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Terske turns your thru axle into a portable crank, lock ring, or pedal wrench

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Depending on who you talk to, one of the arguments against the Centerlock rotor standard is the need for a big, bulky tool in case your rotor ever comes loose on a ride. We’ve seen it happen, and it can ruin a ride. Fortunately, the problem can now easily be solved with the new Terske Travel Disc Brake Rotor Lockring Tool.

Travel Disc Brake Rotor Lockring Tool

Travel Disc Brake Rotor Lockring Tool on axle

The problem with making tools like this portable is that for it to work, you need leverage. Terske solves that problem by using a lever that you already have – a 12mm thru axle. Both of their new tools are designed to slip onto a 12mm thru axle and the axle then becomes the tool handle.

Of course, you probably don’t want to be using this with a carbon fiber thru axle or something crazy like that. But Terske says the tools are compatible with 12mm thru axles with a 3mm minimum wall thickness (6mm max. thru hole)…which is most rear thru axles on MTB and road/gravel/cyclocross bikes.

With that combination, the tool is rated up to 50Nm of maximum torque, which is plenty. Obviously, this is a hand tool, and you’re using a critical part of your bike as the leverage, so don’t overdo it…but it’s more than enough to get your Centerlock brake rotor secure again.

Travel Disc Brake Rotor Lockring Tool angles

Designed for Centerlock and AFS rotor lockrings, the tool has 16 notches. It also features o-rings inside of the axle holes to keep the tool in place on the axle and prevent it from falling into the dirt.

The fit is very precise, and very light. It’s machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and weighs just 17g, making it an easy add to your tool kit. The Travel Disc Brake Rotor Lockring tool sells for $24.95, axle not included.

Travel 6/8/16mm Hex Tool

Travel 6/8/16mm Hex Tool on axle

Another brilliant little travel tool using the same concept is the Travel 6/8/16mm Hex Tool. Specifically, Terske calls out RaceFace and Easton Cinch cranks which uses a 16mm hex key for the non-drive side fixing bolt and self-extracting caps, but the 6 and 8mm hex tools make it compatible with a lot more.

Travel 6/8/16mm Hex Tool pedal wrench

If you’ve ever tried to remove a stubborn pedal with a multi-tool, you know this can be a Herculean task. Like the Rotor Lockring Tool, the addition of a 12mm thru axle as the lever should provide the necessary leverage to get things moving.

Made from SAE 420 stainless steel, the tool weighs in at 36g, and is rated to 40Nm of torque. The tool requires the same 3mm minimum wall thickness for the 12mm thru axle, and sells for $24.95.

lindarets.com

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45 Comments
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luddite
luddite
2 years ago

Please make an adapter for a HG cassette lockring (also used for some centrelock rotor lockrings)! Seems like an obvious addition. Would be great for bikepacking.

David
David
2 years ago
Reply to  luddite

Yes! A Shimano-compatible BSA BB tool would be amazing as well.

Andy R.
Andy R.
2 years ago
Reply to  luddite

+1, I’m 100% HG rotor lockrings and would buy this in a heartbeat. I have no idea what lockrings even fit the pictured tool, never seen them

Gavin
Gavin
2 years ago
Reply to  Andy R.

This tool will fit any lockring with 16 notches, or, if you have a similar bottom bracket tool you can use that also.

Marc Lindarets
2 years ago
Reply to  luddite

Hmmm… you’re not the first to request that.

Jimmy T
Jimmy T
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc Lindarets

It will be an increasingly common request, with flat mount brakes there is a fair chance that the lock rings designed for 15 mm axles will foul the brake boss area on the fork. Means you can only use the slimmer line option (with a tool common to cassette lock rings.)

mud
mud
2 years ago

Very clever

Marc Lindarets
2 years ago
Reply to  mud

Thanks Mud!

Rick Tan
Rick Tan
2 years ago

I can see using it with a tree branch too

Huffagnolo SuperMagna
Huffagnolo SuperMagna
2 years ago

This is a neat looking tool. I want one but alas my thru axle stuff is 15mm. Maybe they might expand this line!

Marc Lindarets
2 years ago

Most all rear thru axles are 12mm 🙂

Sevo
Sevo
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc Lindarets

They all are.

Shafty
Shafty
2 years ago
Reply to  Sevo

Why do they have an RT86 in the photo? Usually those don’t play nice with adapters. I can see things like that coming loose. Never had a properly tightened centerlock rotor come loose and I’ve installed many.

Looks like a well thought out tool, although I can’t see myself carrying one.

Huffagnolo SuperMagna
Huffagnolo SuperMagna
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc Lindarets

Dang it I feel dumb, yeah they are all 12mm shouldn’t post after a really long day at work!

Cool tool still!

Ben
Ben
2 years ago

Why not doing something similar (maybe with a 1/2 adapter ? To be able to use with bits and co ?) for seat posts ? Should handle much more torque, with a minimal weight penalty.

Double-Dee
2 years ago

Brilliant!

JV
JV
2 years ago

This blows my mind. I didn’t think there was any ideas left out there for tools. I can foresee a combination of these and maybe another one or two, all fit together into one piece. Throw a small multitool, and one of these things for the bigger things, and you’d be set. Nicely done.

Joenomad
Joenomad
2 years ago

Then carry a spare thru-axle because once you bend it, good luck getting back through the wheel. Also, I have never had to stop to tighten a center lock rotor. Another solution looking for a problem.

Marc Lindarets
2 years ago
Reply to  Joenomad

Hence the axle thickness and torque requirements.

Joenomad
Joenomad
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc Lindarets

So you are guaranteeing that all tru-axles can handle the stress of being used as a wrench and if someone uses your tool and damages theirs, you will replace it for them.

luggednut
2 years ago
Reply to  Joenomad

@joenomad, I have had this issue–usually after a long gnarly downhill ride, glad you’ve been lucky, but it is a pretty nifty solution for a real problem.

Craig
Craig
2 years ago

Wow that’s so clever. I want one for my travel kit.

Marc Lindarets
2 years ago

Thanks Craig!

mudmudmud
mudmudmud
2 years ago

Here’s another idea – a slotted rotor truing fork that slips over the TA for leverage. I always bring a Birzman on longer trips because I’m paranoid, and they’re heavy.

mud
mud
2 years ago

Ok, this is crazy but: a TA pump. Use a hose for the chuck. just kidding

Dylan Sutton
Dylan Sutton
2 years ago

Fit the rotor correctly in the first place and it’s not coming loose on its own…

Ted
Ted
2 years ago
Reply to  Dylan Sutton

Yes, rationalism is the answer! Never make a mistake and you won’t have any problems! 😛

JD
JD
2 years ago
Reply to  Dylan Sutton

Don’t ride your bike and you won’t have to fix it.

Tony Pep
Tony Pep
2 years ago

They must’ve forgotten that thru axles are hollow and aluminum. I like tools. REALLY like tools, but I am on JoeNomads team… maybe if that axle were hardened steel?

Shredder
Shredder
2 years ago
Reply to  Tony Pep

Which do you think would put more stress on an axle, the weight of a rider and the forces of hitting things on the trail or road, or 50nm of torque from this tool?

Josh
Josh
2 years ago
Reply to  Shredder

@Shredder – I’m gonna have to go with B because most (if not all) through-axle frames have shoulders that the axle sits on in both the frame and fork, so the load on it is mostly clamping tension.

That said, this is still a really cool idea and you’re not going to bend or break your axle using it unless you’re a complete doofus. Definitely getting one for emergencies. #YMMV

Marc Lindarets
2 years ago
Reply to  Tony Pep

I’m pretty sure that we didn’t forget.

Bart
Bart
2 years ago

Brilliant! Are there any European distributors or shipping to the EU? My touring bike only has QR skewers, but considering how portable this is, I’ll just buy a new axle and stuff it into that portion of my travel kit that you hope you will never need to use.

Marc Lindarets
2 years ago
Reply to  Bart

Thanks Bart! Unfortunately we had to suspend shipping to Europe: with COVID and the corresponding reduction in passenger flights (which small parcels often piggyback on) our options became either glacial or extortionate, and no one was happy 🙁
That said, eBay’s global shipping program can be competitive: they seem to palletize packages in the US, ship them overseas, and re-ship locally. There’s a buy on eBay link at the bottom of on the product page if you’d like to check it out.

gonebikingmad
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc Lindarets

Hi Marc, look out for an email from Mark at Gone Biking Mad, I believe I can help you on that and have been a fan of your other products for a while, lets chat.

gonebikingmad
2 years ago
Reply to  Marc Lindarets

Hi Marc, I think I can help you with that, keep an eye out for an email from me later today, and maybe we can have a chat about the UK and Europe sales and Distribution.

Mark @ Gone Biking Mad Ltd

Gavin
Gavin
2 years ago
Reply to  Bart

gonebikingmad.co.uk have stock £24.95

Deputy Dawg
Deputy Dawg
2 years ago

Exactly, Had it happen on the second lap down Captain Ahab years ago. Re-tightened by hand, then lightly “banged” it a bit tighter using the flat-blade screwdriver on my multitool.

This would have been SO much better, but since then, I’ve become a bit OCD on checking my centerlock rotors.

macktheturtle
macktheturtle
2 years ago

remember when 6-bolt rotors were way better than any other option, making all this unnecessary?
Oh, that’s right, they still are!

typevertigo
typevertigo
2 years ago
Reply to  macktheturtle

@macktheturtle
“All this unnecessary?”

You’re still gonna need some way of tightening pedal to crank arm, which this post fortunately references. Conveniently skirts around the contentious issue of rim v disc brake too.

Chuck Albaugh
Chuck Albaugh
2 years ago

If people followed torque requirements no one would need this tool. Also, how do you properly torque the lockring with this tool anyway?

Brian
Brian
2 years ago

Thru axles see tensile loads only, unless they’re incorrectly torqued (so they aren’t even really axles). They’re there to clamp the hub axle between the dropouts.

Yayo
Yayo
2 years ago

“Cause if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it”

https://bikerumor.com/2019/03/13/review-uniors-tiny-multi-purpose-pocket-lockring-tool-saves-the-day/

K-Pop is dangerous to your health
K-Pop is dangerous to your health
2 years ago

I’m just amazed at the fact an actual person (the founder) from the company is responding to comments. That’s a one in a million scenario right there. The usual case is the peanut gallery goes nuclear and we never hear a peep from anyone even attempting to backup their products.

Impressive and yet such simple tool design. Much respect.

grimtechblog
2 years ago

What a brilliant idea, utilising the axle, well played Sir.

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