Tools

[JDucati]

I have been in the market for some good tools to work on my bike with, but haven't found any worthy of the task.  Tools I have tried in the past usually end up stripping themselves out or stripping the screws on my bike.

My main question is about allen key tools.  What brand/type of allen key do you guys/gals use?  (ratchet, T-handle etc)

What other brand/type tools do you guys/gals use to work on your motor bikes?

Any input would be much appreciated as I am trying to write up a list of what I will need. 

Thanks you

~JD

[Howie]

If you have all the money in the world, Snap-On.  Otherwise, Craftsman, S&K, Proto, pretty much any decent brand tool.  Look for tools that are made from chrome vanadium that are broached.  As far as allen keys go, I use both sockets and T handle.  When you use a torque wrench you will need sockets.

[Slide Panda]

+1 Unless you're constantly using the tools, as in that's you're trade Craftsman or the like work well. The bulk of my tools are Craftsman, and none have let me down yet.

[WetDuc]

Snap-On rules the crib when it comes to hand tools.  Nothing more to say about that.

In terms of other hand tools, I'm not too sure, I bet a lot of them work well.

[gage]

I have Mac allen sockets, torx and triplesqaure drives. I really like my set of Gearwrench allens that pivot.

CDI torque wrenches

Craftsmen Sockets

[Spidey]

I have been in the market for some good tools to work on my bike with, but haven't found any worthy of the task.  Tools I have tried in the past usually end up stripping themselves out or stripping the screws on my bike.

My main question is about allen key tools.  What brand/type of allen key do you guys/gals use?  (ratchet, T-handle etc)

What other brand/type tools do you guys/gals use to work on your motor bikes?

Any input would be much appreciated as I am trying to write up a list of what I will need.  

Thanks you

~JD

For allens key tools, I use Craftsman T-handles for most stuff and then ratchets for torquing stuff down or for really stuck pieces.  I've also got a set of allen keys, but they're more for portable work than anything else.  If you have to choose one type, get the ratcheting Allen sockets and a long extension and a cheap shorty ratchet.  Works the same as a T-handle and as a key.  

I use Craftsman for metal to metal mating -- sockets, allens, etc, and for torque wrenches.  I think I've got some Craftsman box wrenches and some Pittsburgh ones.  Some screwdrivers are craftsman while others are cheapo.  Other tools are often cheap stuff.  I don't do enough work on the bikes--including when I was racing--to justify higher end stuff.  

I'd rather have more tools and cheaper ones than all high end but fewer.  I can't tell you how many times those cheap, but extensive Harbor Freight plier/wrench sets have saved my ass or the number of times I've used the $1.99 set of Harbor Freight dental picks when I thought I was otherwise screwed.  

Re a tool list, there's a good FAQ or Tutorial floating around.  I'd start with a Craftsman metric mechanics set.  Better to plonk down a coupla hundred bucks at once than try to assemble it piece by piece.

[Spidey]

Here, I found the tutorial for How-To Stock A Basic Tool Box:  http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=12262.0

[He Man]

If you are going for Hex Keys on the cheap, i recommend husky/craftsmen or just about any off shelf brand will work pretty well...

if you want to spend a bit more on something that will be more comfortable, i HIGHLY recommend a set of Hex ball-end sockets. The ball end makes it easier to use and a socket will allow you get some solid leverage unlike L keys. I posted up asking about a specific brand, Wiha seems to make some really quality tools. I find myself using 4,5,6,8mm the most so thats what ill be buying.

[NorDog]

As a general rule, when I need a tool I buy Snap On if I can afford it, otherwise I go Craftsman.

[Howie]

Ball end hex sockets should not be used to break fasteners loose, they can break where they neck down, a little like a notched clutch/brake lever.  Buy conventional a conventional set first.  The ball ends make a nice addition later.

[Ddan]

+1 on the ball end, they are nice to have but not the first choice for breaking things loose.

I broke several decent brand 6mm hex sockets trying to get something loose, and my last chance was a Snappy key.  I wound up twisting the shank about a quarter turn, and finally the bolt came loose.  Worth the money.

[He Man]

thats a good point howie.

For an added note you can buy Hex L shaped keys that have a full hex on the short end and a ball end on the long arm for that specific reason.

[Spidey]

First buy a set of these  . . .



Then, as an addition to your toolkit, buy a set of these . . .



or a set of these . . .




I have all three types, and I use all of them.  A lot.  The T-handles were the last types I bought, but the type I use the most.

[Langanobob]

Buying hand tools for home mechanics used to be a no-brainer.  Craftsman tools were very good and reasonably priced and a no-argument unconditional lifetime replacement warranty.  However, they aren't made as well as they used to be and I've had trouble with Craftsman ratchet wrenches.  They make more than one version and the more expensive ones may be OK.  If you get a tool set from Sears make sure the ratchet wrench(es) are not their low-end version.  Craftsman items like basic Allen wrenches and the 3/8 drive Allen head sockets in Spidey's picture are fine.

Snap-On invented socket wrenches and they are of course very very good but too expensive for most non-professionals.  I have a very old Snap-On torque wrench that still works great. 

A while back I bought a set of Allen sockets from Lowe's, Kobalt brand and they were made in the USA.  They seem fine and Lowe's Kobalt tools may be acceptable, though my experience with them is limited.  I don't buy Husky tools because I don't like Home Depot.  Husky tools used to be a good USA made brand until they got the sales contract with Home Depot and moved the manufacturing to I think Taiwan in order to lower the sales price to Home Depot.
I don't think HD passed on any of the savings to  us.  I get irritated when they charge a Made in USA price for imported tools.

This is pretty bad when a post about Allen wrenches turns into a rant - sorry. 

[alibaba]

RE ball end hex (Allen) wrenches. Yes, they are weak at the neck by the ball end and can break.  But the other problem is that on tight fastenmers and/or more than occasional use - since they do not get full contact - the ball end can carve a channel inside the bolt.  Then the raised edge inside the bolt makes using the standard hex key wrenches problamatic on that fastener.  This is exacerbated by the use of air or electic tools with the ball end type.

I recommend using the standard ones where possible and only the ball ends where needed for access.