I thought I'd measure my NOS Stronglight puller vs. my old Park two-headed puller. Actual outside diameter is 23.13mm vs. 22.89mm for the Park tool.
I'm curious what the actual OD of a TA puller measures, as I used my Park tool for 30 years before ever hearing that it isn't the exact size, but never noticed any problem in pulling 20-30 pairs of Stronlight cranks, almost all being Mod 93's.
I always took care to screw the puller into the full depth of the hole, but with only 0.24mm (.010")difference in diameter (.005" difference in radius), and identical pitch, I would not much expect any trouble unless the wrench required Herculean torque.
As far as the thin-walled sockets for 16mm bolts, I was able to quickly reduce the outside diameter of a normal 16mm socket using a bench grinder.
I finally got the proper Stronglight puller while scrounging through a local shop's box of discarded tools. Replacing used tools seems to be an annual event at some of the more affluent shops, but one may have to be in the right place at the right time to "cash in" on the discards. It might even be worthwhile to inquire of any boxes of old, destined-to-be-discarded tools, parts and fittings that might be under a shelf somewhere, I know I've hit the jackpot with these potpourri boxes many times in recent years, puchased more or less by the pound, 2 cents on the dollar, or free, and saved from the dump.
David Snyder
Auburn, CA
>
\r?\n> I was taught that Stronglight removal tools were
\r?\n> 23.35mm (actually 23.35mm x 1.) Wanted to make sure
\r?\n> so I checked an old "United Bicycle Tools" catalog
\r?\n> that I have laying around dated spring/summer 1997.
\r?\n> Flip to page 16. Third item down or the far right
\r?\n> says: STRONGLIGHT CRANK EXTRACTOR: "Professional
\r?\n> quality tool fits pre-1982 Stronglight cranks which
\r?\n> had 23.35mm diameter threading. Use of any other tool
\r?\n> in these cranks is likely to strip the threads.
\r?\n> Professional quality. VR-22/2 $21.00."