Recommend me: Everything I need for basic bike maintanence

Sounds like a plan New Leaf, how easy are they to use - I'm a dunce!!! Oh and how much are you talking?

I'm really proud of myself this weekend doing some ultra basic bike DIY and really want to learn and now the bike has lost its shine a bit for me (sliding down the road on it didn't help that!) it is the perfect learning tool.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by krhall

how easy are they to use - I'm a dunce!!!

For sale: one slightly second hand pointy hat with a D on it. £5 plus P+P

They are really easy to use, takes a minute or so to do and is rock solid once it's on.

Sorry YC my missus went out and bought me one earlier once she saw me trying to tighten the change!!!

I'm sure she was watching me from somewhere sniggering.......

Hey there.

Allen keys are useful (unless your bike came with a tool kit)
ACF-50 (to protect from the evil rust)
and a nice big can of WD40

[yorkie_chris]

Allen keys are the devil.

Get some proper hex bits that you use with a ratchet etc. Loads better.

[timwilky]

First thing you need, before anything suggested above is a bit of common sense.

Tools, generally you get what you pay for. Buy cheap and expect it to snap, round off fittings etc. Then use the common sense. Before undertaking a job ask if you don't know. If you are struggling, you are either using the wrong tool or doing it wrong.

As YC has said. Allen keys are not particularly a good idea and a decent set of hex bits to fit your ratchet is a good start. But I would say the first thing to do, is get a few plastic boxes, pencil and sticky labels. That way, anything you remove can at least be labelled so you know where to put it when you come to the rebuilding.

On top of what the others have said:

Vinyl or nitrile gloves (I prefer nitrile because they don't go floppy in paraffin)

Impact driver

Torque wrenches - lower range and higher range

12mm Allen driver with 3/8" or 1/2" fitting (depending on breaker bar) for SV650 front wheel spindle

27mm deep socket (lots of bikes rear wheel spindles and front sprockets)

32mm deep socket (lots of bikes rear wheel spindles and front sprockets)

Magnetic parts trays, at least two.

Plastic containers from Chinese takeaway and a marker pen (put lid on and write where bits came from. When replaced on bike wipe lid clean with rag and brake cleaner)

Brake cleaner (has many uses and can get grease spots out of good clothes)

Rags, as many as you can lay your hands on

Big sheet of corrugated cardboard (opened out box put under bike when working to soak up spillages, also dropped nuts and bolts don't bounce as far on cardboard)

5 litres of paraffin, cheap paint brushes and an old washing up bowl for cleaning greasy parts (always use gloves)

Old toothbrushes.

No doubt I'll think of more.

Some good tips there Lozzo- I do almost all that, but didn't know about brake cleaner working on stains on clothes/takeaway lids. Only one of those I lack is an impact driver, is there any particular brand/model you'd recommend or anything to look out for/avoid when buying one (aside from cheap unbranded ones made out chocolate, obviously )?

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Some good tips there Lozzo- I do almost all that, but didn't know about brake cleaner working on stains on clothes/takeaway lids. Only one of those I lack is an impact driver, is there any particular brand/model you'd recommend or anything to look out for/avoid when buying one (aside from cheap unbranded ones made out chocolate, obviously )?

My impact driver is ancient and cost pennies when I bought it in 1978 - the maker's sticker went floorwards years ago, but I have a feeling it was a cheapie Hilka one. In 30 years of spannering rusty old heaps it finally snapped the No.2 Philips head last year. I haven't a clue what the better ones to buy are, or what they cost nowadays.

Brake cleaner is great for removing grease stains, but don't spray it directly on, squirt it onto a clean rag and then dab on the stain