Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

General Discussion => Tech Tips => Topic started by: Rich Mintz on May 03, 2013, 04:46:23 am

Title: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: Rich Mintz on May 03, 2013, 04:46:23 am
I want to build up a basic toolbox for simple maintenance on my 2010 UCE bike. My starting list:

Full set of metric combination wrenches
Full set of half-inch metric socket wrenches (with a socket extender)
Long and short flat and Phillips head screwdrivers
Brass hammer
Multimeter
WD40
PJ1 contact cleaner
Dielectric grease
Anti-seize
Blue loctite
Cotter pins
Plastic label tape and blue Sharpie
Cable ties

(For my bike: electric bullet connector kit)

What am I missing?
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: singhg5 on May 03, 2013, 05:18:37 am
The following items come to my mind

Spark plug socket
Hex key set
Long nose plier

Electric tape ?
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: boggy on May 03, 2013, 08:06:01 pm
Vice-grip pliers came in handy for me on an occasion where my throttle cable snapped at the lever.
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: The_Rigger on May 03, 2013, 09:59:30 pm
Full set of metric combination wrenches
Full set of half-inch metric socket wrenches (with a socket extender)

Are these newer UCE bikes Metric or Whitworth?   IMWTK...
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: mrunderhill1975a on May 03, 2013, 10:15:23 pm
I always carry a spare clutch cable and a spare throttle cable.  I had occasion to use a rubber bungie cord to hold the kick start lever  out of the way following a broken kick start spring.  I carry points file, kick start pawl, tye wire, extra headlight bulb (pre-focus lucas), spare spark plug, an assortment of 10mm, 12mm and 13mm nuts and bolts,cell phone .
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: Rich Mintz on May 03, 2013, 10:36:39 pm
Thanks all. To be clear, I mean toolbox for the workshop, not for the bike. But there is a smaller set of tools that I should carry duplicates of.

Regarding screw threads, I don't know how to tell between metric and Whitworth. I do know we used a 10mm 1.25 pitch helicoil kit on the mirror end receptacle and it fit the mirror fine. The bolt heads and nuts are standard metric sizes.

Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: barenekd on May 03, 2013, 10:56:51 pm
Quote
Are these newer UCE bikes Metric or Whitworth?   IMWTK...

Yes..

But mostly metric.
Bare
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: barenekd on May 03, 2013, 11:02:29 pm
I'd take the WD40 out of the kit and put something in it that was more than a parts cleaner.
Bare
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: Arizoni on May 04, 2013, 12:07:24 am
I didn't see "a good torque wrench".

One capable of working from 4 ft/lbs (48 inch pounds) to 50 ft/lbs (600 inch pounds).

I know some people don't like or trust them but when working with threads in aluminum parts and some less than stiller steel bolts they can usually keep things from breaking or stripping out.

I've got a 3/8" drive "Snap On" (brand) torque wrench but there are a lot of other good brands available that can cost a lot less and still do a good job.
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: The_Rigger on May 04, 2013, 05:57:39 am
I didn't see "a good torque wrench".
One capable of working from 4 ft/lbs (48 inch pounds) to 50 ft/lbs (600 inch pounds).

...Except for rear shock studs.   ;D
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: mattsz on May 04, 2013, 12:23:27 pm
 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: REdmonton on May 04, 2013, 04:22:18 pm
I  would replace the brass hammer with a soft face dead-blow hammer. Also good tire irons and allen wrenches.
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: barenekd on May 04, 2013, 08:30:54 pm
Shrink tubing
spare fuses and bulbs
dikes
hack saw
vise grips
long straight edge for aligning wheels
spray cleaner and polish
gasket sealer
wax
optional:
impact gun
power screwdriver and drill
mechanic's stool
drop light

Bare

Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: Ice on May 05, 2013, 02:12:34 am
I want to build up a basic toolbox for simple maintenance on my 2010 UCE bike. My starting list:

Full set of metric combination wrenches
Full set of half-inch metric socket wrenches (with a socket extender)
Long and short flat and Phillips head screwdrivers
Brass hammer
Multimeter
WD40
PJ1 contact cleaner
Dielectric grease
Anti-seize
Blue loctite
Cotter pins
Plastic label tape and blue Sharpie
Cable ties

(For my bike: electric bullet connector kit)

What am I missing?

 The socket set doesn't need to be 1/2" drive. 3/8" drive will do just fine for almost everything.

 Later on you can always cruise the second hand shops and yard sales to pick up a 1/2" ratchet and the few big sockets you might need I.E. front sprocket and rear wheel.
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: AgentX on May 05, 2013, 03:33:00 am
Needlenose pliers, big and small
Channel-lock pliers
Big rubber mallet  (instead of dead blow or brass hammer, but one of each would be preferable)
Basic set of pin punches
Lamp--shop light or even a super-cheap LED headlamp.

Cheap nice-to-haves that I love:

Hemostat (surgical clamp), for which you will find infinite uses.  They're ike tiny needlenose that you can lock down.

Dental picks (for cleaning out threads, retrieving unseen stuff from blind holes, picking out o-rings, and a million other things)

Personally, I don't think you absolutely need a torque wrench for basic work.  If you get one, it should be a high-quality (expensive) one.  I think relying a cheap one is a lot worse than going by feel.

If you're doing electric stuff, you will need a good crimper and wire cutter/stripper.  I recommend the ones from vintageconnections.com.  Inexpensive ($30-something for crimper) and give great results...buy at least the one spare die for standard color-coded terminals and butt splice connectors.  It is not worth buying anything cheaper, and imho it must be a ratcheting style to get a good crimp.
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: D the D on June 05, 2013, 10:25:25 pm
Ditch the WD40 and get some real penetrating oil like Kroil or Liquid Wrench.  WD40 is a water displacer not a penetrating oil or lubricant.  Use the dielectric grease, Vaseline, or lanolin on O-rings and such.
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: fxrskrsa on June 05, 2013, 10:31:43 pm
Sonic Screwdriver ??
Title: Re: Contents of a basic toolbox
Post by: The_Rigger on June 06, 2013, 12:31:29 am
Ditch the WD40 and get some real penetrating oil like Kroil or Liquid Wrench.

+1,000