. The edges are sharp enough to cut someone when used for the first time
I never knew cone wrenches existed, this is gonna save me so many headaches. I’m constantly servicing old wheels and just use whatever I can find and it’s always a pain. Thank you for the suggestion.
i have zero issues with aliexpress, for me its a lot better than amazon its cheaper and most of it shipps in a reasonable time. the issues i have had with them has quickly been rectified and i have gotten refunds or sent a new item, that said i have never gotten the wrong order the wrong size or anything like that and most sellers are nice and will work with you to fix your problems. maybe the bad customer service and all that is an issue for just americans?
I bought something and was sent a cheap knock off item that I could have bought for less than half the price - too much hassle returning it, hopefully my complaint contributed to AliExpress closing that account, it is gone anyway.
@@eternaloptimist2840 this actually, i talked to some shop owners there when i have had complaints and they really dont want to be reported. i think aliexpress are super stringent on shit like that
With the correct solution, those chain cleaners work very well, used one over 20 years ago when Park sold it. Now, it's easier to simply put the chain in an ultrasonic cleaner, which if anyone who's going to service their bike, should have.
When you connect shock pump, pressure in shock drops, because the pressure distributes from shock to pump’s hose and partly its chamber. in other words, the pressure drops due to the increased volume. However when you disconnect shock pump the pressure in the shock is exactly what the pump shows.
@@GrigoryRechistov as ex dog's owner i agree - But mine eat everything, just drop from kitchen table, withouth thinking or biting. She just swallows everything like vacuum. So, sulution is: repair this at kitchen table ;)
A clarification on shock pumps - A properly functioning shock pump doesn't "lose air" when you disconnect the pump from your shock or fork. The reason your reading will always be a few PSI lower (for a fork), and usually about 10PSI lower for an air shock is because some air from the positive air spring displaces to charge the shock pump. This air displacement happens in a car or bike tire too, but the air volumes are dramatically greater so you don't perceive the difference as much. MTB forks/shocks are high pressure low volume systems so this effect is much greater. The higher the pressure and lower the air volume, the greater the pressure drop will be when charging the pump. Took me getting really deep on suspension before I learned this. Every pump can be a little different, so best thing to do is inflate to a baseline pressure that is easy to read (Seth did this), detach, re-install and measure the delta. Digital pumps are waaaay easier to do this on, because your measurement is usually to the nearest .5 PSI. Analog gauges usually only have graduations every 2-5PSI (not precise). In a modern high-end fork or shock (especially the fork) a 2PSI difference can make a difference in the ride. Bottom line: get a good digital pump if you're really trying to dial in your suspension.
Thank you Seth. As someone who works on his bikes, I found this to be an interesting and useful video. It will definitely save me from buying some crap tools online.
I gotta say, tools have to be my biggest pet peeve of mountain biking. Want to do almost any job on my sons used mountain bike and you need a special tool for it. I know lots of hobbies need special tools but mountain biking seems to take it to a whole new level. Of course you can just get your bikes tuned at a shop, but that's not as fun.
I have that same exact shock pump for about 2 years now. Used to show correct PSI during the first year but then it degraded and doesn't show the same PSI, however I still use it and it works just fine to set up your sag.
I just bought a cheap china ebike for under 1k. Ok for driving the kid around over the weekend, little one loves it, it won't see any off-road, since I do not think that it was made for that... Keep making these videos so that I can assemble a service tool kit as well to keep it running for at least a few years... The bike came with the essentials to assemble it but that is not even close to everything you need to maintain it. Even after the first short ride, I noticed that I needed to adjust the derailleur. Years ago I had a vintage used road bike and all maintenance that it needed was cleaning, and replacing brakes, and tyres, over 30 years works like new.
AliExpress used to be really good for cheap tools etc, but this year everything has high postage to Australia now and the prices are so high for the item that its now cheaper to buy brand name from a shop.
I bought that exact chain repair kit from ali too couple of years back. the chain breaking tool was only good for 1 time use on the hardened kmc chain i bought. i ended up using 2 of my dads large clamps to grip each end of the tool and twist hard to break the chain. it was so unbelievably bent after that. Still use those master link pliers to this day.
I have yet to find a better shock pump than my Giyo. It actually has a valve lever, so you just screw it on snug so it seals, flip the lever, add the pressure, flip the lever back, release the hose pressure, and remove the pump with 0 air loss at all. I've recommended it to all of my local shops, but whether they're using it or not, I don't know.
No, the air you hear escaping when you take the shock pump off is from the pump not the shock. The reason they read low when you connect them is that the air springs are so small and when you connect the pump they loose pressure filling the pump to give a reading. You cant test one pumps accuracy by just connecting another pump.
You _can_ test one pump's (A) accuracy using another pump (B), but you first need to check how much air pump B lets out when connecting. I.e., first inflate to desired pressure with pump B, disconnect, again connect pump B, note down the pressure. Then inflate with pump A, disconnect, connect pump B, note down the pressure.
Aliexpress is a market, same as Amazon, so you do have to find the right tools, and they come in extremely cheap, to moderate prices. Most get rebranded, so these video reviews are appreciated to recognize which are worth keeping.
Pro tip: when servicing loose ball hubs use a magnet to pull the bearings out (the park tool picks with magnets on one end are nice) - you’ll never lose another bearing.
only do this if you are intending on NOT re-using the same balls, once you get them close to a magnet they become (slightly) magnetic and they will attract all the metal dust from normal wear, which will cause more wear and so on. for just taking them out it's really useful actually
Little tip from the trade of welding. Get some Knipex brand compact bolt cutters for cables. They will cut through 5/32 stainless wire easy. The cable would be a cake walk.
Damn, I love this channel. Seth is doing all the pros and cons for us when we want to save money! So, my best tool from the series-- a boomurang for Oscar that doesn't hit him! 😅😅
Still don’t have a bike, still love these videos! I recently started searching for pedal bikes for my 3 and 4 year old. They currently have striders. I picked up a used Spawn Yoji in 14” and one in 16” for my boys. Gonna go through them and give them a tune up. Then I guess it will be my turn to find a bike. These videos are so well done. And I love the host. He just seems very likable and his love of bikes is contagious. I can’t help but get excited when he gets excited. Love the videos when he fixes up old bikes. I think that’s the rout I’m going to go when finally finding a bike. I just hope I dont pick a dud, or pick a bike that doesn’t fit. Anyways, apologies for the long comment.
I've built whole bikes from Aliexpress (WHOLE BIKES: frame,cranks, wheelsets and groups) and I haven't had any issues with the product being delivered on time or the wrong item. My ONLY complaint would be is the wait time for delivery. But what do you expect when it's coming from over seas.
Hi seth, would you review one of the aliexpress shimano brakes. Because I bought one the deore m6120 and it’s under performed i think. The brake is look legit or maybe i just installed them wrong. I really want to see your opinion, thanks seth.
I got those cable cutters on Amazon many years ago. They don’t last very long. But I keep them around because the crimper and awl are good. The park tool cutters don’t have the awl thing and their crimper isn’t as good as the china one. But they sure cut wayyy better.
That's funny but "Ninja Star" can be little handy for my friend 3 day ago. On the ride we jumped a 7 meter dirt jump and he landed it flat. After some time we found on his bike loosed shock caps and bottom bracket(Loosed i mean we can turn it with hand).
Bought a ton from Aliexpress, only had issues 2-3 times, 1 package was lost during transport, 2 times when AliExpress had a bug and didn't send intel to customs so customs wanted me to pay tax a second time, both was from the same place. Always got what I ordered.
I started watching you on a trash Avanti black thunder now I’m on a 2006 yz450f I love watching even though I don’t ride mtb anymore keep it up big fella
I like the dog-cheeto-poop-magnet line of thinking... I remember George Carlin had a bit where he suggested feeding your dog a rubber band so when they pooped it would have a little loop so you could easily pick it up.
I have that chain cleaner and actually prefer it over the park tools one, no sponge in this one and less bristle loss. I use it on 9 and 12 speed non transmission sram chains. Maybe you just didn’t get a good angle on it or the trans chain is awkward in it. Cool videos, thanks again for making them
The other tough thing about Ali Express is that if you buy the same tools two months from now, you can't be sure they're made by the same factory or to the same spec, they're all about cheapest. But the truth is for a lot of folks you're going to buy a tool to use once, so this and places like Harbor Freight are a good option.
Nice, I've got the same chain pliers and the chain wear checker, you can get them both separately for a couple bucks each if you don't want the full set. Also, bit belatedly, but there's another style of BB wrench with two closed ends (I've got the blue Riderace one, but I see a Zrace one that looks identical except it's red), and compared to the open-ended one from that first kit, it works _way_ better. I have both and mine from the kit was a little bit bent I think, so the 'jaws' are very very slightly too close together and can't fit cleanly on the BB, the closed-end ones don't have that issue. Also, that mallet looks very similar to one you can buy from Harbor Freight! Slightly different, but same overall design. The Harbor Freight one came with three different heads to swap out for different hardness, and is probably pretty close in price honestly. Doesn't fit the AliExpress theme but I figure it's worth mentioning for folks who just want to keep things as cheap as possible.
You don't loose air unscrewing shock pumps. If you screw the pump ON to check the pressure the pump fills up with air from the fork. That's when you loose some. After pumping the pressure in the pump and fork are equal, so unscrewing does nothing.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST I HAVE EVER BEEN! I appreciate the work you put into these vids seb! It is a pleasure to have the ability to watch your videos! Love it!
if the chain cleaner isnt great then instead of having a useless item. You could fill it with chain lube and after you wash your bike it would be an nice and cleaner way to lube up the chain nicely and saves the chance of it spraying over contaminating the rotors
The brushes in the cleaning kit are great. The chain brush is definitely for a motorcycle chain, but it works. The chain cleaner is crap, I got a park tool one, and it's way better, but I also use wax chain lube now and don't degrease my chain much anymore.
The biggest issue with those cheap mallets/hammers is the handle bending, generally when you miss and say strike the edge of the vice with the handle and they can often just fold over inhalf on themselves (or becoming detached from the head)
The key to Ali shopping is to NOT use random vendors. Use sellers that have been around for a while and have actual customer reviews with pics of the products received. Also...I bought a shelf from aliexpress and it came with one of those "soft" hammers for free. I've actually used it for a few other jobs around the house.
![Stromae, Pomme - “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1F3OGIFnW1k/mqdefault.jpg)
One’s you have enough tools, you should try to do a flip bike video with them.
Hell yeah!
from an aliexpress mtb could be the final touch
A total aliex build would be very entertaining I think :) Not necessarily the cheapest stuff, but some nice mid-range parts.
Take the @tracevelo idea and do a whole bike
Most of the pressure loss you measure is when you attach the pump because the line is at 14.69 PSI (nice) before the valve opens and then floods the hose/line to equalize the pressure between the two sides. There is a little hack I like to use to mitigate this equalization where you screw on the pump most of the way but not enough to trigger the valve. Then add some pressure to approximately what you think the shock/fork will be at. Then screw it in all the way. This will give you a more accurate idea of what the shock/fork WAS at before you opened the valve. You'll still lose a little bit of pressure when you remove the pump, but it's actually quite a bit less than you might think and the hissing is mostly the depressurizing of the line.
Yeah, it's just the hose. And the air lost from disconnecting the pump should actually be negligible to zero if your pump is working correctly.
If you reconnect the pump right after removing it, and follow the procedure you described, i.e. "pre-pump" the hose to the value you just saw before disconnecting, the pressure gauge should still show the exact same value as before when you screw it on all the way to trigger the valve.
Of course this is easier to see/do with a digital display.
autism in a paragraph
i never had problems with aliexpress but you have to sort by orders and make sure you're buying from reputable sellers
True, but you'd be missing on a few good offers. Always investigate reviews and various info. You can't be shopping blindly
I bought a 13 buck bleed kit that came with brass adaptors, tools, bleed cup, a big syringe, a carrying case and a bunch of other stuff I don't even know what to do with. Really satisfied with it.
Same, got the same kit as my first ever bleed kit and I can’t pinpoint anything wrong with it!
could you provide source for that kit?
EZmtb bleed kit. Just look for the version with brass adaptors for the cup
@@jacekwinski9147 thank you
Until I read this comment I questioned Seth scrapping what seemed like a decent bleed cup and plunger.
Seth, there is no rubber in the syringe because DOT and hydraulic oil react with the rubber. Proper bleeding syringe shouldnt have a rubber inside. Or it has to be separate specific syringes for DOT and for mineral oil.
From DOT standard
"Brake fluid means a liquid designed for use in a motor vehicle hydraulic brake system in which it will contact elastomeric components made of styrene and butadiene rubber (SBR), ethylene and propylene rubber (EPR), polychloroprene (CR) brake hose inner tube stock or natural rubber (NR)."
Based on DOT standard, rubbers are fine.
Have you ever used a funnel for DOT fluid brakes?
@@frankstec4610 no. Every bleeding manual for DOT brakes suggest usage of one (hope) or two (avid, hayes) syringes.
The rubber seal perishes pretty quickly even without using oil - they are the actual single use syringes.
DOT fluid is designed to be rubber-compatible and all the DOT brake seals are usually made out of butyl rubber.
Oil, on the other hand, will make most sorts of rubber swell, deform and lose strength. There are fewer sorts of oil-compatible elastomers, e.g. silicone or nitrile rubber. I haven't seen any commonly manufactured syringes with nitrile rubber seals and saw very few with silicone seals (e.g. a fancy SRAM brake bleeding kit).
By the way, this is the reason why Shimano, Tektro and Magura brakes start leaking at freezing temperatures - they use nitrile rubber gaskets in the calipers and those turn to hard plastic at around -5 centigrade compared to -35 to -45 for a regular butyl rubber.
I’ve found similar products on eBay as well.
As an aircraft mechanic I have an investment in quality tools.
But some tasks are simple enough that a simple inexpensive tool can perform just fine.
Might get a set of those “Boys” myself 🤔
I love this series! As a home mechanic, I often need 1 time use tools. If I can’t 3d print it, AliExpress is often my go-to
Suspension pumps don't loose air while disassembling. You only loose air, when you connect pump and make some air escape to the hose of newly installed pump. And this is quite a lot. So if you want to check the accuracy of pump's gauge just use your air pressure gauge. Such as Topeak D2.
Also, he did disassemble wrongly. He should've unscrewed the upper part first to release the valve core, then the other part.
@@hugosantana7253 it's not 2 parts, it's a swivel point. Shock pumps ALL allow the valve to close before their seal is broken
@@rupedog not all. For example, Topeak Pocket Shock DXG Shock Pump will leak air if you connect it improperly
As someone who doesn't work on the bike often it's always nice seeing you work to feel more knowledgeable, even if it's when testing tools! That also includes talking about names/terminology such as the T-type here I didn't now.
I use one of those long reach, telescopic magnets for getting the ball bearings out of a hub. Works well.
To set my Sworks brain using auto-sag you have to put 300 psi in first. I have 2 quality shock pumps. They struggle mightily to get to 300 psi. It would be interesting to see if that one could.
Are you trying to kill him?
My Sworks brain sags sometimes, too.
Most shock pumps are to 250psi...u need a specific 300psi version
noooo, don't over inflate the shock! It will have the exact pressure you set up! You lose pressuer the exact moment you attatch the pump and some air of the shock inflates the hose of the pump!!
I got that same chain cleaner from Amazon and said the same, "....Ahhh?"
Glad to see it's not just me.
Its all dropshipped
Amazon is a scourge
Same I prefer to just use a rag
@@Bradley_mtb remeber seeing seth use two tooth bruthers taped together years ago, brilliant little trick
@@harryainsworth9204 yea I need to try that sometime
some stores in my country sell it for 6 bucks .-.
The best thing about Aliexpress is distribution. Many times I just can't buy things in my country. Either it doesn't exist on local websites or the local bike mafia doesn't sell tools/repair parts to the end customer. And even big websites doesn't ship to Brazil because business deals with the local bike mafia. And if I still find it local, it's 3 times the price I would pay on Aliexpress.
Is bike mafia a joke or a real thing?
Wondering the same thing @@illcomeupwithanamelatter3632
@@illcomeupwithanamelatter3632kind of. Our biggest mafia is actually the government.
@@illcomeupwithanamelatter3632 kinda. Over here, sellers can only buy officially from a couple of distributors at a stealing price (3-4x more than overseas). They do that because they have their own brands (chinese rebranded products usually), so it's a way to win on both ends.
@@illcomeupwithanamelatter3632 bro its a real thing. there are some families that run the business for around 100 years. most of the national quality subpar, below average, mediocre, pathetic. there are special taxes for bike products for "protecting" the local industries, even though there are the normal taxes
Seth to be honest you are the best mountain bike content creator hope this make your day
That suspension pump definitely would have been in the good tools section
Agreed
Eh I had that same pump and after a few uses it leaked air at the swivel point unless I held it completely still - which is impossible while pumping. So I ordered a replacement which had the exact same issue
I like that the syringe has not rubber seal. I had syringes, where the rubber got gummy and slimy after some time. No problem, with this one.
Hi Seth I found a metal version of that top cap tool for ~10. Works flawlessly on my fox forks!
There’s a lot of rubbish on Ali express but also a lot of good stuff. Nothing wrong with buying cheap tools for occasional use or to get your self started in the hobby. I’m really loving this series, think ill grab myself a set of the cone wrenches
Got a similar ZTTO tool to cut and push olives (in aluminium instead of nylon), quite happy with it for 10eur in promo shipped, did 3 pairs of brakes without any issues.
I have bought many many bike tools from AliExpress among thousands of dollars of other stuff, rarely had an issue and only once had one that couldn't be fully resolved.
same but to be fair i mostly buy from reputable chinese sellers
Me too, years and years of good experience.
Same. I have a long list of purchases. Only had a couple minor issues. I don't even look at who I'm buying from.
Same story, bro!
Same. I have bought some RC bits and I have great customer service. Might even be better than Amazon.
I honestly love watching these mtb product review videos, very informative and super entertaining even though I don’t need/ have most of them
7:40 I wasn't ready for that Boyyyyyyyyyyyy! 🤣
I have those Boyyyy cone spanners, they’re good.
I have never ever had problems with aliexpress. You'll get all the products you ordered. Sometimes the quality is not what you want but the products are real and do exist.
The Ezmtb brake bleed kits (the ones with the proper syringes in them) are really very good. They make "Home" kits, as well as "Pro" kits with brass fittings instead of the plastic ones in the home kit. I have three for use in my bike repair business.
Hi Seth! Thank you for the time to prepare for the tool comparison. I really enjoyed the demo! There are many qualities of a tool that are not visible that change the price. And test driving a tool is also necessary. I prefer to spend more for machined or grinded tools instead of stamped. Although, cone wrenches are commonly stamped. One has to sort through the details and compare.
I just found you the middle of April. Since then, I've been binge watching your entertaining topics. You're an accomplished rider with your own style which is fun. I've also enjoyed seeing you aspire with home and hobby! Good on ya, mate! Thank you for sharing!!
I say buy that shock pump. Looks almost identical to my name brand one which does all the same stuff. The accuracy doesn’t matter that much since measuring sag is more important. Can at least be a backup one for the to-go kit.
Perhaps on your first-time setup, but if you already know your perfect PSI presets for different riding situations, it’s handy to have a pump that can accurately get you those pressures first try rather than going through the motion of setting via sag every time
If you set it by sag once, then you know your psi with that pump... Seems like it could work unless it's inconsistent and not just off by the same amount every time
@@santiagopbecerraexactly, the guage could be in its own made up metric but it doesn't matter, once you set up with that pump then you're fine
@@santiagopbecerra I get what you're saying, but I guess the way I look at it is that if I'm setting the air pressure to make the shocks on my $3000 FS Ibis (or my riding buddy's $6000 Santa Cruz) work properly, I would pay the extra $15 just to be sure about my PSI. It's like buying a super nice TV and then using garbage cables to send the signal to it... why hamstring a really nice product with a low precision maintenance? Maybe the problem is buying an expensive bike in the first place... On the other hand, those cone wrenches seem like a solid deal.
@@JCintheBCC While your point is valid, these videos are about finding cheap tools for people on a tight budget and making diy maintenance/repair more accessible.
I have a bleed kit like that but with brass fittings, works great. Comes with adapters to work with most brake brands.
I wish you would make like a hour or so long video of just talking and tinkering…I LOVE all your videos and your voice is so soothing.. great stuff Seth‼️
I work on my rims on a wide bucket, that way if anything falls off and bounces the bucket will absorb it. Holding a bowl is fine but guaranteed you'll need another hand and the minute you move it one of those ball bearings will jump out and disappear. you can also but a light towel in there to soften the impact. and its convenient to wipe away the grease and grime.
This is the type of videos we need, it’s like OG Seth
This is why we love Seth 9:34 he says the quiet part outloud
In reference to the cone wrench. Nice. Years ago I took a crescent wrench and a grinder and made it thinner 😜
Man I remember I used to watch your vids a lot. I always dreamed of having the things and experience you have, but never had the money to accomplish it.
Ended up selling the bike I worked so hard for and just got fat a lazy. Maybe if my parents would have helped me out with some money, I wouldn't have given up the hobby.
Your vids are just as good as I remember. Keep it up man!
I love this, since every so often you find something I can recommend to a friend who isn't in as deep as me, or doesn't have the means to buy expensive tools.
I see where you're going with this, and I agree. One can order a wide selection of cheap tools from Ali--several options for each use case--knowing that half or more will be junk. And for (nearly?) the same price (once you account for all the wasted time waiting on shipping from afar, and wasted money on junk tools), one could just order Park Tools. Heck, maybe even SAVE some money buying a Park Tool, if you discount the trip to the ER to get that removed from your hand, courtesy of your junk Ali tools. That's solid logic, Seth.
I love these types of videos. It would be cool to rebuild a flip bike with only the Ali express tool kit
What would be really cool Seth would be like a bike build off with Ali express tools vs like park tool or something. Maybe with you and a buddy. Could be a fun challenge to see if the expensive tools really make a difference.
Seth! Shock pumps only let air out when you attach them and let the system equalize. When you are releasing it the valve is closed before the seal is broken, which keeps your fork at what you set it at. However, you do lose about 10psi attaching the pump
Love my cheap shock pump. Been running Fox Rhythm 34s and Fox float and I've had to adjust the air twice ever.... pump still works waiting for that 3rd time at some point in the future
chain cleaners work for a while until they get filled up with so much greasy grit. Pro tip, heat shrink tubing over zip tie saves your frame from wear
I'm using that Risk chain checker. It works fine for me along with their quick link pliers. The edges are sharp enough to cut someone when used for the first time
I never knew cone wrenches existed, this is gonna save me so many headaches. I’m constantly servicing old wheels and just use whatever I can find and it’s always a pain. Thank you for the suggestion.
i have zero issues with aliexpress, for me its a lot better than amazon its cheaper and most of it shipps in a reasonable time. the issues i have had with them has quickly been rectified and i have gotten refunds or sent a new item, that said i have never gotten the wrong order the wrong size or anything like that and most sellers are nice and will work with you to fix your problems. maybe the bad customer service and all that is an issue for just americans?
I bought something and was sent a cheap knock off item that I could have bought for less than half the price - too much hassle returning it, hopefully my complaint contributed to AliExpress closing that account, it is gone anyway.
@@eternaloptimist2840 this actually, i talked to some shop owners there when i have had complaints and they really dont want to be reported. i think aliexpress are super stringent on shit like that
With the correct solution, those chain cleaners work very well, used one over 20 years ago when Park sold it. Now, it's easier to simply put the chain in an ultrasonic cleaner, which if anyone who's going to service their bike, should have.
keep doing it Seth, we all love it and love to save money if possible. And the fact ur honest comes a long way.
When you connect shock pump, pressure in shock drops, because the pressure distributes from shock to pump’s hose and partly its chamber. in other words, the pressure drops due to the increased volume.
However when you disconnect shock pump the pressure in the shock is exactly what the pump shows.
..."and the dog just poops them out and you get a magnet..." OMG I blew coffee out my nose when you said that! 😂
If instead of grease one uses peanut butter or whatever dogs like, then yea, it will probably work.
no you didnt.
@@GrigoryRechistov as ex dog's owner i agree - But mine eat everything, just drop from kitchen table, withouth thinking or biting. She just swallows everything like vacuum.
So, sulution is: repair this at kitchen table ;)
A clarification on shock pumps - A properly functioning shock pump doesn't "lose air" when you disconnect the pump from your shock or fork. The reason your reading will always be a few PSI lower (for a fork), and usually about 10PSI lower for an air shock is because some air from the positive air spring displaces to charge the shock pump. This air displacement happens in a car or bike tire too, but the air volumes are dramatically greater so you don't perceive the difference as much. MTB forks/shocks are high pressure low volume systems so this effect is much greater. The higher the pressure and lower the air volume, the greater the pressure drop will be when charging the pump. Took me getting really deep on suspension before I learned this. Every pump can be a little different, so best thing to do is inflate to a baseline pressure that is easy to read (Seth did this), detach, re-install and measure the delta. Digital pumps are waaaay easier to do this on, because your measurement is usually to the nearest .5 PSI. Analog gauges usually only have graduations every 2-5PSI (not precise). In a modern high-end fork or shock (especially the fork) a 2PSI difference can make a difference in the ride. Bottom line: get a good digital pump if you're really trying to dial in your suspension.
Thank you Seth. As someone who works on his bikes, I found this to be an interesting and useful video. It will definitely save me from buying some crap tools online.
I gotta say, tools have to be my biggest pet peeve of mountain biking. Want to do almost any job on my sons used mountain bike and you need a special tool for it. I know lots of hobbies need special tools but mountain biking seems to take it to a whole new level. Of course you can just get your bikes tuned at a shop, but that's not as fun.
I have that same exact shock pump for about 2 years now. Used to show correct PSI during the first year but then it degraded and doesn't show the same PSI, however I still use it and it works just fine to set up your sag.
Seth, I appreciate you. Youre a cool dude and I owe you a lot.
Fr bro he’s awesome
@@Tuck_MTB he really is. Saved me from a dark place and got me into biking. Now I'm moving to stay in a van. Life's lookin up.
@@hawkeyejo9609 awesome dude that’s great
I just bought a cheap china ebike for under 1k. Ok for driving the kid around over the weekend, little one loves it, it won't see any off-road, since I do not think that it was made for that... Keep making these videos so that I can assemble a service tool kit as well to keep it running for at least a few years... The bike came with the essentials to assemble it but that is not even close to everything you need to maintain it. Even after the first short ride, I noticed that I needed to adjust the derailleur. Years ago I had a vintage used road bike and all maintenance that it needed was cleaning, and replacing brakes, and tyres, over 30 years works like new.
AliExpress used to be really good for cheap tools etc, but this year everything has high postage to Australia now and the prices are so high for the item that its now cheaper to buy brand name from a shop.
These videos are not only entertaining, they’re hilarious also. Please keep doing reviews!
I bought that exact chain repair kit from ali too couple of years back. the chain breaking tool was only good for 1 time use on the hardened kmc chain i bought. i ended up using 2 of my dads large clamps to grip each end of the tool and twist hard to break the chain. it was so unbelievably bent after that. Still use those master link pliers to this day.
I use that mallet allmost everyday. If the tread in a screw is bad, you can hit it in with that mallet without damaging the screws cap.
I have the same chain cleaning tool. In the beginning it doesn’t move smoothly but after a few cleanings it loosens up and now it is working fine
I have yet to find a better shock pump than my Giyo. It actually has a valve lever, so you just screw it on snug so it seals, flip the lever, add the pressure, flip the lever back, release the hose pressure, and remove the pump with 0 air loss at all. I've recommended it to all of my local shops, but whether they're using it or not, I don't know.
for the cable cutter, you have to get those that is black coloured on the metal and red on the handle grip.
No, the air you hear escaping when you take the shock pump off is from the pump not the shock. The reason they read low when you connect them is that the air springs are so small and when you connect the pump they loose pressure filling the pump to give a reading. You cant test one pumps accuracy by just connecting another pump.
You _can_ test one pump's (A) accuracy using another pump (B), but you first need to check how much air pump B lets out when connecting. I.e., first inflate to desired pressure with pump B, disconnect, again connect pump B, note down the pressure. Then inflate with pump A, disconnect, connect pump B, note down the pressure.
I watched this just to see the maintenance done. Would love to see a video series just about bike maintenance
Aliexpress is a market, same as Amazon, so you do have to find the right tools, and they come in extremely cheap, to moderate prices. Most get rebranded, so these video reviews are appreciated to recognize which are worth keeping.
Pro tip: when servicing loose ball hubs use a magnet to pull the bearings out (the park tool picks with magnets on one end are nice) - you’ll never lose another bearing.
only do this if you are intending on NOT re-using the same balls, once you get them close to a magnet they become (slightly) magnetic and they will attract all the metal dust from normal wear, which will cause more wear and so on.
for just taking them out it's really useful actually
@@truefoxtrot2884 drop em through a demagnetiser then.
you underestimate my ability to lose bearings
He actually used the Park Tool pick with the magnet later on the video. Exactly the tool to use as noted by a few folks.
Little tip from the trade of welding. Get some Knipex brand compact bolt cutters for cables. They will cut through 5/32 stainless wire easy. The cable would be a cake walk.
Damn, I love this channel. Seth is doing all the pros and cons for us when we want to save money! So, my best tool from the series-- a boomurang for Oscar that doesn't hit him! 😅😅
I'm confused, what is the point of this series about finding decent purchases on AliExpress if you're not going to link them?
This is the type of video I miss! More please! ✌
Still don’t have a bike, still love these videos! I recently started searching for pedal bikes for my 3 and 4 year old. They currently have striders. I picked up a used Spawn Yoji in 14” and one in 16” for my boys. Gonna go through them and give them a tune up. Then I guess it will be my turn to find a bike. These videos are so well done. And I love the host. He just seems very likable and his love of bikes is contagious. I can’t help but get excited when he gets excited. Love the videos when he fixes up old bikes. I think that’s the rout I’m going to go when finally finding a bike. I just hope I dont pick a dud, or pick a bike that doesn’t fit. Anyways, apologies for the long comment.
new berm peak express video, today is a good day
I've built whole bikes from Aliexpress (WHOLE BIKES: frame,cranks, wheelsets and groups) and I haven't had any issues with the product being delivered on time or the wrong item. My ONLY complaint would be is the wait time for delivery. But what do you expect when it's coming from over seas.
I always use a magnet tray to catch bearings
Hi seth, would you review one of the aliexpress shimano brakes. Because I bought one the deore m6120 and it’s under performed i think. The brake is look legit or maybe i just installed them wrong. I really want to see your opinion, thanks seth.
I got those cable cutters on Amazon many years ago. They don’t last very long. But I keep them around because the crimper and awl are good. The park tool cutters don’t have the awl thing and their crimper isn’t as good as the china one. But they sure cut wayyy better.
That's funny but "Ninja Star" can be little handy for my friend 3 day ago.
On the ride we jumped a 7 meter dirt jump and he landed it flat.
After some time we found on his bike loosed shock caps and bottom bracket(Loosed i mean we can turn it with hand).
A good cable cutter was a game changer for me.
Bought a ton from Aliexpress, only had issues 2-3 times, 1 package was lost during transport, 2 times when AliExpress had a bug and didn't send intel to customs so customs wanted me to pay tax a second time, both was from the same place. Always got what I ordered.
I love this series Seth!
I started watching you on a trash Avanti black thunder now I’m on a 2006 yz450f I love watching even though I don’t ride mtb anymore keep it up big fella
We love your content
As a biker on a tight buget, I love these, thank you!
I like the dog-cheeto-poop-magnet line of thinking... I remember George Carlin had a bit where he suggested feeding your dog a rubber band so when they pooped it would have a little loop so you could easily pick it up.
I have that chain cleaner and actually prefer it over the park tools one, no sponge in this one and less bristle loss. I use it on 9 and 12 speed non transmission sram chains. Maybe you just didn’t get a good angle on it or the trans chain is awkward in it. Cool videos, thanks again for making them
i have a brake bleed kit from aliexpress and it was 5€ and there is like 10 diffrend adabters and 3 srenges and the bleed cups adapters are metal
The other tough thing about Ali Express is that if you buy the same tools two months from now, you can't be sure they're made by the same factory or to the same spec, they're all about cheapest. But the truth is for a lot of folks you're going to buy a tool to use once, so this and places like Harbor Freight are a good option.
I have found that there are a lot of 3D printable bike tools on thingiverse and printables - how about a test of these?
Nice, I've got the same chain pliers and the chain wear checker, you can get them both separately for a couple bucks each if you don't want the full set. Also, bit belatedly, but there's another style of BB wrench with two closed ends (I've got the blue Riderace one, but I see a Zrace one that looks identical except it's red), and compared to the open-ended one from that first kit, it works _way_ better. I have both and mine from the kit was a little bit bent I think, so the 'jaws' are very very slightly too close together and can't fit cleanly on the BB, the closed-end ones don't have that issue.
Also, that mallet looks very similar to one you can buy from Harbor Freight! Slightly different, but same overall design. The Harbor Freight one came with three different heads to swap out for different hardness, and is probably pretty close in price honestly. Doesn't fit the AliExpress theme but I figure it's worth mentioning for folks who just want to keep things as cheap as possible.
same cable cutter (3 bux) did fine job to me.
it was less expensive to service on my own. Housings and cables it cuts just fine.
You don't loose air unscrewing shock pumps. If you screw the pump ON to check the pressure the pump fills up with air from the fork. That's when you loose some. After pumping the pressure in the pump and fork are equal, so unscrewing does nothing.
Congrats on the 1 million.
1:32 Almost poked my eye out with those master link pliers.
Cone Wrenches not from Ali-Express, but same make/design from Amazon, bought for doing a rear hub service and they worked fine.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST I HAVE EVER BEEN! I appreciate the work you put into these vids seb! It is a pleasure to have the ability to watch your videos! Love it!
if the chain cleaner isnt great then instead of having a useless item. You could fill it with chain lube and after you wash your bike it would be an nice and cleaner way to lube up the chain nicely and saves the chance of it spraying over contaminating the rotors
The brushes in the cleaning kit are great. The chain brush is definitely for a motorcycle chain, but it works. The chain cleaner is crap, I got a park tool one, and it's way better, but I also use wax chain lube now and don't degrease my chain much anymore.
I have that cleaning kit. It works great. The chain cleaner isn't the best. Excited to see what you have to say about it.
This "boom" thst Seth uses sometimes ... makes me remember one of the first bike influencers on RUclips, bike man for you 😂😂😂
The biggest issue with those cheap mallets/hammers is the handle bending, generally when you miss and say strike the edge of the vice with the handle and they can often just fold over inhalf on themselves (or becoming detached from the head)
The key to Ali shopping is to NOT use random vendors. Use sellers that have been around for a while and have actual customer reviews with pics of the products received.
Also...I bought a shelf from aliexpress and it came with one of those "soft" hammers for free. I've actually used it for a few other jobs around the house.