Tools.

[Travis398]

what is a good starting point for the tools to have on hand? 
MrFox

Beer 

[FJ Flyer]

Set of T-handle allen speed wrenches.  Use them all the time.  Get a set cheap at Harbor Freight.  Get two.

[jamesearthdrum]

A decent Volt/Ohm multi meter, small block of 2 x 4 to put under the tank when you need to shut off the petcock.

james

[Kopfjaeger]

allen key to undo krauser racks to get the key in to get the seat off to get to the....oh.... i dont have a tool kit...... chuckles...... Beats the kwaka. key to remove rear seat screwdriver to undo front seat to get to tools. have found tho, that on the general, i use 8 10 12 14 mm spanners, (combination spanners... still have the kwaka ones..... can get stubby ones ) small 6 inch steel rule, screwdriver with removable bits,electricians tape, a few fuses, and some wire.... sounds like a lot but i use to use all that on my kwakas....( wire in case worm screw clamps let go...had a fuel hose bust) O! and a spark plug tube spanner. and a small rod to use as leverage and a small tube flettened at one end.

[junkyardroad]

Couple of Band-Aids might be good.

[andyb]

Well yeah, also fire extinguishers, a laptop/computer in the garage is handy, music to work with, a cell in your pocket, etc...

But that's just safety and common sense stuff, not really tools! 

Honestly, just tear into shit and see where you get stopped, get what you want, and carry on.  It's all fun.

[arjel jimenez]

Actually I once talked the cashier into giving me the 20% despite the fact that I did not have the coupon on me...

That was ridiculous, why did they let that happen? However, they are now improving in the service, look at their magazines. In fact, I've bought items to them lately with using my coupons.

[Dan Filetti]

Actually I once talked the cashier into giving me the 20% despite the fact that I did not have the coupon on me...

That was ridiculous, why did they let that happen? However, they are now improving in the service, look at their magazines. In fact, I've bought items to them lately with using my coupons.

Ridiculous?  Surely not.  It's decent, considerate personal customer service.  They empower their cashiers to make spot decisions -this is a good thing, not a bad thing.  I indicated to the cashier that I had the coupon, but merely forgot to bring it with me.  The cashier knew me, and knew that was true as I had brought the coupon in several times prior.  I am a repeat customer, the kind they'd like to keep.  This was a good call on their part and I appreciated it.

How is this ridiculous?

Dan

[Ratchet_72]

VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.  VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.

The importance of this tool I WILL overstate. Buy a shitty one. Buy an expensive one. Just F***n buy one if you plan on even heading in the direction of your motorcycle with a screwdriver in your hand.

[tqmx1]

VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.  VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.VOM, Volt/Ohm/Meter, continuity tester, Multimeter.

The importance of this tool I WILL overstate. Buy a shitty one. Buy an expensive one. Just F***n buy one if you plan on even heading in the direction of your motorcycle with a screwdriver in your hand.

Now are you sure about that!!
Give a call one of these days, Have you done anything  to the sporty thing yet?

[mikeholzer]

I suppose that I can see the merits of owning a DVOM in most circumstances, but what do you use it for on a bike? If you're trying to troubleshoot electrical problems, there are better tools for the job.

First, I like the Blue Point CTS-24, a relatively simple electronic 6-24V circuit tester. Probe it into the wire or connector and you get a green light for ground and a red light for power. Easy to determine the polarity of a lead and to determine whether it changes state as necessary.



Red light:



Green light:



The other tool I like is the Power Probe. It functions much the same as the CTS-24, but it features a rocker switch where you can force either power or a ground to actuate a circuit; great for checking relays.



Red Light:



Green light:



Forcing power or ground:





Shown here is the Power Probe v1.0. I'm also currently running their v3.0, which has a backlit screen to show the voltage on the circuit. These are the tools to chase your electrical gremlins with. I think I paid $125 for the Power Probe and less than $60 for the CTS-24, but that was from the Snap-On man. All of the above also feature a "headlight" to make these easier to use in dark places, especially under dashboards.

[Mark Olson]

That looks like a handy tool , the ol test probe has come a long way.

In the wrong hands it would be a disaster.

keep it simple and just get a cheepy volt meter. them red light green lights ain't gonna help with voltage drops.

[andyb]

Any tool is only as good as the person using it.

I mean shit, get a bigass brick, a hammer, and a chisel, and you ain't gonna make Michelangelo look like a hack, but that's what he had and seemed to do pretty well with it.  Same deal with a voltmeter, a wrench, whatever.  

My only rule of thumb is that any adjustable tool is always the wrong answer, with the exception that the tool you don't have with you is an even bigger wrong answer.

Far and away the stuff that makes working on things easiest is good lighting, decent ergonomics (a lift and/or a decent bench), and frequently, another set of hands.

[mikeholzer]

That looks like a handy tool , the ol test probe has come a long way.

In the wrong hands it would be a disaster.

keep it simple and just get a cheepy volt meter. them red light green lights ain't gonna help with voltage drops.

Mark, I beg to differ. Although I didn't show it, I stepped up to the Power Probe III, which has a handy little display which shows both voltage and polarity (http://www.powerprobeonline.com/pp319ftc--power-probe-iii--with-case-and-accessor319.html -- about $155). No joke, this is stupidly easy to use and frequently makes me look a like a genius, which is typically hard to do.

In the words of Dan Filetti, No affiliation... I just like their product.

[ddlewis]

Mark, I beg to differ. Although I didn't show it, I stepped up to the Power Probe III, which has a handy little display which shows both voltage and polarity (http://www.powerprobeonline.com/pp319ftc--power-probe-iii--with-case-and-accessor319.html -- about $155

Mike, you're clearly a pro and the stuff you listed totals > $300 which is no big deal for a "real" mechanic.. the rest of us get by on a $25 multimeter that we use about once a year. 

I literally have to find a new 9v battery everytime I want to use mine becuase it's either been so long or I left it on the last time..