[Keef Sparrow]

I thought it was about time to adjust the chain on my new Bullet Trials for the first time. I'd had the tool kit out a handful of times to do minor things like adjust the mirrors and clutch cable. I thought it was a mistake that two 13mm spanners had been included - until I realised they were meant for adjusting the clutch cable at the engine end - sadly no adjuster on the handlebar lever. They don't even fit properly - I'm guessing the nuts are 12mm not 13.  But what really shocked me today was that they don't even supply enough spanners in the factory supplied tool kit to adjust the chain!  Now I only expect a basic tool kit to be supplied with any new bike to perform a few simple basic maintenance tasks - but surely adjusting the chain is one of these tasks we all have to do fairly regularly?

Fortunately I have built up a fairly large took kit of my own after many years fettling cars and bikes so I did have a socket that fits the nut holding the wheel spindle - RE only supplied a spanner big enough to undo the locking nut but not the larger main nut.    So I did eventually manage to take the excess slack out of the chain, although the adjustment markers leave a lot  to be desired - especially in fading light.

How I miss the single sided swinging arms and eccentric adjustment on my last two Triumphs!

[gizzo]

Did the tool kit come with the awful tyre levers?

[AzCal Retred]

I'm convinced that most of the RE fastener head sizes used are "approximate", not precisely correct. I routinely cycle thru Metric, US SAE, a few Whitworth, and an unsettling amount of Crescent Wrench & Channel-Lock usage. Only the fasteners I have obtained thru the local auto & hardware stores seem true to size. No real problem, just your tool pouch gets larger. - ACR -

[Richard230]

You should be happy that your bike came with even a few tools. Most modern BMW motorcycles seem to only give you a slot under the seat for your credit card and a place to carry important papers - such as the location of the nearest BMW dealer.   

[Keef Sparrow]

Did the tool kit come with the awful tyre levers?

Yes.

I've since looked at the section of the downloadable manual that relates to the tool kit. It does actually specify 2 x 12mm spanners - which should fit the chain adjusters and clutch cable, but they actually supplied 2 x 13mm with mine. Maybe the older round section pre-disc brake swingarms used a different sized nut and they didn't change the spanner size in the tool kit? Also, I assume the tommy bar is supposed to go through the end of the rear wheel spindle, but it's too big.

[Keef Sparrow]

You should be happy that your bike came with even a few tools. Most modern BMW motorcycles seem to only give you a slot under the seat for your credit card and a place to carry important papers - such as the location of the nearest BMW dealer.   

Most BMW owners would probably never even notice if there was a tool kit or not....

[gizzo]

Yes.

I've since looked at the section of the downloadable manual that relates to the tool kit. It does actually specify 2 x 12mm spanners - which should fit the chain adjusters and clutch cable, but they actually supplied 2 x 13mm with mine. Maybe the older round section pre-disc brake swingarms used a different sized nut and they didn't change the spanner size in the tool kit? Also, I assume the tommy bar is supposed to go through the end of the rear wheel spindle, but it's too big.

that crazy crew at RE!

[wr6133]

My CGT toolkit also has a selection of spanners all in (allegedly) 13mm, maybe they got a deal on a container load of not accurately 13mm, 13mm spanners.

I'd pay to see someone do a roadside rear tyre change on the UCE with those levers 

[Ove]

Mmmm. I carry an inner tube puncture kit in the cubby next to the air box, assuming I would use the RE toolkit tyre levers! Anyone suggest suitable quality replacements?

The owner's handbook says a 12mm and 13mm is supplied. I had 2 x 13mm, no 12. Easily remedied, but a sign of factory QC. Anyone would think these bikes are cheap..

[gizzo]

Mmmm. I carry an inner tube puncture kit in the cubby next to the air box, assuming I would use the RE toolkit tyre levers! Anyone suggest suitable quality replacements?

The owner's handbook says a 12mm and 13mm is supplied. I had 2 x 13mm, no 12. Easily remedied, but a sign of factory QC. Anyone would think these bikes are cheap..

Michelin style levers are the dog's bollocks if you have room to carry them. Short dirt bike ones are better than nothing. The RE ones are about as good as nothing.

[wildbill]

but you failed to mention-what a great tool roll the tools come in-if it was the euro3 version it would have been just a cheap plastic affair which in time the screwdriver alone would just dig through the bottom and the tools would eventually fall through from continuous use...
just a guess there!

[Richard230]

Mmmm. I carry an inner tube puncture kit in the cubby next to the air box, assuming I would use the RE toolkit tyre levers! Anyone suggest suitable quality replacements?

The owner's handbook says a 12mm and 13mm is supplied. I had 2 x 13mm, no 12. Easily remedied, but a sign of factory QC. Anyone would think these bikes are cheap..

Motion Pro makes a neat set of 2 lightweight combination tire levers and bead breakers. They have two sets. One made of steel for the garage and the other set made for on-road usage, made of aluminum.  They can be brought from Amazon. I have a set of the steel versions and they work well for removing tube-type tires, but might not be quite up to breaking the bead on some large tubeless tires. (Which is not exactly an issue for Bullets.     )

[Keef Sparrow]

but you failed to mention-what a great tool roll the tools come in-if it was the euro3 version it would have been just a cheap plastic affair which in time the screwdriver alone would just dig through the bottom and the tools would eventually fall through from continuous use...
just a guess there!

Yes, the tool roll is nice - shame about it's contents.  I'm tempted to add a few things, but I doubt it would still fit in the tool box as all the electrical gubbins takes up most the space in there. 

[Carlsberg Wordsworth]

I bought two tyre levers from Hitchcocks and struggled with those. Scratched the rim a bit. Or added character lol.

I have the cheapo plastic tool holder with free screwdriver hole as Wildbill mentioned 

[Ove]

Yes, the tool roll is nice - shame about it's contents.  I'm tempted to add a few things, but I doubt it would still fit in the tool box as all the electrical gubbins takes up most the space in there. 

No, no space in there. There's a bit of space in the chrome box on the other side, but only the bottom half. I'd love to change out the air filter system, to free up all of that box, but I understand the pod filters damage performance. So, I've strapped a canvas / leather bag to the rear rack to carry extras when I'm further from home.

[stefano_musica]

No tools came with my 2010 (first UCE model).

I bought the panniers and one bag contains three different adjustable wrenches (small, medium and large) because the size of nuts and bolts on the RE were not exactly any standard at all. I carry a set of allen keys, a spare tube and tyre levers. The other pannier has my rain gear, phone, wallet, etc.

[Keef Sparrow]

No, no space in there. There's a bit of space in the chrome box on the other side, but only the bottom half. I'd love to change out the air filter system, to free up all of that box, but I understand the pod filters damage performance. So, I've strapped a canvas / leather bag to the rear rack to carry extras when I'm further from home.

Yes, it's a shame the box on the other side was sacrificed for the air filter. You can get some small bits & pieces in the plastic box thingy behind the round metal cover where the air filter used to be - it's handy for storing a disc lock. I too have invested in a small canvas tool bag to bungee onto the rack on my Trials to carry a few bits & pieces like puncture sealant and a drinks flask.

[Ove]

+1 on the flask. Something very civilised about stopping for a cuppa.

Tyre sealant: not sure that's terribly useful on inner tubes?

[Keef Sparrow]

Tyre sealant: not sure that's terribly useful on inner tubes?

It's very good at stopping slow punctures.

[gizzo]

It's very good at stopping slow punctures.

Agree. It got my mate to where we were going but needed a new tube to fix the puncture. Was a pretty big hole, too. A scrap of wood had gone through it, about 1/2 the size of a pencil. If it were just a bindi, maybe it'd hold air.

[NPLO]

Just for the record, the attached photo shows the toolkit supplied with my 2011 B5.

[Richard230]

Just for the record, the attached photo shows the toolkit supplied with my 2011 B5.

My tool kit looks the same. As does the tool roll. It is full of holes from the tools, too.   

I reinforced it with duct tape.

[Keef Sparrow]

Just for the record, the attached photo shows the toolkit supplied with my 2011 B5.

Wow - you got a 'C' spanner for adjusting the rear shocks - something RE didn't see fit to supply with my 2020 Trials Bullet. 

[wildbill]

i use a screwdriver
https://youtu.be/s1ZgodV7aas

[Bilgemaster]

i use a screwdriver
https://youtu.be/s1ZgodV7aas

Good tip picked up from an oldtimer. Thanks for taking the time to pass it along, WB!

[Keef Sparrow]

i use a screwdriver
https://youtu.be/s1ZgodV7aas

Yes, I saw your tip and have used it on my own Trials - very useful thanks!

[Ove]

Yep, a good tip.

I just bought myself some new tyre irons. Too long to carry anywhere  doh!

Wonder if I can make up a clip arrangement like on bicycle pumps, to hold them on the frame somewhere.... muppet!

[viczena]

I redid the toolkit, but left away the tyre irons.

https://g-homeserver.com/showthread.php?t=410

[gizzo]

Regarding the tool pouch falling apart: I discovered that the bottom of the leg of an old pair of jeans, stapled  shut at the bottom (you could sew it I guess...) and tied off with cord makes a great replacement tool pouch. Because I needed one and there was a pair of trousers in the rag bag.

And the 13mm spanner in the RE tool set is too thick to fit on the chain adjuster nut. And there's no tool to loosen the axle or hub anyway so I suppose it doesn't matter. I pack real tools for a trip, anyway.

[axman88]

I redid the toolkit, but left away the tyre irons.

https://g-homeserver.com/showthread.php?t=410

I like your cut-off 30 and 24mm stubbies to deal with the rear wheel axle nuts.  I've been using a big Crescent wrench for that job, but don't have a ride-along solution yet.

I was thinking of perhaps acquiring one of these combo tire iron / 30mm wrenches.   https://www.walmart.com/ip/Tusk-Aluminum-Tire-Iron-with-Axle-Wrench-30-mm/548885073

I already started carrying a 9" tire iron, along with the short 6.5 inchers that came with my kit, after one very frustrating attempt to fix a puncture with just the two shorties, (and that was on a workbench, not at the side of the road).  A spare tube and the 9" tire iron are too big to fit into any of the storage areas, so I'm already into saddlebag space.

Another interesting gadget is the Motion Pro T-6 adaptor, which promises to turn a box end wrench into a 3/8" socket drive.   This comes in many sizes, but not 30mm.    https://www.chapmoto.com/motion-pro-t-6-combo-lever-adapters-parent-315-8370

So, maybe the best option would be the 32mm / tire iron combo, plus the 32mm T-6 adaptor, plus a piece of steel or alloy Aluminum, as wide as the box wrench, 1mm thick and formed into a hex ring, so I can deal with the 30mm nut?  I can probably manage a 2nd hex ring with a thicker wall to deal with the 24mm.  Or I can resign myself to carrying that 10" Crescent wrench, and keep the $40 in my wallet.

I do manage to pack quite a bit of gear into my oval tool kit area, and also take advantage of some space in the electrical box, where spare spark plug, air pressure gauge, spare clutch cable, 3' alligator clip test lead, micro voltmeter, some baling wire, a bit of Scotch Brite, and more, all manage to find room.  My tool bag includes a 6" Vise grip, which can do a lot of jobs in a pinch, including serving as a jury rigged control lever.  I have extended the service life of my tool bag with a spray of Armor-all every so often.  The plasticisers in that stuff really seem to help extend the life of lots of plastic in my life, power cord insulation on power tools being foremost.  Keep it off the steel tools when wet though, it will make some rust.

[Crabsapper]

A gas cylinder key fits the large nut on the rear axle for chain adjustment, and is nice and compact.

[Bilgemaster]

I redid the toolkit, but left away the tyre irons.

https://g-homeserver.com/showthread.php?t=410

May I just say that that's a fine toolkit that inspires me to take a second look at my own Iron Barrel's. The cut down wrenches for the wheel nuts with the extender is rather a stroke if genius. Gut gemacht, Junge!

[viczena]

Forum moved: https://www.g-homeserver.com/forum/royal-enfield-500-trials/391-bordwerkzeug