Hey all. I'm slowly putting together a tool set for all around motorcycle repair and rebuild. I'm a disabled vet and on a fixed income and the good tools aint cheap. lol I want to hear from you guys that been wrenching awhile and specifically on your thoughts on wrench set handle lengths. Is it worth having a long set and short set in the common sizes or just one standard length set of SAE and Metric? Thanks

 

A good combo set with 1/4&3/8" ratchets with 1/4" -1" sockets, open end and box end wrenches 1/4"-11/2"
a small set of 12 point sockets 1/4" drive with up to 1/2" sockets.
torque wrenches inch pound to 100 and foot pound to 200.
snap ring pliers anti seize, blue and red lock tight
good screw drivers and an impact driver manual
a service manual

 

Thanks for that . I have most of the basics now. I am looking now at a big purchase in the way of a Snap On 6pt metric combination set 10-19mm. I can get a short handle set, a standard , or long handle set. What is your suggestion? Or do they all come in handy at times with the Harleys and is it worth the investment? Thanks again Ranger!
Kurt

 

It can be a very long list and I am sure you'll get plenty of suggestions. I guess it really depends on what era of bikes you plan on working on. A couple things I can suggest based on my experience wrenching in shops 30 years ago that should come in handy for most bikes would be.

A set of ball end Allen wrenches.
Crows feet.
Torque adapters.
Don't have to be machinists quality but a decent set of machinists measuring tools including a magnetic base dial indicator.
I can't stress enough, a set of factory service manuals. They will have a list of Special tools in them that can make your life much easier as well with from the horses mouth instructions. If you plan on doing and early stuff (Knuck through early Evo) I suggest trying to find the series of Easy Rider Tech Tips and Tricks books. I think you can probably find them online someplace.


I started building my tool inventory when I was a starving student at MMI. Most of my tools back then, I found at Pawn shops, garage sales and Swap meets. Craigs list might also be a good place to look I would think. When my storage unit was broken into and virtually all my tools were stolen, I would estimate I lost close to $90,000.00 worth of tools but think I probably spent less than $25,000.00 accumulating them. That was back in 1994. I can't even imagine what it would cost to replace them today.

Good luck.

 

well they do not have to be expensive. hf tools will suffice for that type of work. most carry lifetime warranty to boot.
i used to rob my shop every time i went camping but tired of that, got some hf tools for CHEAP and did i mention CHEAP, that way if i left them, no cry.
i was an industrial mechanic and left my tools offshore but was called to go do a quick job so i took the hf tools to work on a 7042 waukesha and they never backed down, even abused them. when i need to make a special tool, i will cut up one for the project and leave my craftsman metric and proto sae tools alone.

 

I already have my wrenches in short/medium/long, but if I was going to start over and only work on bikes, I'd get the medium set, then pick up the shorties as I could, or needed them. You can always double wrench if you can't get enough leverage, and bikes are mostly open enough that shorties aren't as necessary as they would be for cars and trucks.

There's also no shame in buying tools one at a time as you find you need them. I bought two or three 15mm racheting wrenches before I finally bought a set, because that was the size I used most.

 

No offense but "fixed income" and Snap On can not be used in the same sentence

 

No **** right?

 

I appreciate the sentiment and completely understand and agree how about Snap-on prices in fixed incomes. The only reason I'm even even able to look at them it's because I am currently in Phoenix attending MMI and so I get a 50% discount but that's going to go away here in a little bit more than a month so I better take advantage now! And if someone stated before that is how I have accumulated 90% of my tools yard sales flea market eBay and pawn shops

 

On a fixed income, buy smart and hit some flea markets and yard sales, many a good tool there if you're not in a rush. Hell, even advertise on your local Craigslist, lot's of old timers may want to dump their stuff. I know my son said to the wife, when Dad goes, what am I going to do with all this !