Ive had my orders

[Scrudge]

The mrs has laid down the law .. “Get out from under my bloody feet ... Yes darling! Haha”

 

So im at the stage in my life now where ive some time on my hands, im getting an old bast*rd basically. I need a hobby, i need to fill the days instead of getting nagged off the mrs and boy is she doing my head in

Anyhow, back in the day when i was a teenager i had a fizzy 50 then a X7 bike, Oh, they where great memories im going to buy a small 70/80’s  single cylinder project to start with, doing some mild restoration work (cleaning,tinkering, and blagging more like).
Ive some mechanical knowledge but im by no means a mechanic, planning on learning as i go along  

Ive a nice sized dry garage to work in with a radio and a kettle (probably a bed soon the way things are going) and a few spanners, My knees arnt what they once were so ive purchased a used bike table and a parts washer off fleabay, maybe a compressor and a blasting cabinet?
Could you guys tell me what you consider to be necessary tools, your go to tools, tools you use all the time etc

Think it would be interesting to see what variety there is out there

 

Scrudge

 

Edited June 11, 2023 by Scrudge

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

For bikes there aren't many special tools needed. If you're looking at older smaller bikes then you probably don't even need a chain rivet tool as it will be a split link. 

 

Mostly it's a decent set of sockets and spanners. Just be aware that on Japanese bikes the screws will be JIS -Japanese Industrial Standard, rather than Philips. 

 

If you're getting an old bike then a can of Plusgas is recommended.  

[Fiddlesticks]

Big torque wrench, small torque wrench, sockets, spanners, allen keys, chain tool, breaker bar, wheel socket adapter and when all else fails.... hammer.

 

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, Fiddlesticks said:

Big torque wrench, small torque wrench, sockets, spanners, allen keys, chain tool, breaker bar, wheel socket adapter and when all else fails.... hammer.

 

Every tool is a hammer. If you were an expert like wot I is, you'd know that

[Gerontious]

10mm spanner and socket. more than anything else. and guard it with your life as they tend to disappear as if by magic.

 

I had a look at what I have on Amazon and was absolutely horrified by the price increases. A Brexit benefit, obviously. So I'll keep quiet about them and the guys can recommend you stuff from Halfords. (probably)  I hate to admit that I own nothing bought from Halfords, aside from a broken foot pump that I try not to think about, plus a broken 10mm hex which I keep as a reminder. I don't think about them much  as Im likely to start throwing random objects.. and the windows. think of the windows!!

Edited June 11, 2023 by Gerontious

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

A lot of my tools are Halfords pro range. Always bought when there's a sale on. They do honour their lifetime guarantee.  I broke a socket using a huge bar on a stuck wheel nut and they replaced it without question. 

 

I've got Sealey stuff and other brands, but the Halfords pro is what I use the most. 

 

 

[Mickly]

Halfords Advanced kit has proved very useful for me, it also has a lifetime guarantee, I broke a Torx head driver doing the head bolts on the Trophy with a breaker bar - they swapped it no questions asked.

They also changed the actual box when it cracked when I stood on it.

+1 on getting them in one of the sales, got mine for less than 1/2 price.

[dynax]

I have a Clarke Pro socket set from Machine Mart, decent quality and this also comes with lifetime warranty, reminds me I need to go and exchange my 1/4 ratchet as it slips occasionally, already mentioned it to them at the shop just keep forgetting to take it with me when i'm out that way.

[Tiggie]

Halfords Pro for me ( think it was called advanced when I bought my set ) for sockets and spanners. As has been said wait for a sale, they are rarely at full price for long. Other bits you just pick up as you need them I've found.

 

For tools I don't have I usually go with a cheaper brand. If I break it then I figure I must use it enough thats its then worth investing in a "name" .  As an example I've got a £5 mouse sander from tesco that I've had nearly 20 years. Still works for what little I use it for. Feel it would of been a waste of my money to of bought an all singing dancing version for more money.

 

Welcome to the Forum 

[Mickly]

7 minutes ago, Tiggie said:

Halfords Pro for me ( think it was called advanced when I bought my set ) for sockets and spanners. As has been said wait for a sale, they are rarely at full price for long. Other bits you just pick up as you need them I've found.

 

For tools I don't have I usually go with a cheaper brand. If I break it then I figure I must use it enough thats its then worth investing in a "name" .  As an example I've got a £5 mouse sander from tesco that I've had nearly 20 years. Still works for what little I use it for. Feel it would of been a waste of my money to of bought an all singing dancing version for more money.

 

Welcome to the Forum 

Why would you want to sand a mouse?

[Tiggie]

Because Tom asked me to!

[Gerontious]

what I save on porn. I spend on tools. which at my age is about as exciting as life gets.

 

I have hot flushes at the mention of Gedore, Hazet and Stahlwille makes me fall to the ground and foam at the mouth. but the less said about that the better.

 

I hasten to add I have nothing made by these brands. purely aspirational. I do cheap. but what was cheap is no longer. (thanks Boris - missing you already) and my cheap might not equal your cheap. chirpy chirpy cheep cheep.

 

Call me old fashioned, but when a half inch driver breaks at a torque under 45nm. I couldn't really give two hoots about a lifetime warranty. for a start I was stuck and couldn't jump into a non existent car to get another. what I did was borrow one from a neighbour and then donate the entire set to medical research. yes.. I had what might be described as a drama.  I remember that day vividly. in fact I occasionally have nightmares about it as the trauma was so deep.

 

I've not had a tool break since.

 

Im sure I have some valium somewhere....

Edited June 11, 2023 by Gerontious

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

2 hours ago, dynax said:

I have a Clarke Pro socket set from Machine Mart, decent quality and this also comes with lifetime warranty, reminds me I need to go and exchange my 1/4 ratchet as it slips occasionally, already mentioned it to them at the shop just keep forgetting to take it with me when i'm out that way.

My inner anorak tells me that the rachet mechanism isn't covered by the lifetime guarantee.  But good luck anyway and I hope you get a manager who plays ball. 

[dynax]

2 minutes ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

My inner anorak tells me that the rachet mechanism isn't covered by the lifetime guarantee.  But good luck anyway and I hope you get a manager who plays ball. 

They have already told me to bring it in for exchange, just me forgetting to take it.

 

Edited June 11, 2023 by dynax

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

18 minutes ago, dynax said:

They have already told me to bring it in for exchange, just me forgetting to take it.

 

 

Edited June 11, 2023 by Mississippi Bullfrog

[Stu]

I can highly recommend Halfords Pro tools 

 

Mine have been used and abused over the 15+ years of owning some of them and only ever had one hex bit break! and that was because I had it on a breaker bar with a scaffold bar on the end of it! 

 

It was replaced with no arguments 

 

As has been mentioned JIS screwdrivers are a must if you are having a Jap bike as Philips screwdrivers don't sit in the screws and will just chew them up 

[Scrudge]

8 hours ago, Stu said:

 

As has been mentioned JIS screwdrivers are a must if you are having a Jap bike as Philips screwdrivers don't sit in the screws and will just chew them up 

Can’t say i’ve ever heard of JIS screwdrivers before? 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

2 hours ago, Scrudge said:

Can’t say i’ve ever heard of JIS screwdrivers before? 

https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/screwdrivers-and-hex-keys/sealey-4pc-jis-screwdriver-set-453366.html?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Motoring>Tools>Hand+Tools>Screwdrivers+and+Hex+keys-_-Motoring>Tools>Hand+Tools>Screwdrivers+&+Hex+keys-_-453366&_$ja=tsid:|cid:17363835999|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:8759104381533744738|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:1006963&gclid=CjwKCAjwhJukBhBPEiwAniIcNWYJxunmwDcAj81JnLZ6L7NcVu5EgRxWDuvFoqF8rItpnFJIK_HSPRoCDhIQAvD_BwE

 

You can get a set on Amazon for cheaper. They do make a difference if you're working on anything Japanese.

[Tiggie]

@Scrudge

 

 

You can always tell if its a JIS screw by the little dimple on the head.

 

 

 

 

You can get away with using a normal phillips screwdriver on them a lot of the time but will come across some screws that you will just chew the head up trying to get it off. The ones on a brake master cylinder come to mind, don't ask me how I know! 

 

 

 

 

[RideWithStyles]

Yes must agree with those above. The old bikes generally didnt need much in the way of special tools.

if uve got room and a bit of money to spend a sonic cleaner does a good job on cleaing bolts and brackets etc  that always rust and cant get anymore.

carb balancing kit.

[Fender1515]

In my world, a good calliper bleeding kit, defo not the pressurised version, tried one, spent hours cleaning up the volcano of hydraulic fluid  spay.

[RideWithStyles]

Add more one way valves to that kit, Oh and good pipe clampers!

[GojuRyu5]

Aside from the normal array of spanner’s, sockets, screwdrivers and pliers (and I also tend to use Halfords Advanced and haven’t personally had any bad experiences there), I have had to invest in a set of circlip pliers and also needed some tin snips when I had to recreate a bracket from scratch after finding it rusted beyond repair on my current project.  Other than that, the range of tools and equipment will develop over time as you start working through your project.

 

More than anything, collecting names and recommendations of specialists in your area is useful if you need parts re-chromed or don’t have any particular skills at welding.

 

Oh, finally, if you’re going to spend more time in the workshop, a sofa, a TV and beer fridge and a sturdy lock (mounted on the INSIDE…).  Best of luck.