Tools fo the Trade

[Burton]

I am trying to begin a collection of tools for when I get settled in a new job and house with a garage. I do not have anything as far as tools go, and I am far from mechanically inclined.

What are common tools that every guy should have for working on bikes. I have the basics for general work - but as far as bikes go...what are the must-have pieces to a man's toolchest?

I know this can range all over the place, but I thought I would see what you guys thought.

Yes, you can laugh at this post.

 

[noone1569]

http://www.grharley.com/Buell_Tool_...k=gdfV22200_a_7c1220_a_7c5249_a_7c94685_d_03Y

Not much outside of this that I have needed.

 

[mc4life27]

someone started a post like this not to long ago. i cant seem to find it though.
the ones that come to mind first are
t27
t25
22 axle tool
allen wrenches

 

[DoubleZero]

That kit is WAY too expensive. You can get a lot more for $100.

 

[dmp0001]

go to sears and get the best starter kit you can afford. then add the little stuff as it comes up. I recomend adding some ratchet allen heads and some torx heads to make life easier. Here is a link to what I started with.

craftsman starter kit

 

[Burton]

[up] Thanks dmp.

I am looking to get a toolchest on wheels used on CL and start adding onto the tools that I have now. That starter kit looks like a good place to begin.

 

[J_Undisputed]

There are some (not all)good tool chests on harborfreight.com for a lot less than you might pay at other places.
As for the tools, I am in the middle of doing what you are setting out to do.
- A good ratchet set would serve you well (Some of the newer husky stuff is not as well made as the old stuff, but their ratchets always served me well, i havent had to make use of the lifetime warraty yet)
- Set of screwdrivers (I went for the ratching kind with a T Handle)
- Torx bit set (as mention above)
- A dead blow hammer (for finessing some things into place - lol)
- Pliers and Locking pliers (Vice Grips)
- A drill
- A vice could serve you well as a extra pair of hands if you're working alone.
- Tin Snips
- Volt meter
- Can of WD40

might be some things to get your started.

 

[anrkizm95]

multi meter

 

[mar67655]

were i live i hit up the local swap meets you can find a ton of tools for cheap

 

[Iamarchangel]

List the tools in the Buell kit.

Keep an eye on sears (in Canada, check Canadian Tire) weekly sales, stores like that.

Each time a set comes up that has matches one part in the kit, buy the set.

Storytime: had a problem with the bike this summer. Wife asked what it was going to cost to fix. I told her it might be $500 worth of special tools. She asked what if the dealer did it. Told her we could build my dream workshop and still have money left for the $500 worth of tools. (Actually was able to fix it for about $30 worth of new tools.) See how it works out?

 

[dmp0001]

I like the craftsman stuff because if I break it I can just take it to sears for a free replacment

 

[noone1569]

Yeah, that Buell kit is expensive, but they occasionally put it on sale for 35$ which is what I snagged it for last December.

As said above, it would be a good ideal just to look at the list on that kit, and buy what goes on sale. Sign up for Sears' weekly advert and just watch it!

We just pulled apart an entire XB and had maybe $30 worth of speciality tools that wasn't on hand (just normal **** like a nice socket set, ratcheting wrenches, etc).

 

[Sacklunch]

You can take almost any hand tool back to the store and they will replace it. Craftsman is overpriced. I actually go to a couple stores and see which brand of tool feels best for me.

 

[cb750]

Just about any tool you buy will have some kind of guarantee.

Imho a starter kit from sears with a set of screwdrivers, pliers, and a hammer/deadblow would be the first things om my list, followed with some allen wrenches and torx bits. A torque wrench and service manual is a must as well. I dont tighten anything on my bike without a torque wrench.