Tools for a bike mechanic? Calling bike mechs.

[Coxyzxr]

Hi all,

I've recently changed my career and am due to start my new role as bike tech so i'm building up my tools before I start my new job.

What tools did you find yourselves using most or most useful to have?

I have the obvious like socket set, good spanner set etc,

Thanks
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**WAS FITTED "WRONG WAY ROUND" !** CANT ACCOUNT FOR THE STUPID !

[1cyl]

Chain splitter is handy. As is a torque wrench and a decent set of Alan's. Very much a near endless list of useful tools/equipment out there tho, so depends on your requirements and budget.

I like my hydraulic press. It's dead handy for doing bearings or crushing terminators
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Chase my Witch up, Catch my Snitch up.
The SMC | The Pit | Stable

[Raffles]

I find that an impact driver comes in handy every now and again.
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A good loser will always be a loser.

[-]

Flywheel pullers and those Mole grip derived flywheel/clutch basket holders are useful.

I would also get a cheap tap and die kit, plus an m8 Helicoil kit. On top of the chain breaker/riveting kit, that should do most of it on top of standard sockets/spanners/alen keys/screw drivers.

[stevo as b4]

I'd say a quality 3/8" socket set with a good selection of quality socket, torx and hex head sockets is worth having.

I've got loads of 1/4" and 1/2" bits and tools, but a limited selection of 3/8" stuff, and although I manage, if I was working on bikes every day I'd want 3/8" tools really.

[Shaft]

Spend the next week intensively searching for a set of JIS screwdrivers/bits and be one of only a handful of bike techs that have some.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
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[Hugh Farking Cant]

Get yersel some T bars; also in 1/4 and 3/8 drive.
Palm ratchets and stubbies are handy.

https://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p626/willandrip/conrod/008_zps6bbdfbbc.jpg

[Kari-On]

Decent spanners
Decent 3/8" sockets
Decent allen keys (I prefer these - https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/5020385050549%20TENTTHEX7%20TC24%20TTHEX7%207%20PieceMetric%20Hex%20T%20Handle%20Drivers )
Impact driver
Torque wrench(es)
Multimeter

Metric sizes are most commonly used (Jap bikes).

[Coxyzxr]

[A100man]

+1 on the taps/dies if only for cleaning up tired threads. Oh yes and a brass drift.

[Fisty]

C spanners for head race lock nuts
Drifts/punches for bearings
Ratchet ring spanners with flexi head
Plug sockets in various sizes
Torx bits
Bigger sized allen keys/sockets for wheel spindles
12mm spanner will become your most used spanner
Some bikes have odd sized top yoke nuts (ZXR400 is 36mm as an example)
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[Fisty]

[Fisty]

Also this for stuck brake pistons.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-Motorcycle-Brake-Piston-Removal-Tool-Brake-Caliper-Rewind-Tools-WorkShop-/290714264894?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43afeba53e
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[Rogerborg]

Irwin bolt grips. Time is money.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[kramdra]

Cobalt drill set, couple of carbide drills for stubborn stainless bolts.

Angle grinder and bench grinder (or a pair of 80/1500 grit drums to go in elecy drill)

Club hammer, large sledge hammer. Spacers and drifts for bearings. Bearing puller for head bearings.

Castellated sockets for swingarm bolts.

Circlip pliers - worth getting decent ones. Particularly useful are small ones to fit nissin master cylinders, and a large pair for 125 sprocket carrier clips.

Decent tool box or bag. Ive yet to find one and resort to using an old rucksack

[stirlinggaz]

[Shaft]

[Scythe]

[Ollie zx6r]

EZGrip screw extractor, seriously this stuff is phenomenal, if you have a tight or rounded nut/screw/stud or whatever, tiny amount of this stuff and you can get the purchase you need on it. We use it all the time at work.
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Race your life.

[lihp]

[stinkwheel]

A 90 degree bevel-drive screwdriver for adjusting carbs with the adjuster screws located underneath.

A hairdrier for fitting recalcitrant carb rubbers.

Deadblow hammer (hide and copper).

A magnet on a stick.

A decent multimeter with long cables and a choice of both croc clips and probes. Ideally analogue so you can spot needle deflection when doing dynamic tests. Even better if it has a high current ammeter, 10A minimum. You get automotive ones now which do dwell angle and have an inductive rev counter... be the envy of all your friends.

Oh. And a fucking good lock on your tool chest because they will grow legs and walk. Mark all of them (a particular colour of paint in the recesses or engrave/etch them) so when they turn up in someone elses tool chest, you can beat them round the head with it.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[stinkwheel]

[Clutchy]

[Clutchy]

Soldering iron too!

Wire crimps
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*33 BHP restriction up on 10/12/14* Current bikes/car: SV 650 S/ MKIV GOLF
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[johnsmith222]