Socket set - is 1/2" needed?

[Freddyfruitba...]

My son - fledgling biker - is hoping to find a socket set in his Xmas stocking.

Personally I have a motley collection of sockets and bits collected over many years, whereas he's starting from scratch. I've been wondering what would be best to get him started, and like the look of the 34-piece Bahco S330 set. I do like Bahco kit, and that one is 1/4" and 3/8" which I'd have thought that would be suitable for most bike applications, with the notable exception of the rear wheel, right? (that being pretty necessary for chain adjustment). So, maybe I just buy the Bahco set plus the appropriate socket and handle for the wheelnut in 1/2"? I'm a bit out of touch with this TBH, since these days I ride a shaftie (ie no chain adjustment to do ) and don't do a hell of a lot of spannering these days anyway.

Thoughts?
____________________
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[stinkwheel]

I use 1/4 and 3/8 for almost everything.

Exception is the recessed rear wheel nuts on my VFR which is single side swingarm but I usually use one of those extending car wheel-braces for that.

I use big ring spanners for the wheel nuts on my other bikes.

Most of the things I use a 1/2" drive for are huge and you wouldn't get the socket in a standard set anyway. Like the 30mm for the top yoke nut.
____________________
“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.

[Nobby the Bastard]

[xX-Alex-Xx]

Only thing I really use half inch on is socket for the rear axle which IIRC is around the 35mm mark.

Everything else is 3/8. Won’t go wrong with a full set in that size.
____________________
DILLIGAF

[NJD]

[Freddyfruitba...]

That's great - thanks all for confirming.
So, Bahco jobbie duly ordered.

I'd still quite like to obtain the necessary 1/2" socket for his rear axle, along with a handle, to go along with the set. The bike's a Suzuki Van Van, and according to Fowler's, it's a castellated nut, part number 083193114A or 08319-31148. So, any ideas how I can reasonably easily find out what size this is? Am drawing a blank via Google, and TBH I suspect even if I asked my son the question (he's 100 miles away) he wouldn't have a clue without being able to assess it against a correctly sized spanner or socket...
____________________
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[Hong Kong Phooey]

He's going to also need to keep the axle from turning, normally you get a set of big spanners in the bike tool kit to fit, they're usually two different sizes.

If you put a large adjustable spanner, and a big set of locking pliers/mole grips on the list it should cover most bases.

Then he'll just need to learn how to use them properly
____________________
'81 CG125, '97 FZS600 : '99 CBR600F4, '09 KTM RC8

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[Pigeon]

Tend to go by torque wrench capability

1/4 = 5-25Nm (switch to 3/8 @ 20Nm)
3/8 = 10-65Nm (switch to 1/2 @ 55Nm)
1/2 = 30-210Nm


Generally a 3/8 will do. You get to know the majority of ratings and for the extra (circa 70Nm front axle, 80Nm swingarm, 90Nm rear axle), can have specific sockets on a breaker bar to take it the extra.

But a 1/2 set on top of a 3/8 isn't a bad investment over time. Useful for other tasks too.

[Easy-X]

Of course there's the other way round where you take a 1/2" wrench and put on a 1/4" adaptor and you twist the end off

Not that I would know, just something I was told, I'll get my coat...
____________________
Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[WD Forte]

Always had a 1/2" set cos lotsa car/van work and its mostly useful for bike work until it gets bit delicate then I use a 1/4" set for 10mm and 8mm headed bolts.

Nowt wrong with a 3/8 set of course but the two above have always covered my needs and never felt any real need 3/8
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[MCN]

I use 1/4 rarely.
I use 3/8 as standard. Bacho are superb socket sets.
A nice wee kit is their little 1/4 drive set. The ratchet is a little ratchet spanner that takes screwdriver bits.
There is a screwdriver bit with a 1/4 drive square to drive the 1/4 sockets in the set.
It could probably do as an under the seat kit. About the size of a fag packet.

https://saudi.desertcart.com/products/48153244-bahco-2058s26-ratchet-socket-bit-set-26-piece?gclid=CjwKCAiAoOz-BRBdEiwAyuvA6xgKAkNi6PFP7nxK2rGCjU4Lv7Lfsjm3aPClRsszW_JBF18KhPFXaBoC3bEQAvD_BwE

Anything up to 7/8 AF is ok with 3/8. (7/8 is getting up there for 3/8 though)
The torque required for stuff bigger than that kinda exceeds the capability of 3/8.
Ratchets get blown out quick, swivel pins/hinge joints stretch and the effort required becomes Olympian.

1/2 for wheel spindles and frame pivot nuts.
A bar, ratchet extensions and bike specific 1/2 sockets do fine.
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[ThatDippyTwat]

I use 1/4" for most things. I break out the 1/2" when I have a big or stuck bastid to move (46mm hub nut on the VFR etc). 1/4" is more useful, but if you can pick up a Halfords Advanced set on one of the half price offers, it would be rude not to.
____________________
'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[virus]

[WD Forte]

For soem reason this has reminded me of the flogging spanners
we used back in my apprenticeship days


https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.TOmV9IZyIe0Tp5PiItoC5wAAAA%26pid%3DApi&f=1
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[NJD]

[smokin joe]

Like most people I've built up my toolkit as I've gone along buying what I needed at the time. Over fifty years of this has left me with a load of stuff that is scattered in various boxes in the garage where it can take ages to find what I need when doing a job on car or bike. Some of it is good quality, some so-so and some cheap crap.

Under the tree is my present from Santa this year - a 150 piece Halfords advanced socket and spanner set. Everything I need all in one box and top quality with a lifetime guarantee.

https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/socket-sets/halfords-advanced-150-pc-socket-and-spanner-set-735906.html

I am one happy bunny

[oilyrag]

What about a multimeter and a test light? Both very useful and don't cost much.

[Islander]

[oilyrag]

[WD Forte]

[oilyrag]

On the higher current circuits like starter motor circuit a test light is not much of a load. A head light bulb would be about 5 amp. Better than the test light. The multimeter showing 12V doesn't mean anything if there's no current flow