| Author | Message | ||
     Julesx |
Guys, Quick newbie question for you. Are the XB's held together with metric or imperial nuts and bolts ? Is my huge range of metric Snap On tools (well, cheap Sunday market, actually !! ) going to be redundant if I buy an XB ? Thanks. Jules | ||
| 2k4xb12 |
Put your metric tools away and get a set of good ol' American (SAE) tools!  | ||
| Julesx |
Woe and thrice woe ! Thanks Jules  | ||
| Darthane |
Both, depending on what part you're working on! | ||
| Bud |
Both, depending on what part you're working on yep.. as i recall the brake's are metric | ||
| Ingemar |
Quite a lot is metric. At least on mine. The bolts for the headlights and the ecm are metric, as are the ones for the blinkers. | ||
| Julesx |
I understand that this is all part of the ' Buell ' experience '...........which is a bit like my friend who has envolving affair with Alfa Romeos and when they do not work he shrugs his shoulders and talks of the Alfa ' experience ' !! Oh well..........down to the tool shop ! Jules | ||
| 2k4xb12 |
True, that's right -- it's a mixed lot. Japanese brakes and forks. But, on mine, the ECM is standard, but the battery is metric (U.S. source for tray/ECM mount, overseas source for battery). It just depends on where the parts originated. I guess it would have been easier to make it all metric (sheesh -- did I just say that?). So, I guess you should not put your metric tools away just yet -- let them co-mingle in the toolbox... | ||
| M1combat |
I've started the long and arduous task of swapping all the metric stuff out for SAE. I think the engine is all SAE stuff, so I'll standardize on that. I'm sure there'll be stuff I can't swap though, so it's probably all for naught... | ||
| Darthane |
Oh, bah. A standard Craftsman 200pc tool set will get you 95% of what you need, metric and SAE. ...besides, buying new tools is fun! | ||
| Julesx |
Darth How right you are !! Anything that is ' shiney ' and goes in the garage is good. 'Spose I better go and buy a bike first and then worry about the tools !! Jules | ||
| Tucsonxb9s |
Yes... | ||
| Fullpower |
jules: buy the XB. most service can be performed with a few allen wrenches (1/8,3/16,1/4,5/16, 3/8inch),T40 torx, an 8 inch adjustable wrench, a pair of tire irons and a 6 inch C-clamp. the tool kit under the seat comes with a T27 torx, and an axle wrench, and has enough room to add the allen wrenches and a tire pressure guage. oh, most important, get a service manual. enjoy, dean | ||
| M1combat |
Yeah, get a service manual. If you buy new from a dealer tell them to throw it in for free. | ||
| Bomber |
tubers are (rule of thumb, some exceptions) engine, imperial sizes (made me chuckle to see the SAE taking credit for that measurment system), cycle parts, metric -- could be the XB series is similarly conflicted | ||
| Julesx |
Over here in Engerland we have embraced all things metric................and if, no,WHEN I buy my Bewell I will now have to clutter my tiny brain with more information like imperial and metric !! Fullpower........... I take your point about the ease of service with an XB and the value of a service manual.Thanks Jules | ||
| Bomber |
metric was given a try here --30 or so years later, you can still stumble over a sign on the interstate telling you how many klicks to St Louis -- I wonder how many HD techs had to buy their first metric tool to svc a VRod? | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
I have yet to find a bolt or fastener (not counting Torx) that doesn't have a metric equivelent. IE:1/2inch is 13mm, 17mm is 7/8 inch ect ect ect. | ||
| Julesx |
Bomber A very good point. We are all metric now.........except we still measure road distance in miles and our speedos are in MPH!! My kids no nothing of imperial measurements and take it all in their stride..... me ..........well I'm just confused !! Jules | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Oh, and as a side note, SAE and Imperial are not always equal. I can't remember what sizes do differ, but I remember my stepfather having a set of Imperial wrenches for his Brit bikes because the SAE tools he had wouldn't always fit right. | ||
| Julesx |
Wycked As they say over here....' You are winding me up ' aka... ' You cannot be serious. ' How many bloody spanners ( wrenches ) does a Bueller need. FFS !! So what you are saying is that I may easily find and equivilent metric. That's OK I will calm down now !! Jules | ||
| Shorty_ii |
I can't understand why Buell didn't go all metric. The car industry long ago went to metric. I think the rest of the world is in the same situation I was many years ago when I went to wrench my 57 BSA. Whitworth was the tool standard and was it strange to a Yank. Thank goodness my 69 TR6R is metric. And yes there are many metrics which fit SAE sizes, but it seems the one that doesn't has me heading to the tool store and $$$. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Remember for the allen/hex keys just make sure you have the half sized keys as well in metric. My set goes in half sizes from 2mm up to 14mm(purchased through Autozone). I have gone thru and matched a wrench to every bolt I can access without taking things apart, IE what I would need for a quick roadside repair and have a metric wrench that fits and all in a toolroll that fits in my bags. | ||
| Gschuette |
Sometimes a wrench will seem like it fits(if you have a metric in a standard hole vice versa) but just as you are about to tighten her down real snug the ••••••• strips on you. It really sucks, I know I used to work in a bicycle shop and some of the pieces of crap people have are filled w/diffent sizes and metric and standard stuff. On a side not some real old Raleigh bicycles(1950's) had fasteners that were neither standard nor metric it was their own size system. It is kind of annoying because none of the tools you own fit. So I guess what I'm saying is this, always ALWAYS find out if the nut or bolt is standard or metric before you start turning wrenches. It will save you alot of time and energy in the long run. | ||
| Darthane |
You're kidding, right? When was the last time you worked on an American car and every fastener was metric? The last few I've wrenched on, including a '89, '02, '03, '04, and unreleased '05 all still had TONS of SAE fasteners on them | ||
| Julesx |
Wycked My thoughts exactly. I like to carry a few tools just in case I need roadside repairs ...... so I will do as you suggest and match the important bits on the bike to the right tools . Hopefully I won't need them ! Jules | ||
| Fullpower |
really, an 8 inch adjustable, and a few sae allen wrenches will do most jobs including a drive belt change at roadside (done that), handy to have under seat for various adjustments such as mirror mounts, handlebars, etc. |
