Author Topic: Odd tools you can't live without  (Read 8342 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline adr3naline

  • adr3naline
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 25
    • adr3naline
Odd tools you can't live without
« on: February 20, 2012, 08:27:07 PM »
So, I'm wondering about all you that restore and modify your bikes.  Besides the common hand tools, what not so typical tools are a necessary part of your tool box?

Today I realized I'd like to get a set of bolt thread size testers, which would make it handy to determine bolt/nut sizes. I also need to get a couple electrical testers.
2006 Yamaha Warrior
1982 CB900c
1979 CB650

Offline ekpent

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 13,508
  • To many bikes-but lookin' for more
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2012, 08:29:48 PM »
Heat gun

Offline Stev-o

  • Ain't no
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 34,458
  • Central Texas
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2012, 08:37:50 PM »
Metric scale and beer bottle opener! (for the import non-twist offs)
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline 754

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 29,050
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2012, 08:44:37 PM »
 For the OP, get a caliper ...
other stuff... tire-irons, good 1 pull tiedowns (not ratchet type), 6 point sockets. JIS or Craftsmen screwdrivers...to list a few...
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline lone*X

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,124
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2012, 08:54:36 PM »
Have to have a hammer driven impact screwdriver for frozen JIS headed case screws.
Lone*X  ( Don )

75 CB550K1  
VTX1800C for two up cruisin.
Several others have come and gone but whose keeping track.
52 years on two wheels and counting.....
"The best safety feature of any motorcycle is the one God put between your ears.  It's also the least utilized"

Offline adr3naline

  • adr3naline
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 25
    • adr3naline
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2012, 09:09:00 PM »
Have to have a hammer driven impact screwdriver for frozen JIS headed case screws.

Yes... I need one of those. I used a friends the other day and it was a beautiful thing.
2006 Yamaha Warrior
1982 CB900c
1979 CB650

Offline geminimotors

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 313
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2012, 09:22:12 PM »
Two oddballs I rely on when things get odd: 1. Bees wax. With heat, it's the best penetrant I have ever used. Ever. 2. a street sweeper bristle. A 1/8" wide 6" long piece of flat spring steel. It's the perfect pokey, scrapey, fiddly thing for the weird times when you wished you had something like that.

Offline dave500

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 17,052
  • WHAT?no gravy?
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #7 on: February 20, 2012, 10:24:17 PM »
left hand screw driver.

Offline HondaMan

  • Someone took this pic of me before I became a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,051
  • ...not my choice, I was nicknamed...
    • Getting 'em Back on the Road
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #8 on: February 20, 2012, 10:35:43 PM »
left hand screw driver.
...and wrenches to match...
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline 754

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 29,050
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2012, 11:19:11 PM »
 A bit off topic, but when machining... a warding file... very handy...
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline RickB

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 571
    • Pop Magazine
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2012, 12:24:33 AM »
Hi all,

An odd tool that I built is for adjusting the tappets on my CB400F. Using a pair of pliers proved way too cumbersome.

After some research here on the forum, HondanutRider mentioned his son 'invented' a tool for the job. He suggested using a 'Robinson' screw as a tool. A quick call to a tradey mate with 'what the hell do we call a Robinson screw here in Australia?!' lead me to the square drive decking screw isle.

The guy at the hardware store gave me one for free and with a masonry plug as a handle, the job of adjusting the valves clearances got so much easier!





Rick.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2012, 12:26:18 AM by RickB »

Offline messeduptriple

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 677
Re: Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2012, 12:29:58 AM »
Have to have a hammer driven impact screwdriver for frozen JIS headed case screws.
yep mine was a life saver few times!

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Offline camelman

  • Man... Myth... Legend
  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,899
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2012, 12:34:20 AM »
I like that valve adjuster.

My favorite tool is a 10" hemostat.  It gets where fingers can't reach, has a sure grip, can fasten and hold items in place...
1972 350f rider: sold
1972 350f/466f cafe: for sale
1977 CB400f cafe:sold
1975 CB400f rider: sold
1970 CB750 K0 complete bike: sold
2005 Triumph Sprint ST 1050 rider

We've got to cut it off... and then come down on rockets.  (quoted from: seven minutes of terror)

Offline Dimitri13

  • Not a
  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,603
  • 1974 CB550K
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2012, 12:34:58 AM »


For those late nights in the garage. Or even just a fiddly recessed area.

Offline dave500

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 17,052
  • WHAT?no gravy?
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2012, 01:10:09 AM »
is that a jock strap with a light on it?kinky!!

Offline Dimitri13

  • Not a
  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,603
  • 1974 CB550K
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #15 on: February 21, 2012, 01:18:26 AM »
Oh jeeze, I just read your comment, then read what I wrote. Gotta get my mind outta the gutter.

Offline dave500

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 17,052
  • WHAT?no gravy?
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #16 on: February 21, 2012, 01:53:34 AM »
a bit like that song"you need a coal miner to find her vag---a."

Offline MoMo

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,271
  • Ride like you're invisible
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #17 on: February 21, 2012, 04:57:09 AM »
Sliding t-handle with ratcheting socket adapter makes me  ;D ;D ;)...Larry

Offline MRieck

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 10,591
  • Big ideas....
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #18 on: February 21, 2012, 05:20:04 AM »
An extendable magnet.
Owner of the "Million Dollar CB"

Offline Lars

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 449
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #19 on: February 21, 2012, 05:22:24 AM »
Valve spring compressor.

Shotgun - if no other tools work.... ;)
...if you got the ability to act...

Offline Kong

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,051
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #20 on: February 21, 2012, 06:44:09 AM »
4.5" angle grinder
120 volt welder
compressor (and all that follows)
Very high quality cordless drill
Complete drill index
die grinder and two or three good burrs
Large vice
2002 FXSTD/I  Softail Deuce
2001 Acura (Honda) CL Type-S
1986 Honda Rebel, 450
1978 Honda CB550K
1977 Honda CB550K

orange550

  • Guest
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #21 on: February 21, 2012, 09:42:27 AM »
Hi all,

An odd tool that I built is for adjusting the tappets on my CB400F. Using a pair of pliers proved way too cumbersome.

After some research here on the forum, HondanutRider mentioned his son 'invented' a tool for the job. He suggested using a 'Robinson' screw as a tool. A quick call to a tradey mate with 'what the hell do we call a Robinson screw here in Australia?!' lead me to the square drive decking screw isle.

The guy at the hardware store gave me one for free and with a masonry plug as a handle, the job of adjusting the valves clearances got so much easier!

Rick.

You mean a Robertson. :) Invented by a Canadian!

I bought a set of Honda tappet gauges. Each one is pre-bent and has only 1 size on each end. Saved me from dicking around with bending a cheapo set. They were hard to find...  automotive tappet gauges don't go down that small.

Offline fmctm1sw

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,042
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #22 on: February 21, 2012, 10:21:55 AM »
Hi all,

An odd tool that I built is for adjusting the tappets on my CB400F. Using a pair of pliers proved way too cumbersome.

After some research here on the forum, HondanutRider mentioned his son 'invented' a tool for the job. He suggested using a 'Robinson' screw as a tool. A quick call to a tradey mate with 'what the hell do we call a Robinson screw here in Australia?!' lead me to the square drive decking screw isle.

The guy at the hardware store gave me one for free and with a masonry plug as a handle, the job of adjusting the valves clearances got so much easier!





Rick.

Brilliant!  Some of mine:
1]  Section of PVC pipe with notch cut out of it.  Used with a C-clamp to compress valve springs on small valves.
2]  Clutch nut tool. Impossible to remove a CT90 clutch with out it.
3]  Soda crate/furniture dollies and a 4x4 contraption I use to pull 750 engines.
4]  A pair of grinded down snap ring pliers I use to (attempt to) remove and install master cylinder circlips.
5]  Various cleaning agents used for anything other than their intended purpose.
Quote from: 754
Dude is that a tire ? or an O-ring..??

Quote from: inkscars
This is not a pod thread
This is not a #$%* on my vacuum gauges thread
This is a help or GTFO thread.

1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
1984 Kawasaki KLT-250 (AKA 3 wheeler of death)
1994 Honda TRX300
1999 Honda TRX250

Offline bharvey60

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 58
  • Adolescent mind stuck in an adult body
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #23 on: February 21, 2012, 10:29:19 AM »
Spanner wrench for removing front wheel bearing seal.
Bill Harvey
CB750K3
85 Yamaja FJ 1100
98 BMW R1100RT
State College, PA

Offline flybox1

  • My wife thinks I'm a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,289
Re: Odd tools you can't live without
« Reply #24 on: February 21, 2012, 10:55:50 AM »
small hobby soldering iron and a good sharp wire cutter/stripper.
adjustable face pin spanner
10pc assorted miniature diamond file set (for cleaning and fixing bad bolt threads)


'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mineā€¦"