Setting up a toolkit
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Stage III
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
From: Evans, Ga
Setting up a toolkit
Hey everybody,
new member here but 'old' Harley rider. Soooo, after ~25 bikes, 5 of which were Harleys, I sold my 'last' one, a 2013 Road King 3 years ago figuring I was done at then 68 yo. But, as I'm sure many of you know, it's never over unitl it's over and several weeks ago on a nice spring day I watched a Harley go by me on the road. To make a long story ('negotiations' with my wife) short, I have a new RK in my garage. Love it!
So I'm building a tool kit from old hand tools I've accumulated. I have the roll, tire plug kit, pump, pliers, etc but have a couple of questions maybe somebody could help with:
1. Looking at the tool kit on the HD site, it apparently comes with 10mm wrench, the only metric tool in the kit. Does anyone know what this would be for? Are there really any non-SAE fasteners on this bike?
2. Torx bits. My recollection is that the ECM has a torx, maybe a T40 but are there any other reasons to stock any torx bits?
3. This is really a MacGyver kind of question re: duct tape, chewing gum and 'bailing wire'. Does anybody store bailing wire in their tool kit anymore? I'm thinking that a few zip ties would do the trick. I have the duct tape but a small coil of the right size bailing wire is hard to find. I guess I could also pop a couple juicy fruits in the bags
Truth be told, None of the now 6 HD's I've owned since 1991 have ever broken down on the road but it's fun to go through this process and the hard bags are more than big enough.
new member here but 'old' Harley rider. Soooo, after ~25 bikes, 5 of which were Harleys, I sold my 'last' one, a 2013 Road King 3 years ago figuring I was done at then 68 yo. But, as I'm sure many of you know, it's never over unitl it's over and several weeks ago on a nice spring day I watched a Harley go by me on the road. To make a long story ('negotiations' with my wife) short, I have a new RK in my garage. Love it!
So I'm building a tool kit from old hand tools I've accumulated. I have the roll, tire plug kit, pump, pliers, etc but have a couple of questions maybe somebody could help with:
1. Looking at the tool kit on the HD site, it apparently comes with 10mm wrench, the only metric tool in the kit. Does anyone know what this would be for? Are there really any non-SAE fasteners on this bike?
2. Torx bits. My recollection is that the ECM has a torx, maybe a T40 but are there any other reasons to stock any torx bits?
3. This is really a MacGyver kind of question re: duct tape, chewing gum and 'bailing wire'. Does anybody store bailing wire in their tool kit anymore? I'm thinking that a few zip ties would do the trick. I have the duct tape but a small coil of the right size bailing wire is hard to find. I guess I could also pop a couple juicy fruits in the bags
Truth be told, None of the now 6 HD's I've owned since 1991 have ever broken down on the road but it's fun to go through this process and the hard bags are more than big enough.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,680
Likes: 17,507
From: Driftless Area
Welcome.
Are you sure you've had a Harley before?
For the new bikes, your best bet is a cell phone and a credit card.
Are you sure you've had a Harley before?
1. Looking at the tool kit on the HD site, it apparently comes with 10mm wrench, the only metric tool in the kit. Does anyone know what this would be for? Are there really any non-SAE fasteners on this bike? BATTERY
2. Torx bits. My recollection is that the ECM has a torx, maybe a T40 but are there any other reasons to stock any torx bits? DERBY COVER
3. This is really a MacGyver kind of question re: duct tape, chewing gum and 'bailing wire'. Does anybody store bailing wire in their tool kit anymore? I'm thinking that a few zip ties would do the trick. I have the duct tape but a small coil of the right size bailing wire is hard to find. I guess I could also pop a couple juicy fruits in the bags GUM? Really?
2. Torx bits. My recollection is that the ECM has a torx, maybe a T40 but are there any other reasons to stock any torx bits? DERBY COVER
3. This is really a MacGyver kind of question re: duct tape, chewing gum and 'bailing wire'. Does anybody store bailing wire in their tool kit anymore? I'm thinking that a few zip ties would do the trick. I have the duct tape but a small coil of the right size bailing wire is hard to find. I guess I could also pop a couple juicy fruits in the bags GUM? Really?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,807
Likes: 2,549
From: UK
Hey everybody,
new member here but 'old' Harley rider. Soooo, after ~25 bikes, 5 of which were Harleys, I sold my 'last' one, a 2013 Road King 3 years ago figuring I was done at then 68 yo. But, as I'm sure many of you know, it's never over unitl it's over and several weeks ago on a nice spring day I watched a Harley go by me on the road. To make a long story ('negotiations' with my wife) short, I have a new RK in my garage. Love it!
So I'm building a tool kit from old hand tools I've accumulated. I have the roll, tire plug kit, pump, pliers, etc but have a couple of questions maybe somebody could help with:
1. Looking at the tool kit on the HD site, it apparently comes with 10mm wrench, the only metric tool in the kit. Does anyone know what this would be for? Are there really any non-SAE fasteners on this bike?
2. Torx bits. My recollection is that the ECM has a torx, maybe a T40 but are there any other reasons to stock any torx bits?
3. This is really a MacGyver kind of question re: duct tape, chewing gum and 'bailing wire'. Does anybody store bailing wire in their tool kit anymore? I'm thinking that a few zip ties would do the trick. I have the duct tape but a small coil of the right size bailing wire is hard to find. I guess I could also pop a couple juicy fruits in the bags
Truth be told, None of the now 6 HD's I've owned since 1991 have ever broken down on the road but it's fun to go through this process and the hard bags are more than big enough.
new member here but 'old' Harley rider. Soooo, after ~25 bikes, 5 of which were Harleys, I sold my 'last' one, a 2013 Road King 3 years ago figuring I was done at then 68 yo. But, as I'm sure many of you know, it's never over unitl it's over and several weeks ago on a nice spring day I watched a Harley go by me on the road. To make a long story ('negotiations' with my wife) short, I have a new RK in my garage. Love it!
So I'm building a tool kit from old hand tools I've accumulated. I have the roll, tire plug kit, pump, pliers, etc but have a couple of questions maybe somebody could help with:
1. Looking at the tool kit on the HD site, it apparently comes with 10mm wrench, the only metric tool in the kit. Does anyone know what this would be for? Are there really any non-SAE fasteners on this bike?
2. Torx bits. My recollection is that the ECM has a torx, maybe a T40 but are there any other reasons to stock any torx bits?
3. This is really a MacGyver kind of question re: duct tape, chewing gum and 'bailing wire'. Does anybody store bailing wire in their tool kit anymore? I'm thinking that a few zip ties would do the trick. I have the duct tape but a small coil of the right size bailing wire is hard to find. I guess I could also pop a couple juicy fruits in the bags
Truth be told, None of the now 6 HD's I've owned since 1991 have ever broken down on the road but it's fun to go through this process and the hard bags are more than big enough.
As for Torx, yes absolutely there are a lot of them on the bike. A set from T20 to T45 would cover you - but you do need a T27 for various things (including Derby cover) and some sets don't come with them so make sure to check.
This is an excellent little toolkit including sockets, ratchet and bits (inc. T27!) that has got me out of trouble multiple times. It's not cheap but it is very good:
Cable ties will definitely substitute for bailing wire. Stock some big heavy duty ones and some smaller ones.
Thread Starter
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Stage III
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
From: Evans, Ga
And yeah, for the record, I've had 6 harleys, a softail custom, heritage, softail springer, ultra and now two RK's. The first, a 1991 was I believe one of the first years of the evo engine after Harley was coming off of the poor reliability years of Head/AMF, but as I said they've all been perfect for reliability.
Last edited by vichardy; Mar 16, 2021 at 02:35 PM.
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The only thing I've ever found myself needing has been (funny enough) the 10mm wrench, cable ties, and I keep Torx and Allen multi tools with me. Beyond that, you're boned and you'd better have cell service. The days of fixing it on the side of the road are over, but the bikes usually don't need it. I have those basic things to make minor adjustments if needed, or to tie something back so I can get home.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,192
Likes: 3,079
From: NW AR
1984 was the first year of the Evo. 1991 was about mid Evo range.
Set of combination (sae) wrenches, 3/8" ratchet, one extension, set of 6 point sockets. Torx thingies. Allen thingies. Multi screwdriver. Vice grips, adjustable wrench. Twinkie tool kit: Credit card and a cell phone.
Set of combination (sae) wrenches, 3/8" ratchet, one extension, set of 6 point sockets. Torx thingies. Allen thingies. Multi screwdriver. Vice grips, adjustable wrench. Twinkie tool kit: Credit card and a cell phone.
