Author Topic: Tools... The ones you can't live without (Read 26755 times)

grumburg · « **Reply #25 on:** December 24, 2007, 06:59:11 AM »

Buy an impact screw driver at Harbor Freight! Best $8 I ever spent on tools. Cracks screws loose like nothing else!

cafe750 · « **Reply #26 on:** December 30, 2007, 06:57:03 AM »

Get a good impact driver, with the long and short bits, for removing/installing all of those cross-headed engine screws. I once had a Harbor Freight driver, and I broke every bit in the set. Im still looking for JIS cross head bits though. Also, a good set of 6 point box wrenches, and sockets...

malcolmgb · « **Reply #27 on:** December 30, 2007, 10:11:47 AM »

Quote from: cafe750 on December 30, 2007, 06:57:03 AM

Get a good impact driver, with the long and short bits. I once had a Harbor Freight driver, and I broke every bit in the set. Im still looking for JIS cross head bits though. Also, a good set of 6 point box wrenches, and sockets...

I got an impact driver without any bits, it has a 1/2" square drive head, that way I can use anything I like on it, bought from SnapOn over 35 years ago still going strong.

teaby · « **Reply #28 on:** November 04, 2008, 11:22:53 AM »

Just been reading what tools you can't live without I currently own a 1977 cb550k3 and my previous bike was a 1978 cb750f2 Here are my suggestions as i think off them.

Tap and Die set those old threads wear down
Recoil set
Space (try working in a cluttered garage surrounded other projects you will understand why it is a tool you need)
Coffee / Tea to refresh you
Mates help with awkward jobs and a vast source off ideas
Welding Equipment
A Cymbre/Haynes Manual
A old PC with internet connection (saves coming inside and getting you good PC grimed up)

as well as the normal spanners pliers screw drivers etc

Fuzzball · « **Reply #29 on:** November 05, 2008, 06:21:27 AM »

Here's a very important tool I almost forgot: my wife's....er, I mean my checkbook....

TomC · « **Reply #30 on:** November 05, 2008, 02:48:14 PM »

Hi Group
"A Cymbre/Haynes Manual
A old PC with internet connection (saves coming inside and getting you good PC grimed up)"
I have put all the Honda Manuals and Parts Lists that I have downloaded on a thumb drive. That way I can put them I my pocket when I go on a trip.
A PC in the garage! Good idea as I have several PCs from the last millennium that sort of work.
TomC in Ohio

ghost · « **Reply #31 on:** November 05, 2008, 04:17:35 PM »

couple things i haven't seen mentioned. a grease gun for the zerts on the swing arm, and a push broom much easier to spot that little screw you just dropped if you swept the floor recently

Trevor from Warragul · « **Reply #32 on:** November 06, 2008, 11:49:10 PM »

A crimping tool & connectors from Vintage Connections.

When I see (supposed) experts on TV shows like "American Hotrod" and "Wrecks to Riches" using el cheapo crimping tools I shudder!

Trevor

Soos · « **Reply #33 on:** November 07, 2008, 03:41:29 AM »

I'll agree on the 6 point sockets.

Many good suggestions here.

Some of the tools I couldn't live without...

Bearing puller
rotor removal tool
tool to remove the keepers/retainers on the valves
dremmel, actually I cannot say enough about this little tool. Amazing what can be done with one.
3/4 allthread, washers, and nuts. I use this with install tools to put in tapered neck bearings and wheel bearings, fortunately I can make these myself.
snap ring pliers
strobe light
mercury manometer
feeler guages
REALLY stubby flathead and phillips screwdrivers(yet with a large tip)
torque wrench

l8r

Really? · « **Reply #34 on:** November 08, 2008, 10:07:16 AM »

A box of your old clothes. Where this may not be a tool, it sure comes to play when you need something to wipe with.

Have a box with old clothes you do not turn in for charity/taxes, socks with holes you won't darn, clothes with stains on them... If you have kids there should be plenty. Socks work really well when you are polishing.

ghost · « **Reply #35 on:** November 10, 2008, 07:36:38 PM »

+1 on polishing with an old sock

void909 · « **Reply #36 on:** November 10, 2008, 10:56:32 PM »

my must haves:
impact
dremel
bench grinder
cold beer

Artfrombama · « **Reply #37 on:** November 11, 2008, 08:24:50 AM »

A really OLD 6" bench vise
A really OLD 5hp Dayton compressor
Homemade bead blast cabinet
4" DeWalt angle grinder
DeWalt cordless drill
Die grinder
MIG welder

ofreen · « **Reply #38 on:** November 11, 2008, 09:11:51 AM »

The kids got me this for Christmas a few years ago. Not much use on cars, but I use it on the bikes all the time. Very handy. Good quality and a reasonable price.

http://www.cruztools.com/t-handles.html

KeithTurk · « **Reply #39 on:** November 19, 2008, 12:39:03 AM »

Tools are a very individual thing...

I liked the mention of a complete original tool set from the scooter itself... great call...

Oh and the 6" Vernier Caliper... ( the most used tool in my shop )

English wheel's, lathe's, milling machines.... so on and so forth are all about personal stuff... defining what it is you want to do in your shop...

I build race cars as a hobby and have recently started messing with 550 Honda's... so I'm fairly well equipped... LOTS of my tools have come from Pawn shops over many years of collecting... seriously... it allows me to buy quality on a budget... just be careful with those guys...

Keith

754 · « **Reply #40 on:** November 20, 2008, 09:34:33 PM »

I find that having a set of Sansui BA 3000 and CA3000 amps and a lot of vinyl makes the working on bike stuff go way smoother...

XN · « **Reply #41 on:** November 20, 2008, 09:42:27 PM »

Heater in the garage. (you southern boys would not understand)
Radio
Beer

Really? · « **Reply #42 on:** November 21, 2008, 05:51:45 AM »

Quote from: XN on November 20, 2008, 09:42:27 PM

Heater in the garage. (you southern boys would not understand)
Radio
Beer

We just may have a fan for the motor and one for ourselves or we just put in AC in the garage, lol. You nothern boys would not understand, lol.

KeithTurk · « **Reply #43 on:** November 22, 2008, 12:55:59 AM »

I don't do Music... simply not the way I work..

"real" race shops don't have it either...

Drop by Hendrick, Earnhart, so on and so forth.... No music... just clear headed work without the white noise ...

Keith ( obviously a very personal choice )

Really? · « **Reply #44 on:** November 22, 2008, 07:29:13 AM »

I have been to few real race shops and I heard music and they were big names. One about 10 years ago and the other about 20 years ago. In fact, one had a trailer in the back and they were not too sober sometimes, lol.

754 · « **Reply #45 on:** November 22, 2008, 08:11:13 AM »

Keith, at times of utmost concentration, there is a switch to turn music off..
Some of us are not working on racebikes all the time...

pretty sure those guys you mentioned dont want anyone dropping in, especially if music is too distracting to them..

I have been in shops where music is not allowed and it is not always by choice of all involved..

Some of us build custom parts and bikes, and unless you are total TECHNOGEeeK, this usually involves time spent staring at a bike, moving around it, looking at it different ways, laying underneath it.. holding or taping parts onto it...etc..etc..... and often done with tunes in the background..

..JMO..

Artfrombama · « **Reply #46 on:** November 22, 2008, 09:45:17 AM »

The reason music is not played in race shops, factories, businesses is it's a source for griping or complaining.
"I hate country music, change stations"
"If I hear any more oldies I'll leave"
"Rush Limbaugh sucks"
"Hey man, tune in some rap"

And on and on.............

moham · « **Reply #47 on:** November 22, 2008, 03:18:52 PM »

Quote from: 754 on November 22, 2008, 08:11:13 AM

pretty sure those guys you mentioned dont want anyone dropping in, especially if music is too distracting to them..

I am this intense when working:

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547 · « **Reply #48 on:** November 26, 2008, 07:56:33 PM »

really? i'm that intense when making my lunch

this tiny remington screw driver that i found in a bag of rusty screw drivers in an antique mall is awesome for
turning the pilot screws on my '77 Keihin carbs while they are still on my bike.

Mach-5(50) · « **Reply #49 on:** November 27, 2008, 09:10:16 PM »

4 what its worth.... i love my gear wrenches. i use them as much as i use my ratchets lately. speaking of which, i seem to use my 1/4 drive way more than 3/8's. anyone else? i also love my o-ring picks. not that i pick at a lot of o-rings, but i can always find a use for one. and the little toothbrush size wire brushes. brass or stainless. magnetic pick up tool.
my 2 cents on the harbor.... deffinately not for real tools, but great for cut off wheels, detail brushes, single edge razor blades, unibits and all the little assortments of cotter pins, springs, copper washers etc.
and just to add a shameless plug.....check out your NAPA store for good quality hand tools. you may be surprised.

later

ryan

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Author Topic: Tools... The ones you can't live without (Read 26755 times)

teaby