Can we debate which is better: cone spanners or adjustable wrenches for hub overhauls?

I used to swear by cheap adjustable wrenches for bottom brackets and hubs. Quick and dirty. But after I stripped a cone nut on a 1980s Schwinn in Portland last spring, I switched to Park Tool cone spanners. They fit tighter. Less play. Now I'm slower but my hubs last way longer. What's your take? Do you favor speed or precision on older bikes?

2 comments

2 Comments

troyreed18d ago

You mentioned "speed or precision on older bikes" but nobody's talking about the real wildcard: those old Schwinn cones are made of softer steel than modern stuff, so a adjustable wrench can actually mushroom them faster than a spanner would.

joelwells18d ago

Yeah, that soft steel on those old Schwinns is a real pain. I've flattened a couple cones myself before I figured out you basically have to treat them like they're made of butter. A good fixed spanner with a clean fit is the only way to go if you want to keep them round. Otherwise you're just making a mess you'll have to true up later.