Topic: What's in your toolkit?

[pmpski_1]

I have the original tool kit for my CB550, but I think that it could be updated with some new stuff.

I was thinking about adding the following:

Ratcheting wrench: I used one of these at a friends house and it was pretty cool. I would add the common sizes that I use for my bike.
5mm allen key: I'm replacing old phillips head bolts with new hex head bolts.
Needle nose pliers
Safety wire
Screwdriver with replaceable tips


Any others? What do you carry?

[chrometank]

I dont go anywhere without my sparkplug wrench

[Bob Wessner]

Tire gauge.

[bryanj]

Without being silly, the number of people i use to see carry a set of tyre levers and a tube repair kit BUT none of them carried a pump! DOH. Seriously folks if you cant do it with the Honda kit most likely you aint gonna fix it at the side of the road anyway--as long as you add any extra tools for the bits YOU (or the PO) have altered like allen screws need keys. Now I am only talking tools here NOT spares which is a whole different ball game!

[Flood]

Just some tools that spring to my mind:

-adjustable spanner (called a "Frenchman" round here), big enough to tackle axle nuts
-2(!) 10mm spanners
-12,14mm spanners
-feeler gauge
-allen keys
-a good knife
-electric stuff like wire, tape, connecting shoes
-clutch/gas cable and repair nipples

I'm seriously considering one of those multi tools. I always had the opinion that a Leatherman is a Yuppie tool, not to be used but only for display and never, never a replacement for proper tools. At least the knife is crap and can't replace a proper one-hander.

Now I'm considering the last generation of the Victorinox swiss tool, which now not only has a set of bits, but also a small ratchet. Something for Xmas- I should plant the seed with the family

Cheers, Remi

[dusterdude]

toolkit?i didnt think hondas needed one.

[GoatBaSS]

 8)Leatherman, and those small keychain LED lights( one on the key chain and one in kit storage). Oh and a master link, all or part on the key chain as well. Never had to use it, and hope I never will. Use it as a updated rabbits foot. Would not hurt if the needle nose pliers were vise grips. Oh and a third hand, sky hook, mountian jack.......... L

[Buffo]

cell phone

[dusterdude]

don,isnt that a harley tool?

[GoatBaSS]

goes with the traditional Harley scowl.

[dusterdude]

great,i knew my scowl meant something.

[Buffo]

it may be...but if you break down out here you may really need it. If I was to break down between South Padre and the CLOSEST city, Brownsville I would be about 20-25 miles away from the nearest phone. and in 115 degree heat that is not a pleasant walk.

tools are fine. I have no points so I really dont know what to do if my ignition fails.

Other than that I just carry a couple of screw drivers and a small adjustable wrench.

Don

[dusterdude]

trust me don,i carry my cell too.

[Buffo]

breaking down in the desert is a little different.

Besides...if I hit the ground...if I am able...I would like to be able to call 911 if I needed to.

[seaweb11]

I  broke a throttle cable on my recent 4000 mile US Coast Ride.
NOT FUN!

These are the things I had that got me going again.
* Needle nose pliers:    Allowed me to tie up the broken end, and get the "very small" knot back into the "very small" slide.
* Duct Tape:   Allowed me to......I'm serious.....tape the cable to the frame and make it functional. "The cable was to short now to mount correctly.

Thing I found the next day that worked even better than duct tape!
* ZIP TIES* Don't leave home without a couple! I rode for two days with this hwy repair.

P.S. I now have a spare throttle cable

[Uncle Ernie]

2 oz mini bottle of German apfel schnapps.  Seems to be on the job at all times, too. I've been carrying it for close to 20 years and never had to use it.

[jotor]

breaking down in the desert is a little different.

The problem here is that cell phones don't always work in the desert or the mountains.  No towers to connect to.

I bought a set of those ratcheting wrenches a bunch of years ago.  They do come in handy on rare occasions.  One problem with them is that they are bulky and won't fit in a lot of places.  Seem like a lot of extra weight to carry.

My tool kit add-ons are:  tire kit with CO2 cartridges, one of those 4-way screw drivers, a small vice grip, needle nose pliers and a roll of bailing wire (being from the Midwest and all).

[Egil]

+ And a universal istrument for the electric problems whit  Light etc!

Egil

[pmpski_1]

My tool kit add-ons are:  tire kit with CO2 cartridges, one of those 4-way screw drivers, a small vice grip, needle nose pliers and a roll of bailing wire (being from the Midwest and all).

Ahh, bailing wire. That is what I meant by "safety wire". I'm from the Midwest too. Must be something in the water since that is the first item I thought of.

[cd811]

a condem

[JoshuaJames]

great thread. I hope to have my bike on the road by the spring, and have used this thread to build my tool kit. I will post my thoughts and feedback once i get on the road.


also, a good way to test your tool kit is to use it while working on your bike at home. If you can get most things done with the contents of your toolkit, you will probably be able to deal with whatever comes your way on the road.

[Duanob]

To add to the lists I keep an extra chain link the removeable type. The problem is the 550 took tray isn't all that big for any extras.

[heffay]

The only tools I've ever needed that weren't in my Honda supplied tool kit...

I'm sure some will remember this on one of our Estes Park excursions... I needed a hammer to knock the rear brake lever back onto the splined shaft, so I used a large rock.

Yesterday, I needed to make an emergency repair to Elizabeth's shift lever as the bolt had become loose, I used my fingers. 

 

[c(b)hris]

+ And a universal istrument for the electric problems whit  Light etc!

Egil

+1