Hi to all I know this might sound a little stupid, bit it has been useful to myself, always take some photos of the area on your bike you are going to work on, this saves you having to remember which way spacers, and certain bolts and screws should go, you will see it is a time saver.

 

I've also been known to make a sketch of the part on a piece of cardboard and punch holes in the proper place and stick the screws into the board. This is especially useful for things like cam covers or primary covers where you may have multiple screws of different lengths that can't be mixed up.

 

That's a pretty good idea.

 

if you take the part and place the different length bolts in the holes...rearrange the bolts until the same amount of threads are sticking through...problem solved

 

Good idea...beats the **** out of my crayon/napkin method.

 

My manuals are full of hand drawn diagrams, notes and memos, my "cheat-sheets".

 

Egg cartons work well for when you have to manage a bunch of smaller parts. No matter how careful I am, I always seem to drop a small screw, nut or bolt, and have it bounce off somewhere. Take the lid off the carton and it makes a nice tray. Use the bottom part to sort and order things.

 

Drawings, pictures, cardboard with bolts screwed into them..whatever works.
A towel on a fold-up card table to place items on helps to keep items from rolling away.
Table doubles parts.tool work area in the same footprint (smaller items on top of table/ larger below).

 

Mechanical comprehension is best. If you take the time to study a machine or sub-assembly, and understand how it works, there will be only one logical place for each part or component.

 

I take pics of wiring harnesses and how they are routed and secured and take pics of the rear of the connectors anytime they need to be disassembled. I use the cardboard method for any part with bolts in specific holes.