Park Tool PCS 9.3 Workstand Review: A terrific workstand aimed on the house mechanic

You can work on a motorbike and not using a workstand, however utilizing one when finishing up upkeep and repairs makes life rather a lot simpler at occasions. Up for assessment at this time is my very own workstand, the Park Tool PCS 9.3, which, within the model’s phrases, is the stand ‘for the house mechanic’. 

The PCS 9.3 is probably the most inexpensive transportable work stand within the Park Tool vary and is about the place to begin price-wise for a very good high quality, sturdy workstand. I completed working as a mechanic and bought this stand myself for house use. It does not have a number of the options somebody engaged on bikes day in time out will in all probability want, however for house use on a smaller vary of bikes, it has been excellent. 

I’ve been utilizing the stand at house for over a 12 months, and I’m now prepared to drag collectively my full assessment. Check out our greatest bike restore stands information for extra workstand choices and shopping for recommendation. If you take pleasure in working in your bikes and are all for instruments, you may also head to our greatest bike torque wrenches information. 

Design and Aesthetics 

The stand, as you may count on, is available in one color, and that’s Park Tool blue, a color that has turn into synonymous with the American producer over time. There are a number of Park Tool stickers on the stand and a mannequin identify sticker up on the top. These can rip or tear with heavy use although, so take care of them.

The PCS 9.3 wants assembling out of the field. It’s simply finished, and Park provides most of its instruments with easy-to-follow, clear directions, and you are able to do all the pieces with hex keys. There’s even a helpful meeting video which you’ll watch under. You must be arrange and able to work inside thirty minutes. 

When it involves stands, weight is usually a very good factor, except you are travelling with one commonly and simply need low weight. The PCS 9.3 makes use of an all metal building which weighs in at simply over 7 kilos, straightforward sufficient to hold, however sturdy sufficient to soundly assist the load of most bikes (as much as 80lbs/34kg) with out tipping over, which is rarely good. This is a danger with some cheaper light-weight stands which are typically on supply in shops and supermarkets.

The stand is comprised of two folding assist legs, that are bolted to a major shaft which is peak adjustable. The legs have two rubber finish caps to maintain noise down, as does the bottom of the principle shaft. Two assist struts on the base of the shaft additionally add power. Two clamps lock all the pieces in place, and they’re straightforward to make use of when folding all the pieces down.

The head of the stand provides 360-degree rotation, and you’ll alter the angle of the bike within the stand utilizing the deal with behind the top. The jaws then use a plastic-covered metal deal with to tighten down onto the seatpost or the body tube to safe the bike – attempt to keep away from clamping carbon body tubes. The plastic jaws are replaceable as they’ll get chewed up over time.

The head of the stand does not fold down and stays at a 90-degree angle to the principle shaft. This has by no means induced me any storage points when conserving the stand within the storage, however if you’re pushed for area or need the smallest potential folding stand, it’s possible you’ll wish to contemplate one other mannequin.

One factor you may’t do with the PCS 9.3 is rotate the principle shaft by hand, which suggests you may shortly transfer a motorbike facet to facet, for instance or entry a sure space of the bike extra shortly and never must stroll round it. You can transfer the teardrop-shaped major shaft up and down to regulate the peak, however you may’t rotate it; the place is fastened. 

This was one function I missed at first, having been used to doing it most days on one other stand, however in time, it grew to become a non-issue for me. My work on bikes at house has been much more relaxed, and I discovered I did not really want that function an excessive amount of.

Performance 

The stand has carried out excellently for me when engaged on all of my very own bikes and a variety of check bikes, the newest of which was the Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 AXS. There might not be an excessive amount of for me to jot down right here. It’s carried out just about completely for me as a piece stand and has finished precisely what it says on the tin. 

Durability-wise, I have never had a difficulty. Everything continues to be excellent and dealing simply because it ought to, the principle indicators of use being some paint splatter from after I used the stand to clamp a fence panel to color it. If you utilize the stand to clean your bikes commonly, I’d advocate spraying the {hardware}, i.e the nuts and bolts that maintain it collectively, with some WD40 or related from time to time for some safety. 

I’ve stored it assembled in place within the storage and have folded it down after I want extra room or to take it to the odd occasion. For me, it does not take up an excessive amount of room, and I’ve been very proud of it. 

The rotating head often sticks, if for instance I’ve clamped a set of forks into the stand to work on them. There hasn’t been the load to maneuver the unit and I’ve needed to unwind the clamp and provides it a push. I additionally re-grease the within of the top often which is simple to do. 

The stand has a max beneficial weight of 36kg, which is not going to hassle any highway, gravel or mtb bikes. Just examine the weights for those who’re engaged on any very heavy e-bikes or related. 

The different major level I’d make relating to this stand is the shortcoming to simply transfer a motorbike round when working, you’ll have to do the transferring. But at house, engaged on a motorbike with out speeding with a espresso, or beer, it has been a non-issue long run. 

Value 

This is about the place to begin price-wise for a high quality, heavier-duty workstand and represents good worth. Other manufacturers have equal fashions, an instance could be the Sport Mechanic stand from Feedback Sports or the BikeGator stand from Unior. There are cheaper choices on the market, however they aren’t as sturdy or sturdy. I’ve seen primary, low cost stands topple over when a motorbike’s rear wheel was eliminated, which is a possible catastrophe. 

Replaceable elements are additionally accessible, which is a plus level for a stand, and there aren’t actually any primary or low cost elements. For the house and even store mechanics, it is a good, stable purchase.

If you might be engaged on bikes, I’d advocate selecting a stand with a shaft that you could transfer and with some type of fast clamp closure, which saves effort and time if you’re engaged on and lifting bikes all day, every single day. It was the one function I missed barely at first, however it’s definitely not a deal-breaker. 

Verdict 

This is a superb, good high quality stand that’s nicely suited to working by yourself bikes at house. It’s finished completely all the pieces I’ve wanted and hasn’t put a foot mistaken. 

More costly stands have extra options that make life simpler if you’re spannering all day, however as Park Tool says, this one is for the house mechanics, and for that, it is just about excellent.