Top 10 Favorite Tools you have or use

[Kiwi Canuck]

I was thinking about all the new tools I have purchased (and borrowed) recently and what I still need to purchase for working on my Suzuki's.
So of all the tools I have, which one is the most useful tool in my kit?
Tough call, but here is 10 tools I couldn’t do without.

This list is more related to restoration rather than just maintenance
(1) Complete Metric Tap & Die set,
(2) Impact Driver
(3) Screw Driver Sets, for JIS, Vessel & for Flat Blades, Wera
(4) Good Metric Socket Sets in ¼” 3/8” & ½” drive.
(5) Open Ended Wrench & Ring Spanner Set
(6) Air Compressor
(7) Multi meter
(8) Helicoil Insert Kits with installation tools 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 10mm & 14mm
(9) Digital caliper
(10) Articulating Mirror with magnetic end for picking up dropped bolts & nuts

Would like to have
(1) Motorcycle Lift,
(2) Bench Top Spray Paint Booth & Spray Equipment
(3) Media Blasting Cabinet
(4) Chain Tool
(5) Parts Washer Station
(6) Drill Press
(7) Lathe
(8) Better eyesight
(9) More Patience
(10) A big stash of NOS parts.

[bwringer]

All the usual tools are covered, but in terms of unusual tools, my favorites are:

- Tire changing stuff (I'll lump this all together). Really sets you free and saves a ton of cash. Make sure you get valve stem pullers and valve core removers. Plural, because you will lose one at the worst possible time.

- Motorcycle lift. Obvious.

- Hydraulic press. You don't need it often, but when you need it, you really need it. Fantastic way to stop bashing expensive delicate things with large hammers. Great for speeding up work on boring cars so you can get back to motorcycles.

- Three-foot phillips screwdriver -- only way to sync the throttle bodies on a V-Strom.

- Morgan Carbtune -- the only civilized way to sync everything with more than one carb/throttle body.

- 5/8" counterbore with 5/16" pilot used to face and finish the inside of tube-style alloy GS wheels to convert to tubeless. Indispensable if you need it. Puzzling if you don't.

- Shim kits and related gauges, tools, etc. for all your motorcycles. I hate waiting for maintenance parts.

- Chain tools -- side plate press, riveter, etc. Not all that unusual, I guess, but when you need 'em, you need 'em.

- Blind hole bearing puller set. Works great for wheel bearings and things stuck inside of other things.

- Taps and dies in appropriate JIS thread sizes were mentioned, but I'd definitely add a thread file -- it's a wonderful way to keep irreplaceable fasteners in service.

- High-quality die crimper and vast collection of high-quality terminals and heat shrink. Make dead-reliable aerospace-quality electrical connections in the comfort of your own garage. Solder is so 1890's. Lots of crap out there -- make sure you buy the good stuff. Grab a $9 heat gun from Harbor Freight.

- Custom-bent pry bar turned into a GS Steering Stem Bearing Thwacker.

- Dremel and a selection of cutting discs when even the mighty Thwacker is defeated.

- Long-reach circlip pliers. Needed for work on many carbs and master cylinders.

- Homemade valve spring compressor.


I'll think of more later...

[bccap]

[azr]

You know one thing I always sort of 'mocked' but then finally bought one and it is definitely on my Top 10 list, the carbtune "carbtool". The other tool that I have that get sooooo much use out of and goes on every single 'ride and wrench' trip I do for people around Victoria.



It's crazy how many purposes this thing has, it's just 'one of those tools'. And a must have for carburetor rebuilding.



I think it's an eye piece from an old set of binoculars (I found it in an old box of bike parts years ago). Although if I thought I could get away with having your 'tool' in my shed for just one minute I 'might' trade my Carbtune carbtool and vacuum synch for her.

[eil]

Dunno about a top 10, but here are my top 4, aside from the usual assortment of screwdrivers, sockets, and wrenches.

[slayer61]

I bought the Harbor Freight motorcycle lift a few years ago... How did I ever live without it?

Gentlemen do not lay on the ground while servicing their motorcycles!

[Steve]

I agree with all of the above, but I do have one question:

What's a "chain tool"?

(Before you chastize me, note the list of bikes in my sig, and YES, I do know what one is. )

.

[Kiwi Canuck]

I agree with all of the above, but I do have one question:

What's a "chain tool"?

(Before you chastize me, note the list of bikes in my sig, and YES, I do know what one is. )

.

It's something you do not need to know about, it's only for real motorcycles that are chain driven.

[greg78gs750]

ball-end allen wrench set.

[Steve]

It's something you do not need to know about, it's only for real motorcycles that are chain driven.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.

[Charlie G]

I picked this up a few years ago at Home Depot ( Husky" brand) and it is very useful in tight places, such as, removing the cam chain tensioner without pulling the carbs. I used to use a very cheap version of a ratcheting screw driver when I installed comerical door hardware on a regular basis. I like it so much I have two. One on the bike and one in my truck for use at work.

cg

[tkent02]

Handy Lift
Press
Garage fridge with optional microwave on top.
Hitachi impact for small stuck fasteners.
Hand impact for normal size stuck fasteners.
Hammer collection for the rest.
Welder, torches.
Tire tools.
Extra bikes to ride when working on one of them.
My beautiful shop assistant.

And the number one most important tool of all.....
The GSR including Cliff's page for imformation that is sadly lacking elsewhere.

[amxsteve]

Suzuki specific valve adjustment kit. Love it for my 16 valve stuff and my tig welder. Vice grips for the kids

[850 Combat]

I like my 3/8 drive ball alen wrenches. wish they were 1/4 drive though.
Might have to buy a lift though.

[boingk]

Repco 1/2" ratchet and socket set. Beautiful *and* functional.

Diesel oil. Not really a tool but it works wonders in engines.

50/50 ATF/Kerosene mix. Best antiseize known to man.

Phone camera for rebuilds.

Metal polish.

Also a small 1/4" drive socket and screwdriver set. Came in a hardcase and was only a few bucks but is great for those small, akward, fiddly jobs.

- boingk