Tools for 1100GS

[motobiker]

I've taken the plunge. Bought a Haynes (will probably also buy a clymer as money allows)

and ordered a Major Service Kit.

Oil/Air filters and plugs and all disposables (washers etc)

Before It arrives I want to buy some tools.


What I need is advice on what to buy... what is essential ??

I dont want to buy an all singing and dancing tool set only to discover that half the pieces are redundant. and will NEVER be used.

the whole point is trying to save money.

I've seen in other posts about Torque wrenches. is a 3/8" more appropriate or should I go for a 1/2" drive
what about 'bits' for that?
What is the ideal 'starter' range for my bike.

My hope is to do as much as I can myself... leaving more complex tasks to a garage. Hopefully doing more and more as my confidence improves.

But as I say above... I dont want to waste money on tools I will never use.

any advice gratefully received

 

[Vendome 41]

Set of sockets
Set of allen key bits that fit on a ratchet
Oil filterkey remover
Oil drain tank

That should get you a fair way

Torque wrench if you think you must but must be size as your other sockets

 

[trotsky]

I dont want to waste money on tools I will never use.

Waste? WASTE? You can't waste money on tools. Oh no. I have hundreds of tools that prove that...

Seriously - if you are only buying a few, buy good stuff. A small, high quality, useful set of tools will help you out of a lot of jams. See what the Dutchman is flogging at Mottorad Concepts from Cruztools - http://www.motorradconcepts.com/CruzTOOLSindex.htm. Bought the Fanny Pack toolkit for someone for Xmas and can't fault it for quality.

 

[Grizzly]

Oil Filter Tool + Vacuum Balancer??

As listed above by Vendome 41, you MUST have a special tool for the oil filter - you can get one from Motorworks for example. - there's no other way to do the filter.
A vacuum balancer is also fairly important - even a home-made one!! - do a search for posts on this, if you don't have a vacuum balancer to set up the inlet butterflies properly your still going to have to visit your dealer or other service guy to finish the service!! - kinda defeats the purpose so I suppose that's also about as essential as the filter tool??
Otherwise it's all fairly straightforward basic tools.

Cheers....................Grizzly

 

[motobiker]

I've got the oil filter tool at the top of my list.
The kit arrived this morning... so I will take the filter with me to fetch the correct tool

As for the vacumm balancing gadget... that can wait a while.

I've a few thousand miles before thats due.

Just want to do the oil and filter changes this week.

As for the socket set/allen bits. what is the ideal range of sizes to get me going?

thanks for your answers so far chaps.

 

[trotsky]

As listed above by Vendome 41, you MUST have a special tool for the oil filter - you can get one from Motorworks for example. - there's no other way to do the filter.
A vacuum balancer is also fairly important - even a home-made one!!

What Grizz said - there are various options for the oil filter tool (Halfords do one that works, but I was too lazy to take the belly pan off to see what was needed so ordered one from the friendly people at Motorworks - only twice the price but no returning to the shop going "er - it's the wrong size - can I try another one please..."

Steptoe swears by his carbtune/manometer gadget for balancing but I recommend the Twinmax for the occasional diddler and the Advrider Hall of Wisdom for the "how to" guides - OVAD and TBSD. Get enough tools to adjust your valves and balance the throttle bodies based on their recommendations.

A 3/8" driver is going to be used more often than a 1/2" or a 1/4".

 

[roddy]

you'll need feeler guages for the valve clearances,

Halfords do a good range of "pro" range sockets lifetime warrenty and probably just as cheap buying a range of metric 3/8' sockets than individual ones.

a torque wrench would be good

good set of allen keys both socket type and not

good quality screwdrivers various styles.

use the spark plug removal tool from the tool kit.

I read some where a goods piece of advice , use your bikes tool kit as much as you can and add the bits to it as you need them taht way you'll always have the tools you need to hand.

if you look here ADV rider hall of wisdom and open up oilheam maintenance, it goes through the various routine jobs in a service and what tools are required.

HTH
cheers

 

[Mick O'Malley]

the oil filter tool (Halfords do one)

Any decent car accessory shop will have one as it's the same as for a VW Golf. Mines a pressed steel one, cheap as chips and does the job fine.

Regards, Mick