Re: AF newbie. What the heck do I need?
Hi there.
I got this off the club site when I joined.
So I'll put it up here for you and others to
look at for guidance.
FXSTC Dave.
Tools for Harley Davidsons.
Make sure all yer spanners have a ring end - far, far better grip on those bolts.
10mm spanner - this is the token metric tool but Vital - for battery bolts.
Spanners:
1/2, 7/16, 9/16, 11/16, 3/8, 5/8 are the most common sizes.
You can get ratcheting spanners with half on on end and 9/16
on the other - VERY handy.
But you will find that smaller and bigger sizes get the use too.
Sockets: same again. Sometimes you need a socket, sometimes a spanner
works best, often you need to hold the bolt with the socket while
You loosen/tighten the nut with the spanner. Cover yourself on both.
14mm spark plug socket.
Oil filter strap socket
Big, big socket sizes like 1 1/16 come in very handy when you start removing
rear axle, removing compensator sprocket. These can fetch ?10-15 a socket.
To make sure you buy right, look at the metric/imperial conversion guide in
your factory manual (VERY handy page that), use your metric socket/s as a guide, and go to the shop informed !
3/8 drive breaker bar for some of the above jobs.
Whatever drive you choose, get a little extension bar and a knuckle (bendy bit for tight fits). A very good quality socket wrench is worth 5 cheap ones
Needle nose pliers - these also fish out nuts that you have dropped
?2 Magnetic 'pen' - see above
Quality torque wrench - critical if you get into base gasket job, primary
teardown, etc, but buy one that covers the values you need
(typically 12-160 ft lb)
Leatherman multi-tool
Ratchet screw driver with magnetic bits
Rubber/plastic mallet/hammer
Heavy ''No 1 tool'' skullcrusher hammer for driving out axles, bearing
races with drifts, etc
Allen key set with BALL ends at one end - these let you get to tight allen
heads at an angle
Break out the propane torch and ruin, sorry, *customise* an 11/16 spanner by bending it so you can hold the clutch adjuster nut while altering the adjustment with allen key. without removing outer primary.... I'll show you my one in spring!
I aways carry 3ft spare wire & connectors, spare circuit breaker/s, bulb or two, spare battery ground cable, battery bolts.
The key with tools is always Buy Good Ones. You don't have to go to Snap On (who can afford them ?) but stay away from the Taiwanese specials at the street market.
Junk will always ending up biting you in the ass.