Toolkit on a tight budget advice?

[FlightRisk]

So I've realised how little I know about mechanic-ing tools, but I know a little more than I did 2 days ago. Now I know there are 6 and 12 pointed sockets and wall-drive (which is pretty cool).

I already have screwdrivers and hex keys & bits and pliers - small stuff like that.

My spannering ambitions are this type of thing to begin with:
remove rear wheel to go get tyre
remove exhaust to paint
adjust head bearing
fork seals
bleed brakes
clean carbs

I saw the Halfords sets on sale ( I can haz ALL THE TOOLZ!? ) but on closer inspection whatever I was looking at had loads of imperial stuff I don't need.

I'd rather keep things minimal and have some nicer quality stuff than loads of stuff I won't use. I did pick up this RAC branded spanner set (https://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7004250.htm) for £13 but I don't know... Has good reviews and says it's chrome vanadium but it doesn't feel like real steel, I'm nearly scared to use it!

I don't know whether I should be spending money on spanners or sockets, or which sizes to go for, or if I should be looking for a set with deep sockets?

I guess ratchet spanners are more of a luxury thing, like if you'd be using them all the time?

Can you get combination spanners with the 6 points on the ring end?

[Wonko The Sane]

I have a socket set bought for me by my parents a while ago so I don't know the cost.

The set comprises large and small ratchet handle, screwdriver handle and a spark plug socket or two.
sizes 4mm through 30mm (probably won't need the large end of those!

small, med, large allen key, cross head, flat head and torx screwdriver bits.

This along with a decent size adjustable wrench and a pair of long nosed pliers has served me well thus far.

Helps for me that Kawasaki deliberately use different sized heads on bolts so that a 17mm is needed one end and a 15mm the other, kind of handy.

I do have some ratchet spanners which are handy for spaces you can't get a socket into - mine are halfrauds ones.

A torque wrench may come in handy from time to time (I'm just finding this out myself)

You may need additional tools for the fork seals

Places like machine mart, screwfix etc may be cheaper for tools than halfrauds but of similar quality.
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[gavcarter]

[Pete.]

A 13 quid RAC branded set from Argos is not going to be good quality because 1. Argos stuff is over-priced tat and 2. If it's RAC branded they will be paying a cut to them for the endorsement.

You don't need new tools, how about visiting a few boot fairs or asking around the family?
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Sload]

Buy it as you need it then
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[Hugh Farking Cant]

[bugeye_bob]

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/garage-equipment/socket-sets/halfords-advanced-professional-36-piece-socket-set-1-4

These are brilliant for the bike, I have a couple now,
I also carry the bikes OE kit,
These socket sets pop up at £19.99 from time to time,
Its also compact enough to fit under the seat so you arent caught out.
hth

And have a life time warrenty

[Sload]

[DrSnoosnoo]

I bought a set from ARGOS. £40 for a set of every socket you'll need and Allen heads, torx heads etc. Really good

Using this set (and some torque wrenches from ALDI and machine mart) I've had me wheels off, calipers off, replaced my rear shock and done my valve clearances. the 1/2" ratchet has started to play up but 2 years and that being the only problem. .. worth it!

The next set I will get will be the huuuge halfords set though.
____________________
I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[groovylee]

I know I'm going to be going against the grain a little here, but you don't need awesome tools.

as long as you don't expect tools from poundland to cause you anything but grief, you'll be fine. Christ, I've done cylinder head exchanges with tools that some of the snapon fanbois wouldn't shit on, but they worked, and didn't fuck anything.

get the most comprehensive stuff you can afford, and as you save yourself money by doing things yourself, upgrade.

and before anyone thinks I'm some sort of uninformed cretin - this is the opinion of a marine engineer of 16 years experience

good effort for giving it a go yourself OP, just don't get too bogged down in the expensive details (but don't go buying poundland shite either )
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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[clancy]

Halfords tools are pretty crap and their sets have loads of stuff you never use

Go to a machine mart. Far better quality, far cheaper too. You can mix and match and just get what you need

I recently got a low profile trolley jack, new torque wrench, set of long spline bits and 700mm breaker bar for about £80 when they had a vat free weekend. So you could easily build a decent basic toolkit of just stuff you need for cheap
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KLX 300r

[Wonko The Sane]

halfords profesional range is up to the job, but carries a price tag.

I've yet to break any tool I've bought from Aldi, I'm half way through a house renovation that has killed dewalt, bosch and black&decker drills but not my aldi one!

Don't underestimate or rule out aldi tools.
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[Lone-Wolf]

Wotcha.

Many moons ago I bought a socket set. It cost me just over three and a half week's wages. I still have it. OK, the ratchet and one socket got lost when they fell from my pocket ( lesson to be learned here ) on the way to the local garage. One socket got worn out - the 5/16 Whitworth - but the rest are fine and I still use 'em to this day.

Tl;dr. Buy good and buy once.
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Cheers.
^..^
L.W. - www.moonshiners.org.uk

[wr6133]

Halfords professional, they regularly have huge sales on them online. I got mine with 66% off! Yeah there's a bit of imperial stuff there but at that price and with a lifetime guarantee that means if anything breaks I can walk in to my local halfrauds and swap it I think it's money well spent.

[FlightRisk]

I wouldn't hesitate to check out Aldi or Lidl if they had anything in. That's the problem, never when you need it...
I nearly bought the Argos set but they were out of stock. No Machine Mart where I live.

What's a punch set useful for?

[groovylee]

I got given the first 1/4 inch set for Xmas by my in laws. Absolutely brilliant little set for the money I use it pretty much daily and it hasn't failed me yet. And the deep sockets are a bonus too.
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Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[FlightRisk]

OK, I've just about decided on this Draper Expert 3/8 set as a nice mix of price vs quality & useful sizes (6-24mm).

One question though; my rear axle nut is 24mm, is a 3/8 drive up surviving the level of torque needed for a rear axle?

Haynes manual says 90 Nm.

[smegballs]

+1 for old, quality tools


A local house-clearancey type of store sold me a big handful of Britool and Gedore spanners last year for 3 quid.

I'd much rather work with some old british/yank/german tools that buy new shit.

[qarka]

Fork seals... to get the bushings and seals in you need a seal driver. Don't buy one though, you can make one with a few bits of PVC pipe and two jubilee clips. As per https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrmYJgcGX30

Used this method to do my fork seals a few days ago, worked a treat!
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[clancy]

[FlightRisk]

[biker_bob]