tool set

[fastdruid]

Originally Posted by k31tha

have a look in halfords there set r quite good value and quality

+1

Plus they come with a lifetime warranty, Not that they really need it, I've got a 15 year old set still going strong[1]!

Druid

[1] In that time I've broken a 1/4 to 3/8th adapter and the 3/8 ratchet wore out[2] plus someone else managed to break a 17mm spanner.
[2] There is a replacement ratchet kit for it but the design had changed in 14 years so it didn't fit mine. They gave me a new ratchet instead.

[fastdruid]

Originally Posted by larigos

well someone at the cheese before I bought the bike, its a k3 (6 months old to me) will pop down to halfords, any tools that are bike specific? or mainly stanard things

Not as such but the plug spanner isn't the 'common' car size. Can't recall what size it is though.

Druid

next week, plenty of oh crap whats this bolt for 'posts' cos it was left over after i took this this and this off the bike to do this.

[fastdruid]

Helpful hints

Where possible put bolts back in and screw them in a few turns.

Use lots of containers (I use plastic cups!) to keep various sections apart and do them in order, that way when it comes to putting stuff back you know both that you need to have emptied each cup in reverse order but also where each bolts aproximate location should be.

If you've not already got one get a cheap digital camera and use it, take loads of pics whenever you do anything, that way if you're stuck for where something should go you can just refer to the pictures.

Druid

I agree with the Halfords suggestion, I have a few of their sets now and I haven't had any problems.

Originally Posted by fastdruid

Not as such but the plug spanner isn't the 'common' car size. Can't recall what size it is though.

The one in the SV's tool kit is by far the best for the SV.

[northwind]

I like Clarke Pro from machine mart, decent cheap tools. Halfords often have good sales on, which is just as well because their stuff's still slightly too expensive even when it's discounted- but it's good stuff, the guarantee's very rarely useful just because it doesn't often break. The golden rule with everything is if there's a value range and a pro range, the value range will be mince. THis goes especially for Draper- they do have some very good stuff, but they also have some absolute rubbish, and it's not always easy to tell which is which til it breaks.

I've bene slowly replacing my old kit with Teng Tools, really nice- they're expensive but they're durable and just generally nicer to use than most stuff.

Originally Posted by northwind

I've bene slowly replacing my old kit with Teng Tools, really nice- they're expensive but they're durable and just generally nicer to use than most stuff.

+1 , I have Teng Tools also , When I was a fitter they would come in for some serious abuse and still look like new after eons of use . I also have 3 Bahco adjustables in small , medium and "Don`t mess with me" and they have been bulletproof also . The Halfords stuff is by no means a bad start , decent kit for the money .

Teng spanners are in the post from screw fix, not much more than halfords set so might aswell, the socket sets on hte other hand will have to wait till next pay day at £99 for teng again only £20 more than halfords.

As for the digi camera good idea I have a copy of haynes manual (wife gave to me as a pressie) so have a little idea of how to take things apart. will see when i comes to fitting the tail tidy and mini indies. oh joy cant wait for next weekend now! I could do an oil change...the adventures are endless.

cheers for all the advice

Mark

[northwind]

Sockets wise, I think this is the set I had at first

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...kets-tool-sets

Good enough, really. I did manage to break a couple of sockets but only by using them with 1/2 inch adapters and a big breaker, not clever really

I brought myself some sockets about 3 years ago that I use every week in my saturday job and various work I do on my mates cars and completely rebuilt my zxr400 with them.
sockets i brought myself some sealey 1/4" deep and shallow. extensions. stubby 1/4" ratchet.
3/8" shallow and deep, extensions and ratchet. sealey spanners combination set. screwdrivers (neumerous), picks, awls, gasket scrappers etc. pry bars.

they have lasted well, i still use them and although the 1/4" ratchet has given up the ghost it has been severly abused (using a deep socket to fit over the handle and extensions making a kind of makeshift breaker bar as long as you like!).

i'm now replacing them all with snap-on. the quality of things like the spanners etc is markably better. the ratchet spanners are exactly the same as the gearwrench ones available in the US.
if being used every now and then most brands will be good, just stay away from the real cheap stuff. if being used more often look at stuff like halfords professional range, bluepoint, sealey, britool, draper. if used alot.... bluepoint will still stand up, snap on, bluepoint, craftsman, gearwrench, britool's older stuff...
cheers
dan