Recommend me a compact socket set.

[andrewsmith]

A compact socket set!

I'm after a small socket set for under the bike seat. Anyone got a suggestion?
I know Bahco do a compact one but it looks like it has been discontinued.

Thanks in Advance
Andy

[Terah]

Not a socket set but I put together a basic tool kit based on http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=148963&page=2 - it all goes in the SV tool bag.

At a push I can get it, a can of air repair, spare gloves and a micro fleece under the back seat.

[andrewsmith]

Cheers Neil
Got a small one under seat put its a PIA to get any leverage on a bolt

[DJ123]

What do you need one to go under the seat for?

[andrewsmith]

Its so I can compact the rest of my kit to alan keys, screwdriver and pliers

[squirrel_hunter]

This (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_17 7537_langId_-1_categoryId_255215) is a nice little set from Halfords. I have one of these for that very purpose I take it with me on weekend aways, but can't remember if it fits under an SV seat as I keep it in a tail pack.

[andrewsmith]

Cheers SH, I had a feeling Halfords did one as a larger kit

[tigersaw]

This (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_17 7537_langId_-1_categoryId_255215) is a nice little set from Halfords. I have one of these for that very purpose I take it with me on weekend aways, but can't remember if it fits under an SV seat as I keep it in a tail pack.

I have one of those too, not sure its man enough for the tasks you have in mind but its a nice set regardless

[Bibio]

think about what you need to do at the side of a road...

anything major is out so all you need are basics for changing plugs, tightening chain plus a split link and electrical bitz and pizez.

a good quality (bacho) adjustable wrench, allan keys with a good lever bar mad from 8x6mm and about 6'' long, spark plug wrench and some electrical tape, small snips, tyre repair kit.

as i said anything major and its relay time so why not just stick an AA/RAC card under there instead.

[DJ123]

think about what you need to do at the side of a road...

anything major is out so all you need are basics for changing plugs, tightening chain plus a split link and electrical bitz and pizez.

a good quality (bacho) adjustable wrench, allan keys with a good lever bar mad from 8x6mm and about 6'' long, spark plug wrench and some electrical tape, small snips, tyre repair kit.

as i said anything major and its relay time so why not just stick an AA/RAC card under there instead.

^^^ This. Day to day i don't carry any tools with me, no point or need for it. When i go away for the weekend i take a small tool kit that would be capable of small road side repairs/emergency fixes.
End of the day i've got roadside assistance, only £50 for the year (UK and Europe cover) and is good for piece of mind

[andrewsmith]

Thinking of it like that.

I may aswel stick a 3/8" or 1/2" and a few sockets underneath
and my current roadside is bloody brilliant

[rictus01]

as my compact socket set I have this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teng-Mr3824-24piece-Socket-Metric/dp/B0001P0XQK/ref=sr_1_2?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1339875147&sr=1-2), although the inside plastic moulding have disintegrated somewhat, it's never let me down in the 15 years I've used it, being 3/8 it's meaty enough for most jobs, but the case is designed shorter than the ratchet so will fit where normally a drive of that size wouldn't, I think Sid squid carries the 1/4 version of the same kit as well.

Cheers Mark.

[Small Clanger]

Newey and Eyre, the electrical wholesalers, had the small Bahco set on offer a few months ago. Try your local branch, if they don't have a set left they may be able to find you one. They also had the Bahco ratchet ring-spanners on offer with four sizes per spanner (you just flip them over and click the ratchet to loosen/tighten) and they are a brilliant bit of kit.

[NTECUK]

If you get chance,hop onto a Mac Tools van.
Our agent had a few variations that might catch your eye.one of the tec's bought a kit for just that job .
most socket sets only go up to 14 mm
this one is a variation on ratchet spanners and is small .
This one goes from 8mm to 19 mm
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Facom-464-J1PB-Socket-Spanner-Maintenance-Set-in-Case-For-Life-GO-NEXTDAY-3-99-/400303414084?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item5d33f15b44

[alfa.rbt]

I've got that set and it just fits in there http://www.hilka.co.uk/product.php?id=132

[Spank86]

I carry a few tools but mainly in the hope that if I have an accident it'll be beside someone who knows what to do with them.

Certainly don't bother with a full socket set, for a start most of the socket sizes will be unnecessary.

[andrewsmith]

Newey and Eyre, the electrical wholesalers, had the small Bahco set on offer a few months ago. Try your local branch, if they don't have a set left they may be able to find you one. They also had the Bahco ratchet ring-spanners on offer with four sizes per spanner (you just flip them over and click the ratchet to loosen/tighten) and they are a brilliant bit of kit.

Cheers mate

I doubt they will have any left as i know that 6 of the maintenance lads have got them and the workshop got them.

Annoyingly mac dont do much around here as snap on's got lions share

[NTECUK]

Well the set Rictus listed will be fine.
That is available on line .
And good value too.

[andrewsmith]

thats the one i did look at (well the bigger case and spec one at the local engineering place)

That one will be getting ordered or the 1/4" version

[yorkie_chris]

I really like my bahco 1/2" set, so much that I'm thinking of buying another next time there's a special offer, just because they're nice :)

The 3/8ths version my stepdad has is of equal quality.

We used to have these sets when I was digging up stuff and building fences and gates etc. so the sets basically lived their lives in a puddle of concrete and mud with zero maintenance and massive abuse. They lasted years!


However the 1/4" drive version I tried in the shop I really did not like, the ratchet felt cheap and the direction switch was not positive, any displacement from either side and it would spin freely. Not impressed at all as that would really f***ing annoy you and does not give good suggestion of robustness.

As you'll probably only take one ratchet then don't get the 1/4". I'd take the 3/8" and a 22 spanner. Don't forget some allen sockets.
But if you did go for 1/4" and take spanners to suit bigger stuff, then the teng stuff is great.

I'd also add some pliers or a leatherman, a lighter and a handful of electrical crimp connectors and heatshrink, some black nasty, some cable ties, and a mini can of WD40.


It's not about what you can fix on your own bike, it's the fact that when you can fix someone elses you don't end up buying your own ale!!

[andrewsmith]

I really like my bahco 1/2" set, so much that I'm thinking of buying another next time there's a special offer, just because they're nice :)

The 3/8ths version my stepdad has is of equal quality.

We used to have these sets when I was digging up stuff and building fences and gates etc. so the sets basically lived their lives in a puddle of concrete and mud with zero maintenance and massive abuse. They lasted years!


However the 1/4" drive version I tried in the shop I really did not like, the ratchet felt cheap and the direction switch was not positive, any displacement from either side and it would spin freely. Not impressed at all as that would really f***ing annoy you and does not give good suggestion of robustness.

As you'll probably only take one ratchet then don't get the 1/4". I'd take the 3/8" and a 22 spanner. Don't forget some allen sockets.
But if you did go for 1/4" and take spanners to suit bigger stuff, then the teng stuff is great.

The Teng looks like its the winner

I'd also add some pliers or a leatherman, a lighter and a handful of electrical crimp connectors and heatshrink, some black nasty, some cable ties, and a mini can of WD40.

It's not about what you can fix on your own bike, it's the fact that when you can fix someone elses you don't end up buying your own ale!!

Thats whats being added before I go away, Badger's GM ignition problem made that go in

[Small Clanger]

www.facewest.co.uk (http://www.facewest.co.uk) for Leatherman stuff, not cheap but they have some of it reduced. I have a Charge AL that gets used on a daily basis along with the accessory bit kits which include Torx and Allen bits, various screwdriver sizes and even a tiny bit for fixing your specs.

www.cotswoldoutdoor.com (http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com) also have them on offer now and again.

[SIII]

Have a 1/4" Drive halfords set and it is the best thing since sliced bread! Always use it to work on the bike and simply decanted it into a smaller tin to take around Scotland last easter. Get it in the sale and it is only £20.

Don't think the 1/4" Bahco set, I bought for work is a patch on it, doesn't have the same quality of feel to it at all and cost twice the price.

The facom spanner with inserts! Got one, quite expensive (Don't spend £50 on this - you will be disappointed) and i don't see it being much use on the bike due to the size of it, access will be a struggle, better with a 1/4 " socket set.

Had a leatherman for 10 years - yet to get me out of trouble! Nice thing but not a great tool.

At least with a 1/4" set - you can take the fairing off before the AA/RAC arrive! LOL

p.s. - I also carry an AA card as well.

[andrewsmith]

The facom spanner is a good investment, looked at them last year may still get one

[NTECUK]

If the mac man has any left might get one.
But only if its still st the mac promo price .

[andrewsmith]

Whats everyones view on a tool like this??

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cooper-tools-rapid-wrench

[Sid Squid]

A friend had one given to him on a promotion at the wholesalers - it's a bit flimsy.

That said it worked pretty well on small low torque stuff, but the arms are too long to be rigid if you need to turn anything that could remotely be described as tight.

[andrewsmith]

Cheers Sid
I was thinking that when I looked at it.
May aswel make a kit out of the box

[Lozzo]

as my compact socket set I have this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teng-Mr3824-24piece-Socket-Metric/dp/B0001P0XQK/ref=sr_1_2?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1339875147&sr=1-2), although the inside plastic moulding have disintegrated somewhat, it's never let me down in the 15 years I've used it, being 3/8 it's meaty enough for most jobs, but the case is designed shorter than the ratchet so will fit where normally a drive of that size wouldn't, I think Sid squid carries the 1/4 version of the same kit as well.

Cheers Mark.

I've got the Teng 1/4 inch drive set and it's more than up to the job of simple repairs on the road. If you require any more then you also need a workshop and more tools than you can carry. I changed some of the slot screwdriver drive bits for allen key bits as they're more suited to my bike

Mine came free with a mate's magazine subscription... the muppets sent two out so he gave me one set.

[xXBADGERXx]

I second the Teng Tools , had mine since the early 90`s . Lozzo .... was that the set they offered you if you subscribed to PB or Superbike magazine ?

[yorkie_chris]

A friend had one given to him on a promotion at the wholesalers - it's a bit flimsy.

That said it worked pretty well on small low torque stuff, but the arms are too long to be rigid if you need to turn anything that could remotely be described as tight.

So as much use as a chocolate chimney then.

Don't bother with gimmicky sh*te just carry half decent stuff which will do the intended job...

[Lozzo]

I second the Teng Tools , had mine since the early 90`s . Lozzo .... was that the set they offered you if you subscribed to PB or Superbike magazine ?

PB