Looking for advice
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
Likes: 8,509
From: Spartan Country, Michigan
Suggestion.... watch craigs list, facebook market place, yard sales, second hand stores, pawn shops.....you don't need to get complete set all at once. A few at at time work well. Sockets.... I would get both deep and shallow metric and sae socket sets. Again, no need to get all these at once, but work your way into it. Hex bits and torx bits are something I don't think I would get from Harbor Freight. The smaller sizes may not do well after a few uses. Also make sure you get a T27 torx bit...most sets go from T20 to T25 to T30. So beware. There are several fasteners on your bike that need the T27.
Good luck to you sir! And Thank You For Your Service.
Good luck to you sir! And Thank You For Your Service.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
OP. Are you Kurt Bailey, KV Bailey or one in the same. If its the latter and you are getting ready to graduate from MMI. I strongly suggest you find a good independent shop to work at. MMI is teaching just enough to get yourself in trouble. Find an old school wrench that will take you under his wing and show you what you need to know in order to make yourself useful.
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
From: Peoria,AZ
Yes I am both and one in the same. I have no intention of going to work for Harley. If I were planning on working for someone else I would most certainly be doing exactly as you suggested and work at a small shop. Honestly I was not bestowed with any natural mechanical aptitude at all and am more of a carpenter. LOL But after I was medically retired from the service I needed something to do to keep me occupied and out of trouble so I enrolled at MMI. I was doing it more as a hobby cause I like tinkering with my bike and cant afford to pay Harley service prices! Maybe down the road when I know what the hell I'm doing I'd like to do a small business out of my own garage.
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 38
Likes: 4
From: Peoria,AZ
Yes I am both and one in the same. I have no intention of going to work for Harley. If I were planning on working for someone else I would most certainly be doing exactly as you suggested and work at a small shop. Honestly I was not bestowed with any natural mechanical aptitude at all and am more of a carpenter. LOL But after I was medically retired from the service I needed something to do to keep me occupied and out of trouble so I enrolled at MMI. I was doing it more as a hobby cause I like tinkering with my bike and cant afford to pay Harley service prices! Maybe down the road when I know what the hell I'm doing I'd like to do a small business out of my own garage.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
Likes: 8,509
From: Spartan Country, Michigan
If you are in MMI, check with SnapOn, Matco, Mac or other large tool companies. They often offer discounts to students in various shop programs. The local community college I work part time at has a program, or I should say, qualifies the students and instructors to purchase tools at a discount.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,256
Likes: 522
From: USA
Standard length sets of wrenches work for most of my DIY jobs.
I can't recall when I needed a 1/2 inch stubby wrench or extra long as an example.
Have fun and great luck in your choice of tools.
FWIW
Tool warranty and same day replacement.
With Sears out of business, Craftsman's warranty is now "kind of" not effective.
Harbor Freight can get you out of a "jam" quickly, yet the tools may not work in high stress applications.
That perhaps leave Lowes or Home Depot which are open 7 days a week.
Snap On, Matco, etc have great feel and quality, but awaiting the truck or shipping is, to me, not effective.
I will had that Snap On hand wrench rarely fail and are excellent quality/ feel.
I can't recall when I needed a 1/2 inch stubby wrench or extra long as an example.
Have fun and great luck in your choice of tools.
FWIW
Tool warranty and same day replacement.
With Sears out of business, Craftsman's warranty is now "kind of" not effective.
Harbor Freight can get you out of a "jam" quickly, yet the tools may not work in high stress applications.
That perhaps leave Lowes or Home Depot which are open 7 days a week.
Snap On, Matco, etc have great feel and quality, but awaiting the truck or shipping is, to me, not effective.
I will had that Snap On hand wrench rarely fail and are excellent quality/ feel.
Last edited by Kenny94945; May 4, 2021 at 07:24 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 7,431
From: OH
If you are in MMI, check with SnapOn, Matco, Mac or other large tool companies. They often offer discounts to students in various shop programs. The local community college I work part time at has a program, or I should say, qualifies the students and instructors to purchase tools at a discount.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 1,427
From: pensacola fl
Join garage journal.com. a few years ago I started moving all of the craftsman tools out and tool truck tools in. I have bought tools off of that site that look like they have never been used and much cheaper then off the truck. Lots of high quality stuff gets sold on that site, along with much cheaper stuff.
All of my snap on ratchets were bought off the truck, also my one Matco ratchet. To me, I have not found a better ratchet then what Snap On makes. Matco is real close though, my opinion.
It was previous talked about not going cheap on hex sockets or torx, this is so true. But once cry once.
I had a extremely bad experience buying a hammer drill from Harbor Junk and they will not get a dime from me anymore, but that's just me.
All of my snap on ratchets were bought off the truck, also my one Matco ratchet. To me, I have not found a better ratchet then what Snap On makes. Matco is real close though, my opinion.
It was previous talked about not going cheap on hex sockets or torx, this is so true. But once cry once.
I had a extremely bad experience buying a hammer drill from Harbor Junk and they will not get a dime from me anymore, but that's just me.
