Topic: Tools to Take on The Road

[Paul E.]

Once the bike is up and running the plan is to do a lot of traveling with it.  In preparation for that day I've been kicking around the idea of making a leather tool wrap for everything I'll need to carry with me.  I'm shooting for something that looks like this:



Tools that are going to make it into that bag so far include:
philips head
flat head
spark plug socket
8-14mm sockets
8, 10, 12 mm wrench/spanner
Crescent wrench
Vise grips

I may need to cut some things out of the list since I'm not sure how frequently they are used.  What else would you guys recommend packing away? 

[DJ_AX]

That's about the same as I always carry in a small tool bag.
+ needle nose pliers and a few other things... zip ties, wire, tape, ...

On longer trips I add a few things... now including tubes and tire irons
I like the idea of never needing to call for help. ... or pushing or leaving the bike.

[Stev-o]

spare fuses are a must.

And of course, phone, cash and credit card.

[ChuckG750f1]

What, no Duct Tape?  Maybe add an impact driver for long trips.

[bollingball]

Good LED flash light the kind that strap on your head so both hands are free to work at 2am. I have a tow service that and a cell phone credit card for the hotel
Ken

[Paul E.]

Good LED flash light the kind that strap on your head so both hands are free to work at 2am. I have a tow service that and a cell phone credit card for the hotel
Ken

That probably works significantly better than the flashlight in the mouth trick I tend to do.   

[Brantley]

That probably works significantly better than the flashlight in the mouth trick I tend to do.   

Wrap the end in gaff or electrical tape. Gives yr teeth a break (pun not intended!)

[CycleRanger]

What Stev-o said.

I like tool rolls. I have several military-surplus ones I use in the truck. Still haven't found one for the bike.

The military stuff made for surgical tools are about as small as I've found but still filled with tools the roll is too big to fit under the seat on the 750.
One made for a bike would need to be a thin material like vinyl or rubberized canvas to save space.

Oh, and I'm fond of the small needle-nose Vise Grips. They can fill several roles.

[72500john]

a 12 volt bulb with wires solder on it with alligator clips to use as a test light, a spare spark plug, and feeler gauges.

[tlbranth]

I bought my 750 new so I did a lot of big trips in the early 70's. I asked my then girlfriend, now wife if she'd sew me up a tool roll. I included the OEM tool kit, a set of Craftsman combination wrenches, feeler guages, rubber hose for spark plug removal, point file, electrical tape, tire spoons, chain master link clip remover and master link press tool, impact screwdriver, needlenose pliers. These days I keep the whole roll in a customized army surplus ammo box that's fastened above the rear fender. In that box I carry a spare chain and 2 spare master links, an old points plate with points mounted and a set of new plugs already gapped. I'm on a trip right now or I'd post a picture.

[DJ_AX]

I just remembered to mention...
Spare cables ...
They've been known to break for many others.

[Gurp]

On the spare cable i have a push pull throttle and i keep two of the "pull" cables in it so in the event one breaks it screwdiver away from being fixed.i have the "extra" cable routed under the tank along the frame.i also carry a 10 12 8 mm wrenches and small flathead and 2 or 3 phillips screw drivers. Some black tape and radiator repair tape a pocket knife and pliers. And a small roll of wire. Thats what was in my cb until i startedmy current project with it.

[Paul E.]

Hmm...  It seems like I might end up developing two tool kits.  One tool roll for the shorter type trips and then one for the cross country rides.  Tlbranth I really like your idea of using a spare army surplus ammo box.  That would keep everything sealed up nice and tight!

a 12 volt bulb with wires solder on it with alligator clips to use as a test light, a spare spark plug, and feeler gauges.

I made one of these the other day, worked great and was super compact!  However it didn't hold out when I was working on a power supply and one of the gator clips ground out.  Fused the clip, flipped the breaker, and now I get to make another one! 

That probably works significantly better than the flashlight in the mouth trick I tend to do.   

Wrap the end in gaff or electrical tape. Gives yr teeth a break (pun not intended!)

Headed to the closet to grab the flashlight and electrical tape...   

[Don R]

Last year I got many of the factory tools for my birthday. Honda still sells many of them. I found the others.

[Gurp]

I got lucky with a honda spark plug wrench/socket. I found one in the tool kit in a 400 buck v45 magna i learned to ride(run into things) on. What other factory tools are there?

[Kickstart]

I like the idea of a custom tool roll.  Two sets sounds like a smart idea as well... one to always keep on the bike for shorter trips, and then a supplemental roll for longer rides.

I would include everything in the OEM kit at the minimum (not sure if you planned to do that) - except for maybe the pliers if you're including a better pair.  You'll want the rear axle nut wrench (26mm on my bike) and the spanner for the shocks/neck nut. 

I've found the screw drivers in the OEM kit to work very well (I think it's because the they are JIS drivers - and most of the screws on our bikes aren't actually Phillips heads - they just look similar).

You can still purchase all the OEM tools in the kit from honda... except for the 26mm rear axle nut wrench. *** EDIT - correction: you can't get the spark plug wrench either... that's really too bad.  I'm not sure what would be a good replacement.  maybe try to find one on ebay ***

I second (or third) the suggestions below on some sort of needle nose pliers.  Very helpful if you need to install a new clutch or throttle cable and to pull out the cotter pin on the rear axle nut.... or any other situation where you just cant get your finger to fit.  I always carry my leatherman, which includes a nice needle nose pliers.  If don't carry a multi-tool like a leatherman on you when you ride, you might want to include one in your kit.

I use an LED instead of a regular bulb (more compact) - you just need solder a resister in series and note the positive/negative leads (it's also a good idea to add a regular diode, so the LED isn't the only diode in the circuit - at least that's what I've been told to do).

Also, I like to carry and extra 10mm wrench - I believe the pull throttle cable has a 10 set/lock nut, so you really need two 10mm wrenches to remove/install.  Also, I believe the cam chain tensioner adjustment is the same way (need two 10mm to adjust) - at least on the CB750.  Also, not a bad idea to have a points file and the appropriate feeler gauges if you're still using points.

I like all the suggestions below.  I really like the idea of routing an extra cable on the bike... I'll have to try that.  It's hard to put cables in a kit.  Pull throttle and clutch are the two you can't ride without.

For the longer trip kit you may want to include tire irons and an inner tube patch kit, feeler gauges (and the smaller tappet feeler gauges), spare brake/turn signal bulb (and a spare headlight bulb if you have an H4 conversion), and a compact voltmeter/multi-meter.  You also may want to add a pair of nitrile gloves, some cleaning wipes, and a towel... sounds a little silly buy whenever I have a side-of-the-road incident (most recently a flat tire on my car), I wish I had these things.

I have an F model, so I have the extra compartment under the rear cowling where I usually keep some sort of towel.  I usually only use it to wipe off the seat if it's wet... but hey... I thought you were suppose to always have a towel.  Maybe get a towel with "Don't Panic" printed on it.

I'd be interested to know what are the more common road side or road trip maintenance experiences are from others.  From may personal experience it's adjusting the chain, replacing a fuse, tightening something (Tach cable that came loose, or adjusting the throttle cable), replacing a cable, or changing an inner tube.  The last two required me leaving the bike overnight (but fortunately it happened close to home).

[750K]

You can get a factory Honda spark plug wrench for one of the Honda dirtbikes, CR or XR maybe. It's the same as the one thats in the oem tool pouch, I have one of each and they are the same. I keep a stocked to the tits tool roll in my saddle bags as well as the stock Honda one under the seat.

The tool roll has everything I could think to put in it and then some, crescent wrenches, socket wrench & sockets, wire snips, vise grips, screw driver & bits, plug wrench, plugs, feeler gauges, wire, elec tape, master clip link, length of fuel hose, big ass adjustable wrench, fuses, zip ties. I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting about that's in the big roll. I have an extra set of throtle cables in the garage in case I'm going on an out of town trip.

I always have an led headlamp and tire pressure guage in my jacket as well, friends have laughed at the amount of #$%* I carry in it till they need a tool or I'm able to fix something on the road instead of calling a friend with a truck. It pays to be prepared when all else fails I always have my credit card...

[flybox1]

Leathermans Tool

[bollingball]

Good LED flash light the kind that strap on your head so both hands are free to work at 2am. I have a tow service that and a cell phone credit card for the hotel
Ken

That probably works significantly better than the flashlight in the mouth trick I tend to do.   

Hope it does not take D size.

[bollingball]

When I made up my test light I used the same bulb as my tail/brake so it is duel purpose. My wife made my tool roll out of heavy denim from the cloth barn. I use a leather bag I got from a bike shop that hangs under the head light. I keep it treated for water and every thing goes in a plastic bag before it goes in.
tool roll like this. http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/mens/mens-workshop/tool-bags-tool-belts/92099.aspx I got my tools together and she made the pockets the size of the tool. Or you can buy one like above.

Ken

[Brantley]

Leathermans Tool

+1
Got mine zip tied thru the case's belt loop to the battery strap. Behind that is a plastic fuse box with 2 holes to accommodate a zip tie. Makes a nifty spare fuse carrier.