Tips for new players

[Expert]

I just had cause to use something my old grandpa had told me years ago, and i'd nearly forgotten.
Ever had one of those bolts, usually a socket head(allen) type that even though you have top quality allen/hex keys, you know is gonna round out?
Put a dab of grinding paste, or valve lapping paste (cause we all have this in our workshops, don't we?) on the end of the allen key and the stuff makes the key grip to the inside of the hex, rather than just displacing the metal and making it round out. it really works, you'd be suprised how buggered a fastener it will turn, even the soft crap ones on chinese/indian shite, then it just snaps the head off, oops.
Not fully rounded out though, then you're screwed.
It works on bolt heads too and philips screw heads.

With experience you develop a feeling for when a fastener is gonna round off rather than loosen, and this works before that happens.

Anybody else got any tips/hints i can pass onto my grandchildren?
Apart from never eat yellow snow.

[avgas]

You can always trust what a man says when he's on the end of a shovel. Yet you should always caution the man whom talks from the end of a pen.

when reassembling any engine - cover every internal piece with a think layer of oil (with exception of spark plug).

[SMOKEU]

When changing sprockets, remove the front sprocket first as removing the back sprocket first and the chain makes removing the front sprocket a bit of a mish.

If the throttle sticks on a bike, then fix it ASAP. Don't ignore the problem and hope it fixes itself. I learned the hard way.

[FruitLooPs]

Always pump your brakes if you've changed your pads or bled the lines, finding zero brake pressure at your first opportunity to stop could well result in a :shit: :facepalm:

Six sided sockets are preferred to twelve most of the time, as they won't round off a nut as easily :yes: Same for box wrench

When using a torque wrench, don't confuse lb/ft and nm or you might find yourself drilling out a bolt you've sheared the head off, or having an important nut/bolt rattle loose at an inopportune moment :shutup: ;)

Do not lube your chain with your bike on stands & running :facepalm:

Do it properly the first time, half assing it often results in more work/$$ in the long run. :drinkup:

[pete376403]

Cheap tools cost the most.

[rwh]

\
Do not lube your chain with your bike on stands & running :facepalm:

Hmm - that's how I always do it ... centre stand, 1st gear, using the tube nozzle thing on the lube aerosol can. I wouldn't go in there with an oily rag, though.

Richard

[Flip]

If it don't go. Check that there is fuel in it and the kill switch is off.

[rwh]

If it don't go. Check that there is fuel in it and the kill switch is off.

... and don't necessarily trust the fuel gauge. I had one that said 'full' when the wire fell off.

Richard

[Phreak]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it...? (One from my Pop's)

If it IS broke, then it's time to upgrade!

Hehe.

[blackdog]

a good size pair of offset slip-joint pliers will remove an oil filter far better than jammin' a screwdriver through it

[The Baron]

Tight is tight - broken is too tight.

[MIXONE]

Always have a visual check of your bike before starting your ride.