Just curious, I keep hearing about the fact that Harley-Davidson mechanic use T handle tools to remove bolts from things like engine covers, why wouldn't they use electric drills or impact hammers?

My guess would be to stop from stripping bolt heads.

What T-Handle do they typically use?

 

t-handles are quick and easy to use. and you have nothing but control with them.

 

He nailed it.

 

I use a small Milwaukee impact gun - and I've stripped a lot of hex and torx heads .... Time for T-Handle

 

I don't own an actual t-handle set but did notice early on that they were a very common tool when researching Harley how-to. When I got my Harley, I owned a nice set of longer torx and alen bit sockets that could be used with a small ratchet or even a screw driver style hand driver. For the most part these were good alternatives for me. When I was looking for a set of alen wrenches I got on that came with a neat handle that lets you take any of the alen wrenches and feed it through turning it into a t-handle.

It would have never occurred to me use power tools on my bike unless it was called for in the service manual. Even something like a cordless screwdriver feels odd to use. My brother has one and he was using it on things like the switch housing screws when we did his bar swap. I tried it a couple of times and even though it is a relatively low-powered tool, I didn't like not being able to "feel" how much torque I was applying to the screws.

 

I don't own an actual t-handle set but did notice early on that they were a very common tool when researching Harley how-to. When I got my Harley, I owned a nice set of longer torx and alen bit sockets that could be used with a small ratchet or even a screw driver style hand driver. For the most part these were good alternatives for me. When I was looking for a set of alen wrenches I got on that came with a neat handle that lets you take any of the alen wrenches and feed it through turning it into a t-handle.

It would have never occurred to me use power tools on my bike unless it was called for in the service manual. Even something like a cordless screwdriver feels odd to use. My brother has one and he was using it on things like the switch housing screws when we did his bar swap. I tried it a couple of times and even though it is a relatively low-powered tool, I didn't like not being able to "feel" how much torque I was applying to the screws.

 

I have some nice 1/4,3/8 and 1/2 air ratchets and to this day have not used them on the bike. Only power tool I have used so far has been my 1/2 air impact to loosen the nut for adjusting the headlight. That mother was just plain tight.

 

I make a habit of breaking them all loose by hand then hitting them with an elec drill to remove them. Broke/stripped a few myself.