Tools....no not you lot... the things in the garage.

Heres an interesting discussion topic that has been brushed upon in the past but never had a devoted topic.
What level of works do you perform on your bike?
What does your inventory of tools include?
What brands do you favour and why?
What do you wish for?
What could you not live without?
What could you live without?
What tips can you offer a newbie in setting themselves up?
What tips can you give in general in use of tools?


Replies are obviously not restricted to these questions and you can add whatever you like but try to stay on topic - We already know that the Biggest tool is Hoffy and we could all live without him. So with that out of the way ........
I do most everything on bikes. I have spent a long time acquiring what I have and still picking up bits and pieces as I need them, and thats the key. Only get what you need. A 256 piece toolkit looks great in the catalogue but is a waste of time and money when you may only ever use 30 pieces of it.
For the newbie starting out look for a set of metric oe ring spanners and a 3/8metric socket set. A good 6 piece set of screwdrivers and a basic set of metric allen keys. A 300mm shifter wont go astray and a hammer of some sort. All of this could easily be sourced for under $200 if you look in the right places and take your time. Buy only what you can afford and what you foresee the uses may be. No point spending $300 on a set of Stahlwille spanners if you are only going to make basic adjustments.
Inventory I have built up includes
2 sets of OE ring spanners - one cheap and cheerful one good set for everyday use. The nasties get used when I need 2 of the same size - locknuts for example
2 sets of 3/8 drive sockets plus numerous extensions and wobble bars and flex drives
a Plethora of screwdrivers, some nasty but most good quality. Range in size from ultra stubby to 600mm long. They all have their uses.
A set of Ratchet OE ring spanners in the common sizes of 8,10,12,14mm. Time savers but can be awkward to use in tight spots
A set of T handle hex keys in common metric sizes. Good but have problems in tight spots.
A set of ball ended hex keys in a screwdriver configuration to overcome the above problem of tight spots.
A dead blow soft faced hammer. To hit things gently
A ball pein hammer - to hit things hard
Set of T handle spanners / sockets / Nutdrivers in metric sizes - Much easier and faster to use than the socket set
Impact driver - KH100 engines are held together by Phillips head machine screws with the same qualities of cheese and necessitated the purchase of this one.
Verniers
Micrometers
Torque wrench
Electric rattle gun
Heat gun - invaluable for loosing tight and stubborn fasteners and bearings. Plus is used to light the fire in winter
Pliers of all sorts
A pair of TyrePliers Tyre levers. These are the best tyre lever for bikes bar none! Made right here in Sunbury and can be used for more than just tyre fittment. The screwdrivers have had an easy time since their arrival .
etc etc etc.
Brands that I favour are Minimax. They are only sold on ebay here in Aus but have been around for eons. My old man has still got his set that he purchased in 1968 and they were in use daily for 21 years in the hydraulics field. Very well priced and very good quality - some of the gimicky tools are a little bellow par but overall the spanners, screwdrivers and sockets are very good. For screwdrivers you cant go past Sunflag - They are the best - I dont own any but since I have enough ( Minimax and SP ) I will have to wait until I have worn them out.
What cant I live without? The benches for the bikes.
What can I live without? The POS supercheap compressor I bought the other week I said I never would but I did.
Tips in using tools? I have a few but the number one would be get familiar with them and use them often.

Heres an interesting discussion topic that has been brushed upon in the past but never had a devoted topic.
-What level of works do you perform on your bike?
-What does your inventory of tools include?
-What brands do you favour and why?
-What do you wish for?
-What could you not live without?
-What could you live without?
-What tips can you offer a newbie in setting themselves up?
-What tips can you give in general in use of tools?

just about everything...engine/gearbox, suspension repairs & adjustments, servicing, paint jobs, brake jobs
just about everything....my missus knows that there is not a tool known to man that I require (and it has taken nearly 40 yrs to get there)
just about everything...Sidchrome, Kingcrome, W&B, Norbar, Snap On, Repco, Stanley, BOC, CIG, TTI, Kawasaki (yeah their specials), Moores, Autotools
just about nothing....... I have a fully set up workshop...from drill press and garage press to frig and carpet
just about nothing....... really good tools never really die and if cared for, last a lifetime ( I still have my 1st torque wrench, a W&B one )
just about nothing........it all gets used
buy the tool for the job...in addition to a good set of general automotive/motorycle tools (such as spanners, screwdrivers, sockets, wrenches etc)
use the right tool for the job.....saves blood sweat and money (and i wish i had known that 39 years ago.... )


final tips......get a decent workbench, buy/borrow/beg or steal and then read the pharkin manual....OK? and if you are not sure ...ask

I'd say that about covers it ....... next subject.

BTW... some "special tools" that are required by the manufacturer can be home-made if you know what a)it looks like or b)its function.

fark guys, who gonna read that shit !

I'd say that about covers it ....... next subject.

BTW... some "special tools" that are required by the manufacturer can be home-made if you know what a)it looks like or b)its function.

which is why you.......RTFM

fark guys, who gonna read that shit !

NOT you...you you big tool you.......

I'd say that about covers it ....... next subject.

BTW... some "special tools" that are required by the manufacturer can be home-made if you know what a)it looks like or b)its function.

which is why you.......RTFM

Except the "tools" that don't have the manual !

I read it - impressive stuff.
I can only dream of a garage set up like you guys.

I have:
A toolbox, with
- assorted screwdrivers I've had since I was a teen
- allen keys
- 3/4 and 1/2 inch socket sets, + a couple of rachets (Kinchrome and cheapy)
- Rubber mallet
- hammer
- hex drive socket set
- multimeter
- various bits I can't remember
electric and cordless screwdrivers
angle grinder

And a 25 degree incline driveway/carport in which to work

Is a tool something you use to open a bottle of beer? If this is the case I am well equipped Then again the only tools one needs are these

johnny_automatic_bbq_tools.gif (53.34 KiB) Viewed 2887 times

All I can do is reiterate collecting tools over time as you need them, and understand a tools limitations. Ratchets are great, but not super strong. If a tight bolt needs to be cracked, use a fixed T bar to get it moving, then switch to a ratchet. A knackered ratchet is not good for your knuckles!

Screwdrivers may make great tools to open paint tins, scrape paint, gouge out dirt and lever stuff, but they will not remain good screwdrivers. A cheap set to abuse and a good set to use as screwdrivers is useful.

All tools have a specific size, as do nuts and bolts. The better they match, the less damage is done to each. Adjustable spanners cause heaps of damage, as do tools used at an angle.

Many fixings on motorcycles are cheap and soft. This is done to save cost in mass manufacture, but means certain parts turn to chocolate when you use them. Be prepared to buy replacements and use higher quality items to prevent this happening again. Common screws are the ones on front brake fluid reservoir cap and classic bikes engine cover screws. I now have Titanium screws on my front brake fluid reservoir cap and no longer have issues.

To the questions
What level of works do you perform on your bike? I don't do valve clearance, carb balance and gearboxes, but tackle most else.
What does your inventory of tools include? Decent socket set, multiple sets of spanners, screwdrivers and Allen keys, a torque wrench, Oil filter wrench, compressor and various air tools, angle grinder.
What brands do you favour and why? Bit of this, bit of that. I'm not serious enough to spend vast amounts on tools
What do you wish for? A bigger shed
What could you not live without? Socket set
What could you live without? Really cheap tools (bunnings bargin bin etc). They don't fit properly, and damage parts and themselves.
What tips can you offer a newbie in setting themselves up? Only buy what you need, when you need it. You don't need the best of the best, but really cheap isn't usually a good tool.
What tips can you give in general in use of tools? See above.

Slow & wobbly, what was the drama with the compressor? I am interested because I bought one quite a few years ago and for its limmited use it has been surprisingly good. The one thing I did do was run a BSP die over the male output of the regulator and convert it to proper Jamec fittings, that also lets me run a decent size hose. For small workshop jobs it has been pretty good.

I would also recommend a dremmel (or similar rotary tool) and re-coil / heli coil kits.!

I dont do any of the work myself... no wait! I replaced my grips!

What level of works do you perform on your bike? Oil the chain, thrash the crap out of it
What does your inventory of tools include? I have a socket set with the most important sockets missing, a allan key set with all of the keys I need missing. I also have a saw... and a shovel.
What brands do you favour and why? Bunnings, they sell sausages on saturday mornings
What do you wish for? Compressor
What could you not live without? A pulse
What could you live without? Herpies
What tips can you offer a newbie in setting themselves up? Get a better job, then you can afford a mechanic to do all the work
What tips can you give in general in use of tools? When using a hammer, do not put your hand under it while it is coming down. The same applies for saws, knives, socket sets... in fact pretty much any tool...

to many to list and garage to messy to find most.......and that's assuming the son hasn't nicked them since the last time i used some of them........
work done basic maintenance .... with the odd deeper dive with manual in hand
wish list a set of T sockets ......which i will have after i nick them from post originator

answer D - all of the above.

plus a few specials - die-grinder for porting (run from a compressor). The rotary-head dremels are good for small jobs, but when you need to really get in and carve it - a 20,000rpm die-grinder is the only way to go.

I got a high-pressure spray washer for the last birthday - this is a really good addition to the workshop.

Don't forget things like a proper de-greasing bay, with pressure-washer. Invaluable.

A pedestal-mounted bench-grinder is a must, and if you can, another one converted to polishing mops is also handy.

I make all my own fork-splitting tools. Its a piece of piss if you need to take forks apart on a regular basis. Home-made tools are the best additions to any work-shop. Clutch-removal tools can be made really easily.....

About the only thing I don't have is a proper bead-blasting cabinet.......... or a lathe. Although its almost as good, if you have a *mate* with a lathe !!!