Will experienced DIY mechanic post list of necessary tools/accessories/equipment for maintanence/rep

Hello Viffer community!

Totally newbie here with a 99 5th gen sittin in my garage due to unidentified electrical problem.

I already posted about that and have some steps to take.

This post is to see if we can reel in an experienced bike mechanic who can post a list of "must-haves" for VFR maintanence and repair.

Please be specific as possible.

example: instead of "tool kit", tell us what range of tools, measurements, etc. would be ideal...maybe even a particular brand?

Thank you to anyone who steps up to the plate!

 

Have 13 more drawers along with the red boxes...:tongue: more to follow

 

Epic avatar my fellow Coloradoan.

Lovin da yellow colorway too.

Stay outta my neck of the woods for now, historic wildfire down here.

 

Haha, thanks

 

i dont c ne metric in there.. and your missing this..

 

I'll tell you what I have now but a lot of my tools went missing when I left them in my parents garage when I first moved out. My sisters ex-boyfriend used to "borrow" them to work on his car but somehow forgot to put all of them back! I've replaced a few of the more needed items but it will be a while until I'm back to square one. I used to work on my all my vehicles when I had the time and space to do so, but a lot less now, but I'm not afraid to tackle a project if need be. Most of these items were acquired over the years of working on various vehicles and some of them would only apply to a specific vehicle. Most of this list is from memory so there may be some missing items in the list.

Metric socket set(s) 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive sizes 6MM-19MM, (6pt. and 12pt.) plus a few larger sizes for special nuts/bolts 22MM~46MM (Larger sizes vary not full range of sizes)
1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" Drive Ratchets, Large Breaker bar too
Torque wrench (3/8 drive)
Assorted length and size screw drivers, Phillips and flat head
Hex wrenches (4mm-8mm) both socket type and T-handle
Impact driver and mallet, rubber tip hammer, regular and ball peen hammer
Air compressor with various attachments, air chuck, impact driver, blow nozzle, air ratchet, etc.
Feeler gauges
Tap and Die set (metric) 3mm - 12mm (.5-1.25 pitch)
Multimeter/volt meter
Pliers, channel locks
Wire cutters, flush cutters
Snap ring pliers, spreader pliers
Vice grips (sm, med, lg)
Crescent wrenches (sm, md, lg)
Scratch awl, center punch
Safety wire tool and safety wire (different wire gauges)
Chain breaker
Flywheel puller
Brake bleeder (Mity-vac)
Wire brushes, nylon brushes
Sand paper various grit sizes
Dremel tool with various tips, cutting wheels, sanding discs, polishing wheels, wire wheels, etc.
Files flat, round, half moon course and fine
Fork seal driver, bearing drivers
Fly wheel holder
Timing light kit

These are the things that went MIA...
Needle nose pliers, straight and angle tip (sm/lg)
Magnetic pick up tool
Magnetic parts bin/bowls
Compression tester
Spring compressor(s)
Calipers
Floor Jack/Jack Stands
Cylinder honing kit
Piston ring compressor
Valve spring compessor
Nut driver set 4MM-10MM
Spring puller (think scratch awl with a hooked end)
Pin Spanner
Ignition wrenches

These are the few items that I like to have on hand
Lock-Tite (Red/Blue)
DOT4/5 brake fluid
Motor Oil - typically what's currently in the bike(s)
Anti-freeze
Contact cleaner and/or PJ-1 Super Cleaner (Careful on some painted surfaces)
Silicone, Gasket sealer
Grease (various types)
Measuring cup
Gas can
Drip Pan/Tray
Nitrile gloves/Mechanics gloves
Shop rags
Hand cleaner
Hose clamps various sizes
Zip ties various lengths/widths and colors
Tie downs/Tie straps
Fuses various sizes

I hope this helps.

Cheers!

 

Instead of of buying lots of specialty tools that you may need or not I suggest buy as you need bases.
Foremost important.

1.Multimeter -don't cheap out here you want continuity with sound ,ohms etc.most useful tool trying to diagnose a problem
2 Battery tender
3.Torque ranch -Don't buy 20-200lb buy 10lb to 100lb smaller the range more precise.Almost all engine torque specs don't exceed 100lb.
4.Metric socket set-don't bother any other since your VFR is all metric. (I bought killer socket set from harbor freight and quality just unreal considering I paid 18 dollars)
5. Various size screwdrivers.

Start with these. I suggest buy Harbor freight tools.They are cheap and great quality.Can't beat them in quality.
Check this out

13 Piece High Visibility 1/2" Drive Metric Deep Wall Impact Socket Set
kick ass deal.I got this set and can't believe the quality $21.99
Sizes: 10mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 17mm, 18mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm, 24mm, 27mm, 30mm and 32mm
Pretty much covers all sizes for your bike.I specially like that it includes 21+sizes.Most sets don't go higher then 19mm.

I have become fan of Harbor freight.

 

Here is a list of stuff I consider essential

Metric socket set in 1/4 and 3/8 drive
1/4 and 3/8 drive ratchets
1/4 and 3/8 extension sets
1/4 and 3/8 breaker bars
Set of standard length combination wrenches
Set of long length combination wrenches
Decent multimeter
12V test light
Metric t-handle allen wrench set
metric allen socket set
Decent screwdriver set
Decent pliers set
Assortment of hammers
Drift punch set
Decent circlip pliers set
Assortment of strap wrenches
Magnetic pick up tool
Set of picks
For a torque wrench you need to either find a reasonably priced GearWrench digital model off of Amazon. If you don't trust yourself to take proper care of a digital wrench, then you should purchase a split beam torque wrench. Get one with a pivoting head. It really does help.

I am also another big fan of Harbor Freight's line of Pittsburgh tools. They are very affordable, high quality and come with lifetime replacement warranties. If you have an HF nearby, go there with the list above and you can get everything in one trip, from one store.

If you have space in the garage, I HIGHLY recommend at least a 10 gal. compressor and a basic air tool set as well.

Jose

 

Me likes my 3/8 butterfly along with my 1/4 3/8 speed handle and my ratcheting magnetic T-Handle screw-driver. I could be shamless and plug some brand, but will restrain from it. No pictures sawwy. T-Handles are nice as they give you superior feel compared to ratchet wrenches, but me loves ratchets and have a big selection of em! T-Handles are dedicated sized size tools in various sizes, K&L and Motion-Pro sell them, I have some gold plated Snap-On ones that will be buried with me as I dont believe in being an organ donor or passing cherished things on to ingrates. :evil:

 

About the only thing I'll add is to have a set of 6 point wrenches and sockets. Some of the cheaply made 12 points may not grip the bolt/nut precisely and end up rounding the head. Harbor Freight is a great place as long as you realize their limitations.

I also recommend at least 2 torque wrenches: a 1/4" drive for the small stuff that measures in inch pounds, and one that goes up to 100 ftlbs for the bigger stuff.

And a set of ratchet combination wrenches can be very handy for quickly getting out bolts you can't get a regular ratchet on.

 

Fridge full of beer, can't believe you guy's forgot the beer.

 

i like Rubo's advice to buy them as you need them--that way you're not overwhelmed and out of money (tool poor). Use the money you save that would go to the dealership to buy what you need to do the job, e.g. oil filter wrench, funnel, catch pan to do an oil change.

On the multimeter look for one that has a diode test function in addition to voltages ac & dc, millivolts dc, resistance, continuity (beeper), high currents ac&dc, and low currents. It's nice if you can find one that measures currents up to 20 amps. Fluke makes some nice one$.

Theoretically with the OEM tool kit under the seat you can field strip the bike and do all the basic access and maintenance tasks, e.g. fairing removal, spark plugs, chain adjust, etc. Being the OCD mo-fo that i am, one of the things that i like in that kit is the "philips" screwdriver, which is really not philips but is JIS. It has a different profile and specification and won't cam-out the heads of the JIS screws like a philips will.

 

I did say I was going by memory and ironically I was drinking a beer when I was typing...I did realize I forgot to list chain lube.:smile:

As for the comment, "Buy them as you need them", I agree and that is why the tool set I have has grown quite a bit. One thing that helps is to look and read the repair manual before you tackle any project and see if they list any special tools. Then go out and buy them and read the manual again and see if you missed anything. Can't tell you how many times I was in the middle of a tear down realizing I was missing that one special tool. It's frustrating to have stop what you're doing, run to HF, Sears or wherever you buy your tools just for one special tool. Of course being men, we tend less to read a manual and just do it!

I should add that the Tap and Die set I had bought from HF didn't seem to work as well as the one Craftsman I bought. Also the print on the side of the tool was very hard to read, on the Craftsman it was very legible and easy to see. So yes, some tools from HF are not as up to snuff as other more well known brands. YMMV

Cheers!

 

Be aware that the factory service manual states torque readings in ft-lbs. in rather low numbers (like 9 ft-lbs.). Most torque wrenches don't go that low on the ft-lbs. scale so you will need an in-lbs. torque wrench that does.

Just multiply the low number by 12 and you have the in-lbs. equivalent.

Example:
9 ft-lbs. x 12 = 108 in-lbs.

 

Is it a Maintenance 101..........?