Campagnolo - what do I need?

[feynman]

My next attempt at the do-it-all bike is a Chorus 12 build.

I have no experience maintaining a Campagnolo bike.

Any specific tools I should have? Unique spare parts?

I assume I should grab an extra chain. Do they use quick links?

Edited to add: Disc brake, BSA BB

Stuff like that...

Thanks!

[eljayski]

I have Chorus 2x12 on my David Kirk and I could not be more pleased! Chrous chain does not come with a master link, though Record and SR do, as I understand it, but let your bike shop install one for you.

Before I got the Kirk, I rode a Ribble ti bike with Shimano 105 Di2. Liked the electric shift and disk brakes well enough but Chorus is a much more pleasing experience. Good luck with your quest!

[dancinkozmo]

pretty sure any 12 speed chain with quick link will work fine...doesnt have to be campag specific unless you want that
but the campag chain tool is stupid expensive
you'll need a campag cassette lockring tool like the park BBT 5

[cgolvin]

Not a complete list, just off the top of my head.

Definitely need:

- BB tool (Abbey Tools, as always, great)
- Cassette tool (ditto, love the Crombie, but for torque you also need something to interface to the torque wrench)
- tool for the crankset hirth joint bolt (really just an extended allen bolt)

Kind of nice to have: the silly plastic Campy tools for placement and alignment of the front derailleur. Sure, a skilled mechanic doesn't need it but I find it makes things very easy.

I think the poster above is referring to the replacement pin, not a quick link. If you're going that route I'd recommend that you bite the bullet and buy the Campy tool (gulp). But not necessary -- I've used a couple of brands of quick link, currently find the YBN ones work very well. (Originally it was just the SRAM one but that one didn't fit perfectly, now the usual suspects make 12 speed quick links.)

I'm sure I've missed something but that's it off the top of my head.

[slowpoke]

- chain tool with a peening anvil if you're set on using Campy chains (don't get the Campy one and just get the Abbey Decade Tool)

- Campy-specific cassette/bottom bracket tool (Park BBT-5)

- pick up the "Maximum Smoothness" cable + housing set. Supposedly it makes the 12-speed stuff shift a lot better. And Campy brake cable heads are a smidge smaller.

Lastly: a fat wallet

[Gwerziou]

The Record chain with C link is great. You might want a Campy cassette tool, Park and Abbey make them. The 'UT-DB011 Oil Level Tool' is good to have if you work on the brakes yourself.

[NHAero]

Extra virgin olive oil for all lubrication points

[Bob Ross]

Make sure you have a few sizes of Torx wrench, Campy uses that on a surprising number of bolts.

Not sure if this is still germane, my one and only Campy bike is an 11-speed from circa 2016, but the only tool I had to get once I acquired that bike was the aformentioned Torx -- which, conveniently, were included with the bike purchase (thanks e-Richie!) -- and a cassette removal tool.

Oh, and I forget whether it was an 8mm or a 10mm hex wrench, but whatever the Campy crank fixing bolt is, I didn't have one of those.

[vespasianus]

Disc or rim brake?

[robertbb]

A good bottle of Montepulciano.

[Mark McM]

As above, you'll need a Campagnolo specific cassette tool, and if using a Campagnolo chain other than the new Super Record 12spd chain, you'll need a Campagnolo specific chain peening tool. If you are using disc brakes, you'll need a Campagnolo bleed block and a bleed kit. But the other tools are not generally Campagnolo specific. Generally, the other tools required are an assortment of general hand tools (such as allen wrenches and sockets, torx wrenches and sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, box wrenches, etc.), and general bicycle tools (such as a 16 notch 44mm splined BB tool, cable cutter and crimpers, or hose cutter and barb setter).

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by feynman

My next attempt at the do-it-all bike is a Chorus 12 build.

I have no experience maintaining a Campagnolo bike.

Any specific tools I should have? Unique spare parts?

I assume I should grab an extra chain. Do they use quick links?

Stuff like that...

Thanks!

Grab some extra cash?

[feynman]

Thanks, all. I'm looking forward to it.

Originally Posted by vespasianus

Disc or rim brake?

Disc

[gfk_velo]

Originally Posted by feynman

Thanks, all. I'm looking forward to it.



Disc

Most of the advice above is good.
To summarise it, here's the list we give to mechs who've not worked on Campag before (I run the UK Tech training for Campag and am their Lead tech in the UK).

There is now a Campag-made quick link for 12s (fits all their 12s chains) which doesn't shaft your warranty - otherwise, bite the bullet and use the UT-CN400 chain tool (does 13s as well, but not 11). The peening anvil is set to make sure that the pin is properly inserted to the correct depth (adjustable peening anvils on other tools don't necessarily do that) and the spacing to the plate block from the saddle is correct so the link isn't overly distorted when driving the rivet (a problem with some "universal" tools).

If you are going to work on your brakes:
Oil level tool & bleed kit.
Campagnolo "red" oil.
Hose cutters.
Barb tool.
Old galvanised (not stainless) gear cable, if internal hoses - makes it easier to draw the hoses through, if they're new they have a fitting on the end to carry a gear cable to use as a draw. Galvanised because it's easy to route with a magnet.

Crankset area:
Standard Shimano-pattern external BB cup spanner is screw in.
BB cup press if press in. Don't mess about with trying to hammer them in or using a bar and washers - the real deal will get them in straight which is what you need - don't assume the frame is square, it likely isn't.
If PF - Recommend Loctite 7649 & 641. 603 or 609 are alternatives if you can't get 641 (not sold in some countries).
Fine nose pliers.
Ectended 10mm hex key that fits to your torque wrench.
Small screwdriver.
Fine-nose pliers.

Derailleurs:
Nothing outside of general tools (see below)
FD setting tool makes life much easier. 12s FD needs to be pretty much spot on. Note the FD set up is totally *not* like any other FD set-up in Campag (or for that matter,Shimano or SRAM-world).

Levers:
Easiest to use a long t-handle Torx 25 key. Multi-tools are usually too short & people usually end up making a Horlicks of the bolt head.

Wheel / rotor area:
Cassette tool, strongly recommend one that fits your high range torque wrench. It says 40 nm on the lockring. It's not lasered on there for decoration :-D

General tools:
High range torque wrench 10-60nm say.
Low range torque wrench 4-20nm typically.
Torx 25, 27 and 30
Hex 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6
8mm open end crows-foot that fits your low range torque wrench (brake flare nuts).
Good if you have all of the keys as torque-wrench fittings with an extender bar so you can get to some screws in an awkward location - I recommend the Prestacycle Pro torque wrench & fittings. Not too expensive, light, robust, reliable, accurate. Head will fit other torque - square drive wrenches.
External cup BB spanner (same as Shimano) for threaded cups unless T47, in which case the Park 16-notch tool.

Advice:
RTFM
Check the chairing bolt torques. Should be 8nm. Worth a regular check.

Enjoy!

[vespasianus]

Originally Posted by feynman

Thanks, all. I'm looking forward to it.



Disc

Buy the official campagnolo disc brake bleed kit:

https://www.condorcycles.com/product...21805590347859

https://www.amazon.com/Campagnolo-Bl...s%2C108&sr=8-2

I have a long 10mm Allen key that allows for easy crank bolt tightening.

Also, I bought some needle nose pliers to help put in the "clip" on the crank.

The one thing I don't like about Campagnolo is the location of the brifter bolts - I find a long set of long Torx bolts helps a lot (also allows the use of a torque wrench).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...1?ie=UTF8&th=1

Otherwise, everything is similar to any other system. I use a Shimano cassette and KMC chain.