| Author | Message | ||
     Skarecrow |
Well, I have decided that i will start servicing my bike from now on. I am hoping you all can help me out. Are there certain tools that are a must have? What torque wrench would be best in/lbs, ft/lbs? I know the manual has torque specifications for both, I just want to make sure I get the correct tools without buying a bunch of stuff I will never use. Starting fresh since most of my tools disappeared on the move to the West Coast. I am interested in taking my front forks off to get them powder coated. Any specialty tools I will need. | ||
| Reepicheep |
You will need both foot and inch pound wrenches. You could probably find one that spans the whole range, but it will probably be clunky and inaccurate at both ends. Wratcheting box end wrenches come in handy more then I thought they would. A good socket set is a necessisity. You could in theory use the torque wrench all the time, but it is probably too big and clumsy for many uses. I have a craftsman socket driver that I stole from my Dad 25 years ago that I love, but many of my other tools are harbor freight cheapies. My approach has been to buy the harbor freight tools first, use them until they either break or prove to be of inferior quality (which is not that uncommon) and then upgrade. They often work fine for light use. You could walk into your local harbor freight store with a $100 bill and come out with a LOT of usable tools. If I ever get tagged to run a bachlor party again (unlikely, I'm getting old), I am going to tell everyone to come with $50 and we are going to go to harbor freight and load up some shopping carts, and take it back to the guys garage (with beer) and set it all up. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Looking at my above post, a good spell checker would probably be helpful as well  (Message edited by reepicheep on January 27, 2007) | ||
| Henrik |
I'd suggest starting with a good size combined metric/standard socket set - and since I'm partial to Sears tools I'd suggest one of their sets with the easy-read sockets (laser etched sizes) and their polished "pro" ratchets. They cost a tad more, but the easy read is a great help all the time, and the "Pro" ratchets just plain feel nice  If you do go look at the Sears Mechanics tool sets, be aware that they count every single bit in the set, so if they throw in 2 crappy sets of allen keys, then that contributes 25-30 pieces to the count. And while they work in a pinch, you're better off adding allen ratchet bits and/or T-handle allens later on. Just take a good look at the full list of tools included and know what you're buying. Make sure that whatever you buy includes extensions for the ratchets. Wobble extensions and/or universal joints (U-joints) come in handy in a pinch as well. I didn't use to, but now I pretty much never use sockets without an extension for everything but big, high torque fasteners like axle and such. While you have the checkbook out, get a set of torx bits for your ratchet set as well. The Sears ratcheting combination wrenches are great for many purposes as well, and their stubby flex-handle 3/8" ratchet is one of my all time favorites. Once a fastener is loosened, it's much easier to quickly spin it off with stubby wrench. You'll most likely also need some pliers, and again the Sears stuff is nice, with reasonably smooth action and no "slop" in the joint. I have both their standard set and their "Pro" set. Not that much of a difference. A set of locking pliers are useful for many things. Large, small and needle nose is a good combination. Again, Sears has good stuff. You'll also need screw drivers and while I don't use them much, adjustable wrenches come in handy once in awhile. I bought SK torque wrenches as I believe them to be a good balance of accuracy and cost. Of course torque wrenches should be stored with no tension on the wrench and they shold be calibrated once in awhile to continue to be accurate ... A couple of friends own Sears torque wrenches and they seem like quality pieces as well. I bought my last torque wrench from www.northentool.com - search for torque wrench. I also own a Harbor Freight in/lbs torque wrench, but never learned to trust it, so when I found a good deal on Snap-On version I jumped on that. But then I'm a tool-aholic, so never mind me You'll need at least an in/lbs wrench for small fasteners as well as a larger ft/lbs wrench up to 100 ft/lbs for most other stuff. If you dive into the primary you'll need a torque wrench up to 250 ft/lbs. A strap wrench is good for oil filter removal, and while you should only tighten an oil filter by hand, I often give it a little extra with an oil filter wrench. If you get into the primary you may need larger sockets for the clutch hub and engine sprocket, but you can always pick those up individually. If you at some point need impact sockets, Harbor Freight has some cheap sets that work just fine for occasional use. And by now I'm sure you're sorry you asked ...  But to summarize - a good size Sears Mechanics tool set will give you a very good basis. Then you can always expand from there. And they have these sets on sale today. Henrik | ||
| Skarecrow |
Thanks for all the info. I just got an SK spline socket set on sale and was looking at the SK torque wrenches. Sounds like they are a good option. Did you need to buy any of the specialty tools listed in the service manual, fork spring compressor etc? Thanks again for taking the time to help a brother Bueller. | ||
| Henrik |
I have bought some specialty tools over time, but have pretty much just spread it out over time and picked up a particular tool when the wrenching required it. I do have a spring compressor that I bought from Traxxion Dynamics. I also have a clutch spring compressor tool and made a primary sprocket locking bar from some Home D aluminum bar stock. If you haven't already bought a set, front and rear stands are important for certain jobs and makes other jobs easier in general. I bought Pitt Bull stands and really like their forklift + converter combination: http://www.pit-bull.com/catalog/product_info.php?c Path=23_177&products_id=66&osCsid=4cc967c50a082f7d 7eedf81e35097f7b Daves at Appleton sells those. I also bought the primary seal installation tool - the one that properly seats the seal around the engine output shaft - but hopefully that's not something you'll need. I also have a variety of measuring tools, digital calipers (sometimes on sale for cheap at Harbor Freight), metric tape measure, micrometer; and I recently picked up a thread cleaning set (Sears) which is handy for - of course - thread cleaning , but also for determining thread pitch for nuts and bolts. But in general I'd suggest you just wait and see what you may need. For some of the more obscure tools you may be able to borrow from fellow Badwebbers. Henrik | ||
| Reepicheep |
Listen to Henrik. He got the seal installer, I used a split piece of copper pipe. Both our solutions worked perfectly, but Henriks worked the first time, and I got a "second iteration" at 4000 miles after the first try Two jack stands and a chunk of rebar through the rear axle hold the bike up nicely. Don't forget to remove the rebar though, or you will find it as you scrape it on the first hard turn you come to. No idea how I could miss something that obvious. Twice. So maybe Henrik is right about the pit bull stands. You seeing a trend here? | ||
| Skarecrow |
Good info guys, do you know anything about the eazyrizer-red, http://www.bike-lift.com/. I got a good deal on ebay with the tire mounts and Bike grab. About a quarter of what it would cost new. I was looking at the Pit-Bull stands until I came across this. Hopefully it will work out for me. | ||
| Henrik |
I believe Peter owns one of those - he's recommended it as a convenient and small footprint way of lifting a bike. I think he rebuilt his GS on a stand like it. Henrik | ||
| Yohinan |
Please, whatever you do dont cheap out on your tools. Although the place comes recommended highly I avoid HF like the plague. It goes back to the saying, you get what you pay for. Just buy quality American made tools. They dont have to be Snap On or Mac or Matco or whatever other "big name" you would like to go with. I have even noticed Sears is starting to go with Chinese made tools. Buy the tool once and never worry about having to get it again. All you have to do is look at the packaging and if it says Made in China move on until you find something not made there. Henrik stated: I also own a Harbor Freight in/lbs torque wrench, but never learned to trust it, so when I found a good deal on Snap-On version I jumped on that. But then I'm a tool-aholic, so never mind me May I ask where you got this SnapOn torque wrench? Edit: Food for thought. When you are wrenching away with that Chinese made tool and it breaks in the middle of a project on a Sunday evening or at night on a weekday what would you give to have spent a bit more on a quality made tool that would not have broken. Like I said it doesnt have to be the "Big Name" tool maker. Go to Lowe's or HD or whatever other store you would like to pick and get some good tools that are not outrageously expensive or outrageously inexpensive. (Message edited by yohinan on January 30, 2007) | ||
| Bigdog_tim |
Not to be the nay sayer, but I have a garage full of the HF stuff. I agree with the logic for a newbie to buy HF and then when it fails, decide on what to buy (with quality) to replace. The problem (at least for me) is that I started wrenching with zero background - I was as green as could be. Not knowing what tools I would prefer left me at a big unknown - what do I need and given the price span between a "quality tool" and a cheapo - I had a hard time rationalizing the difference. Sure over time I have replace a lot of HF stuff with Craftsman, PowerBuild or SnapOn. But it took me several projects to decide what HF could deliver vs a 100-200% more expensive tool really could offer. Of course, your mileage may vary. | ||
| Henrik |
Yohinan - I hear you - to an extent. My HF impact socket set sees active duty maybe once or twice a year, so wear and tear is minimal, and since I bought the "Pro" version, fit is good and finish ok. Now, would I trust a $1.95 set of torx wrenches with fastners that are known for their nasty demeanor - nope I also never buy anything from HF with an edge or tip that needs to hold up to anything. The 95 cent scribe I bought was overpriced But isn't it always about balancing need, quality and price? And given that a price comparison between HF and Snap-On would leave you with at least a 10-fold spread in price, I know that I personally must must make some compromises. That said I think Sears generally is a good compromise and Craftsman Pro a bit "better" compromise. I think it would be ok to spend a tad less on standard, non-tricky tools, and then spend a bit more on tools where strength, durability, fit etc. is a must and will make a big difference in both enjoyment and result of wrenching. I bought that Snap-On torque wrench from a Badwebber that was cleaning up his tool collection. Henrik | ||
| Bomber |
just to further confuse the guy getting tools for the firts time, some of what Lowe's and Home Despot carries is on a par with the "high end" of HF stuff -- while I agreee that you should get the best quality tools you can afford for the job at hand (goodness knows I've spent WAY more than I could have, over the years), ya gotta keep two things in mind: 1 if the choice is a cheap tool or no tool, cheap is better than nuthin 2 some tasks are infrequently performed, and do not require a high quality tool 3 there are some jobs that, no matter how seldom they need to be done, just can't/shouldn't be done with cheap stuff -- you'll hurt the fastener, it's parent part material, or yourself ok, that's three, and Henrik already spoke, eloquently, on the topics, but it ain't a digital world - sometimes compromise is advisable, even desireable -- my Crafsman torque wrench works well for me, and an upgrade is way more than a weekends worth of gas . . . . sadly, by the time you're knowledgable enough to judge what you need/can get by with, you've left a trail of snapped fasteners in you wake that is easliy followed, and more easily remembered suggestion - for those things you KNOW you'll use oftn (wrenches, sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers, TORX tools), buy good stuff -- experiment with the other stuff -- or, best, find a buddy that can help learn you up, and perhaps lend you the tool Henrik -- what does "clean out tool collection" mean? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Why, that means go to your Dad's / Siblings / Neighbors / Employers shop, and start "borrowing" things! Duh!!! (got some of my best tools that way. I know I have a few tools that my Dad stole from his Dad the same way... I look forward to defending them from my sons!) | ||
| Bomber |
OOOOOOoooooo -- now i get it! thanks! | ||
| Yohinan |
Henrik stated: I bought that Snap-On torque wrench from a Badwebber that was cleaning up his tool collection. I put that in my post because I was the one that sold it to you. Hehe. I thought you would remember but oh well. No worries. I often run into issues where I have bought the same tool 2, 3, or even 4 times and dont realize it till I decide to do tool inventory/clean up and I am like WTF am I doing. For instance, that SnapOn torque wrench I sold to Henrik, I had 4 of them. I dont know what my problem is but my wife says I have an obsession with tools. I guess prior to ebaying my tools I will just post them in the classifieds on here to see if anyone needs anything. I just traded in about 300.00 worth of extra tools I had with the SnapOn dude for credit. He comes to visit me Thursday so I already know what I am getting. And for clarification I have purchased all of my tools on my own. I dont borrow them for anything. It turns into a nightmare. I now have a check out book for all my friends that say they need to borrow a tool because I always seem to be missing something new. I know you were j/k but I also know a lot of people that do that. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Right. Except for the Dad part, I do steal from him It has generally been a bit of a conspiracy though, 15 years ago he let me steal his old crappy beat up contractor table saw... next time I brought the family up to visit he had a great big beautiful Craftsman table saw (with the fancy fence and big motor). He had a plan (For the company, it's not worth risking my job... for friends, I always make a point to return them promptly, as they probably have other stuff I want to use ) | ||
| Henrik |
"clean out tool collection" Must be Bill's interpretation - can't think of anything else that makes sense to me I put that in my post because I was the one that sold it to you. John; sorry. I should have checked your profile. I'm not great with screen names Henrik | ||
| Skarecrow |
Thanks for all the suggestions, I went ahead and ordered SK torque wrenches sockets and bit set. I am familiar with their products and was pretty happy with the quality in the past. I guess I will just purchase anything else I need based on the job and money on hand. I think my wife isn't going to be happy when she see's the bill. Oh well, we only live once right? -Shawn | ||
| Henrik |
Shawn; aside from explaining to your wife it sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck with the wrenching. Henrik |
