Screwdrivers
Browse used bike screwdrivers for sale from riders across the UK. The sizes a bike needs are a short list: a PH2 or JIS number 2 cross-head for derailleur limit and cable anchor screws, a 3mm flat blade for barrel adjusters and older brake hardware, a T25 Torx driver for disc rotor bolts, and small precision drivers for shifter and computer mount hardware. It suits riders setting up gears, where a driver that slips turns a soft limit screw into a drilling job.
Which screwdrivers do I need for bike work?
Gear adjustment accounts for most of it: limit screws, cable anchor plates and B-tension screws are usually a number 2 cross-head or a 3mm hex, and barrel adjusters and older brake springs take a narrow flat blade. Rotor bolts are commonly T25, so a driver in that size earns its place even though it is not strictly a screwdriver. A magnetised tip is worth more than it sounds when a 2mm screw is above a bottom bracket shell.
Does JIS or Phillips matter on Shimano screws?
Yes, and it is the most common cause of a wrecked limit screw. Japanese components use the JIS cross-head, which has a deeper, differently angled recess than Phillips. A Phillips bit sits shallow in it and cams out under load, lifting out of the slot and rounding the screw. Drivers marked JIS, including those from Vessel and Wera, seat fully and stay put; the same mismatch works in reverse on Phillips fasteners.
What should I check on a used screwdriver?
The tip is the tool. On a cross-head, look for rounded or shortened flutes and a shiny, polished nose, all signs it has been cammed out repeatedly and will now do the same to your screws. Flat blades wear narrow and rounded at the corners, and a blade that has been twisted or ground badly will not sit square in a barrel adjuster. Check the handle is still fixed to the shank rather than turning on it, and on bit drivers that the bit holder still grips rather than dropping bits into the frame.
How much should used screwdrivers cost?
Good drivers are cheap new and hold value poorly used, so there is little to gain unless the price is very low or the set is complete. Where used buying pays is precision sets and Torx sets bought as a bundle, or a full hand tool collection sold together with allen keys and spanners included. If a listing shows worn tips, treat the drivers as worthless and price the rest of the lot alone.