Essentials for my Garage

[Ghost Lemur]

As I've almost got my baby in my greasy hands.

Now it's time to think about all the things I'll need if my hands are to get greasy. As my "tool box" consists of a hammer and a screwdriver. No not even in a tool box.

Here's my list so far. Would appreciate additions including where from and how much.

Essentials.
Torque wrench?
Spanner set.
Allen key set.
Sissor jack (not really essential as I can use a crate in the meantime but would make things easier.
Tie downs.
Some sort of punture repair kit?
Cleaning stuff (not sure what everyone uses but I know there has been a couple of threads on the issue so will do a search and update).

[Edbear]

PM me if you like. I sell tools. Various brands and pricing to suit any purpose.

[What?]

A mechanic friend gave me a bit of advice many years ago, and it has served me well, so I shall pass it on...

Buy tools as you need them, and buy the best quality that you can reasonably afford at the time.

This means you don't waste money on tools you will never use, and the tools you buy should be fit for the job (nothing like having a cheap ratchet explode in your hand while you are giving a stuck fastener the berries!). The only time to buy cheap stuff is when it is for a one-off job; no point in spending big money on something you will never use again.

A scissors jack is always a handy thing to own. Go to your local car dump and get one for free.

[MSTRS]

You mention a spanner set....ensure you get ring and open end. Probably just metric will do.
You will also need a good selection of sockets...get 1/2" drive with adaptors for 1/4" and 1/3"
A selection of screwdrivers too....straight and philips. Get at least one with a magnetic tip.
Pliers and the related wire-stripper and crimp tool. Don't forget about circlip pliers of both types.
By the time you get all requirements, you'll be ....oooohhh....about 50

[Flyingpony]

Buy tools as you need them or break them :innocent: That's what I've done.

I'd say owning the following would be enough keep you handy and dangerous at the same time.


Socket set
Spanner set
Pliers
Allen keys
Assortment of screw drivers - straight & philips
Hammer
Sissor jack (usually located in boot of your car)
Collection of rags
Sparkplug socket bits


Those 100 piece sets are quite good as a starting point, they'll give you a bit of everything.

A tool collection will take decades to grow into something useful. Take your time, it'll get there.

[Ghost Lemur]

Yeah I figure it's one of those things that that never ends, with the majority of bits being "ooo I need".

Just trying to get an idea of the most common essentials, so I can maybe start picking up a piece here and there.

Going to

[Ghost Lemur]

Yeah I figured it was one of those long term things with the majority of items being aquired as needed.

More just trying to get an idea of everyone elses common essentials so I can start looking at aquiring pieces here and there as the CFO allows.

[Pwalo]

You need a heater and some sort of pad to kneel on - or perhaps I'm just getting old.

[sAsLEX]

You need a heater and some sort of pad to kneel on - or perhaps I'm just getting old.

I dont have a garage and do my work under a car port out side at night with an old headlight connected to an old battery at light, in short yes you are old

[nadroj]

You mention a spanner set....ensure you get ring and open end. Probably just metric will do.
You will also need a good selection of sockets...get 1/2" drive with adaptors for 1/4" and 1/3"
A selection of screwdrivers too....straight and philips. Get at least one with a magnetic tip.
Pliers and the related wire-stripper and crimp tool. Don't forget about circlip pliers of both types.
By the time you get all requirements, you'll be ....oooohhh....about 50
I must find myself one of those 1/3" socket sets (pt)

[ManDownUnder]

PM Swanman and get a rear bike stand.

Brilliant for any work on the back wheel, lubing the chain etc

[Pwalo]

I dont have a garage and do my work under a car port out side at night with an old headlight connected to an old battery at light, in short yes you are old

Yep, so do I, and that's why I'd like a heater. And a radio. And a small fridge. And ..................

[frogfeaturesFZR]

......a supermodel in a bikini to pass the tools to me as I need them......:nya:

[riffer]

You all forgot the rubber mallet. :yes: Essential tool.

An air compressor and some basic tools are handy too. I use mine so much its not funny.

Also some stainless steel bowls for holding and washing parts are bloody handy too.

An oil filter wrench and a small crank puller could be added when needed.

Also long nose pliers, and a can of CRC or WD-40, and a brake bleeding kit.

[The_Dover]

beer fridge?

hard work requires refreshments.

[sAsLEX]

Also some stainless steel bowls for holding and washing parts are bloody handy too.



Just go get them from the kitchen! Just dont get caught!

[Hoon]

Just get a cheapo all-in-1 set from repcos. As your cheap tools break, replace them with quality items. Most bolts on jap bikes are 8/10/12/14mm so these are the ones you'll use most often. I have multiples of these - makes life easier finding the right spanner instead of spending half the time searching the garage for your only one.

I'm lazy too and I like to have a few 3/8" ratchets so I don't have to change sockets around (or search too hard for them).
I also use my Black'n'Decker Firestorm cordless drill a lot with my sockets/screw driver bits sorta like a rattle gun. Makes short work of those long fairing screws and I can remove a cover or fairing in seconds (did I mention I'm lazy?).

After a while you'll know what tools you'll need and which ones you never use. I've streamlined my tool box down to 2 tackle boxes which is all I take to track/race days and leave the big tool chest at home.

The expensive "only use once a year" tools like torque wrenches, engine cranes, impact drivers, spring compressors etc its best to know someone that has them so you can just borrow them when needed.

[Bonez]

A couple of portable servicing lamps come in handy. Gives extra lighting on those 11pm through 4am engine strips :blip:

[B-rad]

Get yourself a decent socket set that will last. I've gone through a couple so far. Also axle stands are good for taking your rear wheel off.

[MSTRS]

I must find myself one of those 1/3" socket sets (pt)
Yea - they're really hard to find....p'raps we'd both be better off compromising by getting 3/8" ??

[Fatjim]

beer fridge?

hard work requires refreshments.

Or so you've heard.

[The_Dover]

i'm on ACC bro.

[Ixion]

No one has as yet mentioned the most essential tool in any mechanics armoury. A BLOODY BIG HAMMER. And the most essential word in any mechanics dictionary. Judicious.

[Motu]

And NOT a fucking claw hammer!!!!! They have absolutly no purpose in a motorcycle workshop....and if you've got a bike you certainly aren't going to waste your precious time doing stupid bloody repairs around the house.The workshop is to fix the bike...the bike is to ride.Ignore the rest.

[Ghost Lemur]

Thanks for the advise so far guys.

Lovin the beer fridge and heater. Seriously had already decided a gas heater is a necessity if there is going to be any chance of me being out there during winter.

[mazz1972]

At our place, he who thinks he's the boss has carpet, heater, chair, fridge freezer and stereo. Had a tv but it fell down in an earthquake.

Definately a tool collection is something that grows and mutates over many years. Probably the tool collection alone is worth more than the house contents.

Don't forget a cable luber and tyre levers if you are planning to DIY puncture repairs.

Take the good advice given and buy what you need when you need it, and get good quality if it's something you will use alot.

[mazz1972]

And NOT a fucking claw hammer!!!!! They have absolutly no purpose in a motorcycle workshop....and if you've got a bike you certainly aren't going to waste your precious time doing stupid bloody repairs around the house.The workshop is to fix the bike...the bike is to ride.Ignore the rest.

Hammers come in very handy to throw when a bolt strips it's thread or something similarly annoying happens...

[T.W.R]

And the most essential items, a manual so you know what the hell your looking at when you do start fiddling :yes: and a lock on the door so you can't be disturbed & items can't go missing when your not there :blip:

[scumdog]

And don't forget: Gasket-Goo, Loc-Tite, Silicone-Sealer and a shitload of Nyloc nuts, split-pins and castlated nuts. (sp).

A heat-gun is handy and a variety of oil-funnels and oil-filter removal tools too.
Brass drifts and rubber hammers help with removing various items.

And if all else fails look stylish, use lots of tassles!!

[Dafe]

Buy POWERBUILT. They do offer lifetime guarantees.

Good quality at a reasonable price. Buy them as you need.

Toolsheds & Repcos sell the full Power Built range.

There are some wicked starter kits for around $250. Thats reasonably affordable for good tools.

Not like a Snap On equivalent set that will cost your bike price.

Get one of these kits to get you going: I found it fantastic as a first tool kit for the bike.

Personally, I wouldn't buy any tools from the Warehouse either.

[classic zed]

You can never have too many tools, as mentioned earlier buy the best you can afford, obviously I use mine every day and use them hard, so Snap-On is my choice but there are plenty of others out there for weekend use. Another thing you will probably need is a multimeter or probe for those inevitable electrical problems.:yes:

[imdying]

Good allen keys, not shitty ones. A decent impact driver will save much sanity. Some combination ring/open ended spanners. A decent socket set, 1/2". A 3/8" drive one would be handy, sometimes it's easier with smaller ratchets. Finally, some decent screw drivers that aren't going to rodger screw heads. Make sure you get ones that are applicable to your bike, either philips or pozi.

[far queue]

At our place, he who thinks he's the boss has carpet, heater, chair, fridge freezer and stereo. Had a tv but it fell down in an earthquake. Me too, and the TV works just fine. One of the jobs on the "to do" list is to run some coax out there from the house, so I can pick up Sky as well. You want lots of light in your workshop and plenty of powerpoints as well - can't have too many power points. Bloody handy being able to just plug in anywhere without worrying about extension cords.