Went with a $20 cable puller instead of the Park Tool one at my shop

Last week I had to choose between a cheap no-name cable puller for $20 or dropping $45 on the Park Tool version. I got the cheap one and the handle snapped on the third cable install. Has anyone else had good luck with the budget tools or am I just wasting money here?

3 comments

3 Comments

hart.mark1mo ago

Handle snapped on the third cable install" is exactly why I never cheap out on tools.

clairem471mo ago

Heard from a buddy that the cheap ones work fine if you're just doing your own bike, but they fall apart quick if you're using them all day. Sounds like that's about right from your experience.

the_riley1mo ago

Why would you blame the tool when it sounds like you might've been putting too much force into it honestly? Those cheap cable pullers are basically the same metal and plastic as the expensive ones, just with worse paint jobs. I've had a $15 no-name special for like 4 years now and it's still going strong through dozens of builds and repairs. You probably just got a lemon or overtightened that handle way too hard. Most of the time paying triple for Park Tool just gets you a sticker and a warranty you'll never use.