Adjustable C spanner or Honda C spanner?

Discussion in '6th Generation 2002-2013' started by Suraj, Aug 24, 2015.

  1. Suraj

    Suraj New Member

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    I was looking forward to adjust my chain for the first time when I realized that the toolkit that I got with the bike does not have the C spanners (Chain adjustment C spanner and suspension adjustment C spanner). I am thinking about buying one but there is some confusion whether I should go for the adjustable C spanners available or should I go with the stock Honda one. If I go with the adjustable one, maybe I wont have to buy them separately.

    The adjustable C spanners I am looking at on ebay are pretty cheap, $8.99 and $11.99. There are different sizes and I am not sure which one would work for chain adjustment.
    (Smaller one) http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-Spanner-T...hash=item2a43fd1142&item=181529284930&vxp=mtr
    (Bigger one) http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-Spanner-T...hash=item27ec06365f&item=171463554655&vxp=mtr

    The honda tool is $13 and the metal assembly (The longer handle) that would hold it is $12. Plus this would not assist with suspension adjustment. Here is the link where I found the part numbers for them
    http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Honda/Motorcycle/2005/VFR800+AC/TOOLS/parts.html

    If anyone has experience with the adjustable C spanner and it works for them, please let me know what size should I go for since there are 2 sizes available. I know this is a noob question, but this is my first big motorcycle and I am still learning how to do the basic maintenance.
     
  2. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    The Honda spanner is not as pretty and costs more but it fits and you can beat the crap oot of it. I have the same one my 91 came with. The adjustable version is pretty, costs less, has moving parts and purports to be of hard steel. I would be wary of the statement from the Ebay source that shipping is free since the origin is Hong Kong.. Ebay ads are not always as they seem.

    Either tool is carried on the bike. Also spend a few pesos on a socket to loosen the pinch bolt so the spanner can be used.
     
  3. Suraj

    Suraj New Member

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    I have this handy already. Also, could you suggest which size would be a better fit? 19-51 or 32-76?

    I'd agree with you on this. The tools that came with my other Honda are so damn good.

    I wonder why people don't just let the tools sit with the bike below the seats. The guy who sold the bike to me says he probably misplaced the spanners and does not remember where he kept them.
     
  4. Knight

    Knight New Member

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    Suraj, this is not a "noob" question as you state. I went through this conundrum when I bought my bike and I discovered that the problem stems from lack of information published for these tasks thus leaving you in the dark.

    Just an FYI for everyone reading this: For plentiful tool options search for "hook spanner wrench", "hook spanner with fixed pin", or "pin spanner" These names align with the industry standard "DIN 1810 hook wrenches." Also many automotive and race shops call their shock-sized tool a "shock spanner." I do find that name an abomination. If you used generic pliers on the carburetor you would not call them "carburetor pliers" would you?

    These may be heavy duty industrial tools but this is a good example of the dimensions that sellers of these tools should provide but don't:

    http://www.newmantools.com/wrenches/din1810b.htm

    Amazon and ebay have a huge selection although many of them do not publish the size. Suraj, the ones you found published a diameter which is helpful to answer your question.

    Take a ruler and measure the diameter of both the chain adjuster and the shock adjuster. You cannot get quite near the shock but you can eyeball the shock behind the ruler. You can also wrap a string around the chain adjuster, then divide by Pi to get the diameter. I measured these but do not recall the results, maybe they are about 2.25" (shock) and 3.8" (chain)? The way many of the wrenches are sized, including those two ebay tools, I suspect that neither wrench is ideal for both jobs and you may end up with two, just like what was supplied in the Honda toolkit. Now the adjustment is very basic, grab and spin, so the tool does not necessarily have to be ideally sized for both. However you have two restrictions: One, there is limited room to get a tool in near the shock, thus restricting the wrench size. Two, my memory tells me the recess in the chain adjuster is somewhat narrow, requiring a thin wrench. Yes, the cheap, stamped Honda tool is probably ideal for this. I made the decision to buy the Honda tool and extension for the chain, and an aftermarket tool that closely matched the shock adjuster.

    I purchased this for the shock: Drag Specialties Shock Spanner Wrench 77-2003-BC3

    Pic:
    http://www.amazon.com/drag-specialties-spanner-wrench-77-2003-bc3/dp/b000wnk8os?tag=indifash06-20

    I specifically selected it because it is two-sided. I was concerned with the tight squeeze, that a one-sided spanner can slip off. I figured that the day that I adjust the shock it will probably be 5°F out, the wrench will slip and cut my frozen hand. These conditions are the only time I seem to touch any vehicle. There is less chance of slippage with a double-sided spanner.
     
  5. Suraj

    Suraj New Member

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    That definitely helped with the search results. I was not aware of the technical name for these wrenches.


    Thank you for detailed explanation. 3.8" on the chain translates to 96mm. So neither of the wrenches I listed would work. Looks like I would probably have to go with the Honda tool since everything else looks pretty thick. I also read at a few places that Ducati or Triumph tool should work equally well, but they would be more expensive and more difficult to find I'm sure.

    The stock spanner is $12 anyways. Its better to go with something that is safer with a similar price. I'd probably go with the same one you listed.
     
  6. Knight

    Knight New Member

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    Be aware my memory is bad and I am guessing at what the dimensions are. You may wish to double check. However, I think your conclusion was the exact same one I came to.

    Well you never know until you look. See the url below. There is one for $16 and free shipping. However just because it says "Ducati" I would not know that this is the one supplied with a Ducati. The pics do look nice and this one is painted, which looks much more handsome than the Honda tool.

    http://www.ebay.com/bhp/ducati-chain-tool


    LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY in stainless:

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Triumph-Cha...ona-/381365514598?hash=item58cb27f166&vxp=mtr
     
  7. Suraj

    Suraj New Member

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    Exactly what I thought. I messaged the ebay seller if it will be compatible with the VFR. If not, I'll jet go and get the OEM tool. Too much hassle for additional $10.
     
  8. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    If ya find one stamped Ferrari or Rolls-Royce. It might be worth the extra pesos just to be able to flash it at a bike night.
     
  9. Suraj

    Suraj New Member

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    Haha, that was funny.
    On a side note, bike nights near my place mean a bunch of drunk harley dudes who hardly ever ride or use proper gear. They shine the chrome and pay $30 for a $2 T shirt. They wont be impressed even if someone drives in with a real ferrari, lol
     
  10. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    I would definitely get the OEM pin spanner for the rear hub, because as stated above you need something slim to get in there. For the extension this looks (to me at least) just the same part as found in a heap of other Honda toolkits. Might be worth checking in with your local wrecker and see if they've got any kits lying around. My guess is that they probably throw these away when they part a bike out.

    For the shock spanner, again this will be a stock standard Honda part used across many models, and in any case a lot less critical than the pin spanner on the grounds that you are much less likely to be using it often.
     
  11. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    They are everywhere. My theory is that HD has had artificial insemination programs going under our very noses for years. ;) Peel away the "chrome" and most of those drunk harleydoods ya see become dentists and accountants the next day.

    Here on the left coast or at least the Pacific NW there is sort of a separation. Not 100% but the harleydoods seem to do their thing and the rest of us, ours.

    Maybe the accountants get a tax write off on those Tshirts..
     
  12. Suraj

    Suraj New Member

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    I ended up buying this one off ebay since it had free shipping. Costed me $18.
    http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5006/i/motion-pro-shock-wrench.aspx

    A couple of reviews say it works fine for our bike. Also, this tool does the job of both the C spanners that we need. I'll update on how it worked once it arrives.


    I used to live in SoCal and fortunately there aren't too many of those over there. Most bike nights have equal or more number of other motorcycles. The only time I went for a bike night in Pittsburgh, some old Harley dude tried to drag-race me on a traffic light. I showed him on the next light how tractors and ferraris don't compete :crazy: . Then they were showing some attitude towards me and my friend who rides a 2nd gen Vmax. They hardly ever wave back at you. For some reason, all of this comes from the guys with smaller Harleys who try to look mean. The guys with the bigger Harleys with luggage on their bikes are usually friendly and wave back. At least they have their helmets on.

    Guys on their sportsbikes always wave back or initiate the wave. Helmets are the minimum gear they have on all the time.
     
  13. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    In the three Western states helmets are mandatory with a couple of exceptions having to do with antique bikes.. Even the real bad boys wear helmets of a sort. The cops never seem to check them for certification of any kind. Many are so useless as to be innefective. More dumbshit stuff by harleydoods.

    Once on a day ride in three of the passes in Washington state, I was about at the half way mark and spotted a bike and passenger in the distance coming toward me. As they drew closer I could see it was one of the semi-badboys and his mamma on a Harley. This particular pass is not well traveled and I was a bit over the posted limit ( a bit is what you tell a cop when he asks if you know how fast you were going. It is as precise a unit of measure as the cop eyeballing speed and velocity) so, I waved. They both flipped me the bone.. It was one of those days for double digits.

    True that sportbike riders wave for the most part and we would like to think they or we are all of the same mind when it comes to wearing helmets or other protective gear but too many instances of riders like the infamous "stuntas" tell a much different story.
     
  14. mofo

    mofo New Member

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    Ha! I know a guy who uses chisel and hammer to adjust chains on different bikes, including VFR's and ducatis. Saw him a handful of times.
     
  15. mofo

    mofo New Member

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    Yes, they are the assholes who rev the crap out of their bikes when they arrive and before they park because think they're cool.
     
  16. Knight

    Knight New Member

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    Two tools in one, excellent. That is a smart design. It saves weight which is always a good thing if you carry it onboard the bike. There's no Porsche logo on it so we must deduct 1 point LOL. :)
     
  17. Knight

    Knight New Member

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    When I was looking for these tools initially I saw people recommend tools such as a hammer and screwdriver. There are all kinds of personalities out there, and I admit that I am overly cautious, but all I could think is, "You're smashing the bike with that thing?" It seems like a sin. The reality is, your acquaintance has probably never hurt the parts with that method.
     
  18. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Never having a chain the least bit oot of adjustment being the perfect sportbikedood that I am and before I made a medallion oot of a januiney Honda spanner. I confess that once and only once did I adjust my chain using a drift and a small ballpeen hammer. Drifts have blunt ends. Now my main problem is that the chain that is holding my medallion is turning green and staining my HD Tshirt.
     
  19. mofo

    mofo New Member

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    He inflicted some serious damage on every bike he used that method on. Had my bike been one of them, I'd have him replace the parts damaged.
     
  20. Knight

    Knight New Member

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    Oh jeese...I pictured a guy gently tapping the adjusters like a surgeon. So he is the guy with the hammer, and thus every problem looks like a stuck nail to him. Bummer.
     
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