Why 15 mm?

[neptune]

Many bicycle wheel nuts today are designed for a 15mm spanner. This is a problem, because most cheap-but-adequate spanner sets do not include this size. A common type of bike spanner, the one shaped like a dumb-bell do include this size, but they are of such poor quality that in my experience they always break before adequate torque can be applied.I like to carry a wheel spanner, and my answer has been to buy a separate combination spanner off ebay, ring one end, and open the other, both ends 15mm.
I would be interested to know how other people tackle this problem. The same thing applies to my Powabyke, with its odd size front wheel nuts, 18mm. Again necessitating the purchase of a seperate spanner.

 

[Scimitar]

This is where Aldi and Lidl spanner sets and Allen keys really score - you can make a small toolkit to carry on the bike and if it gets nicked or lost, no big deal.
I certainly don't carry my Snap-On or other decent spanners around with me.

 

[smudger1956]

This is where Aldi and Lidl spanner sets and Allen keys really score - you can make a small toolkit to carry on the bike and if it gets nicked or lost, no big deal.
I certainly don't carry my Snap-On or other decent spanners around with me.

Same here...........I also have a 'Monkey Metal' tool kit, try the pound shop as well for cheepo tools.

 

[daveboy]

I carry a adjustable spanner. I know they can slip if your not careful but stanley do
a locking adjustable spanner which is a cross between a spanner and a set of mole
grips.It does not slip or chew up your nuts (not nice).David

 

[flecc]

I make spanners to suit by enlarging old Imperial or metric spanners to suit, chrome vanadium is easy to file. For details on the 18 mm size which is also commonly omitted from spanner sets, see this page on my website.

 

[jhruk]

The spanner I still rely on most when out is the adjustable one in the Cool-tool bicycle multitool. Although fairly small & lightweight it’s surprisingly tough and has coped with everything asked of it in the many years I’ve owned it. It goes up to 19mm and the leverage can be increased by using the allen keys as extensions.

Unfortunately I don’t think they make them any more.

 

[muckymits]

15 mm is near as dam it same as 5/16 whitworth, I have an odd 15 mm ring key that I used to use on Gardener engines to take water pumps off.

 

[Scimitar]

The spanner I still rely on most when out is the adjustable one in the Cool-tool

I'd read that as 'coal-tool' and had a certain image
View attachment 4359. I've no doubt more than the fair share of bikes out there are maintained by suchlike.

 

[smudger1956]

I'd read that as 'coal-tool' and had a certain image
View attachment 4359. I've no doubt more than the fair share of bikes out there are maintained by suchlike.

I also have a collection of 'Percussive Adjusters'....

 

[flecc]

I also have a collection of 'Percussive Adjusters'....

aka the Birmingham screwdriver.

 

[aseb]

easily found with a little looking around, but single spanners can seem expensive compared to sets. And there's always ebay- from under £2 to hundreds.....