I have a tool from the early '80's. I had it made by a Ames, IA machinist for a case of Coor's which was brought back from Colorado. By the way, nobody drinks Coor's out here in Colorado....Fat Tire rules!
I saw a home made one while I was a US National team Mechanic at a International 12-day stage in Baja California in 1980. Bill Woodul was our team director and we had 6 riders, an assistant from Miami (a Cuban who fled Cuba...this is another cycling story itself), and myself.
One of the Eastern Euro mechanics had a tool that pushed big flat spots on a rim back to somewhat normal or at least, rideable condition. It goes on the hub and extends between the spokes up to the inside of the rim where the flat spot was. By turning the middle part of the tool, the screw like internal part will extend/push the ends of the tool out and thereby pushing the flat spot out. Then you remove the tool and true the wheel.
While on this trip I traded a Zephel double action pump to the Russians for Cuban cigars that they got from the Cuban team. The Cuban team had an old blind "wheel man" who did the wheel truing, building and tire gluing. His hands were like magic with those wheels and I think the Cuban cigars may have come from him as he was never without one.
Andy Bohlmann
Colorado Springs, CO USA
http://www.tourofcolorado.com and http://www.sandcreeksports.com
> My favorite hand made tool is the Sheldon Brown fixed cup remover. It is
> basically a big bolt with a bunch of fender washers and a huge nut at the
> other end. The washers are just big enough so that it gets a good grip on
> the fixed cup but not so big that the polished bearing surfaces get
> touched. Simple... you just grab one side with a big socket wrench and one
> good push - bang off it comes. Brilliant! Thanks Sheldon. I also use a cut
> rubber inner tube to hold the front wheel straight when I have the bike on
> the stand. It ties the downtube to the rim... no marring of paint either.
> I have two short bolts I attach to my rear dropouts. I set them so the
> tips almost touch and then I can judge if the dropouts are parallel. I
> have a dishing tool I made from plywood. It has a mark on it so that I can
> take a steel ruler and measure from the mark to the axle face to judge for
> dish. It's just as accurate for dishing as a Park tool but way cooler.
>
> Garth Libre In Miami Fl USA