Time For New Tools!

[jp]

I zoomed in on the picture of the 137 piece set, and it has the socket sets you will want. It doesn't matter if you never use half the tools in it. Buying smaller sets of sockets in order to get what is in that set will cost more than buying one big set that you won't fully utilize. Besides, having tools is like having money; some is good, more is better.

[pandy]

why did people vote for the 117 when the 137 has everything the 117 has(i assume) plus more and for less money

I was looking at the 117-piece set because I thought it had more *useful* stuff than the 137-piece set, but it was pointed out here that the 137 set has the same and more, but Sears just didn't list everything properly. 

Besides, having tools is like having money; some is good, more is better.

Yeah, I'm figuring a good starter set will start me off well, and then I'll add individual pieces as my mad wrenching skillz develop...if I find that the set isn't as useful as I was hoping, I can always sell it and replace it with one of those huge rolling drawer toolboxes with 60 bazillion tools.... 

[Willy Willy]

137 pc. the more the merrier.

[CndnMax]

^^^ +1 you can never have too many tools, didn't someone here use sockets as fork spacers? 

[Jughead]

Just my Opinion but here is the set I basically started with.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00934245000P?vName=Tools&cName=Tool+Sets&sName=Mechanics+Tool+Sets

I used the Hell out of it.It's not much more than the 117 piece set you looking at and Has Just about everything you'll need.. :thumb:When you do get the Sears Card you will get a slightly better deal.When you pay off you balance several times you more than likely receive a Craftsman club Card and a Sales Catalog Once a Month.

If your in no Hurry to get a Set wait until Right after Thanksgiving when the Christmas Sales Start.Then go to your Local Sears Store.You can Actually More than likely get the same set Above for Around $150.Thats when I waited to get mine and Paid a Little less than that.

[ben2go]

Do any of you often use this?

I have one of those and haven't used it but a hand full of times.I wouldn't use it on a bike.You basicaly put a driver bit or impact socket on the end,put it on the fastener to be removed and wack the end of it with a dead blow hammer.It's the manual version of an air impact gun like they use to remove wheels from cars.It's also a good tool to crush your hands with when you miss wacking the end of it.

[Jughead]

Do any of you often use this?

I have one of those and haven't used it but a hand full of times.I wouldn't use it on a bike.You basicaly put a driver bit or impact socket on the end,put it on the fastener to be removed and wack the end of it with a dead blow hammer.It's the manual version of an air impact gun like they use to remove wheels from cars.It's also a good tool to crush your hands with when you miss wacking the end of it.

But when you need one they come in Handy. Those are #1 Priority when working on OLD bikes. I had several Chinese ones and they broke within a few whacks and I had to drill the Heads off of the Screws,Pull the Cover and then turn what was left out with vice grips.Either way you'll still need new Hardware.I finally sprung for a New KD Model and haven't had any Problems Since.

[CndnMax]

Do any of you often use this?

they work nice for rusted bolts- the impact breaks the rust little by little. used one to take off some old rusted brake rotors.

[sledge]

Pandy?
All the screwheads on your bike, for instance the brake fluid reservoir tops and the carb bowls are made to a japanese industry standard, otherwise known as JIS. In Europe and the USA we use are own standards for fixings, i.e SAE BS or DIN. Asia, japan, etc use the JIS. Despite looking the same there are differences and the upshot of this is that our phillips/pozi-drive/cross-head screwdrivers dont fit the JIS screwheads very well and if they are overtight the screwdriver will cam-out and damge the screwhead. If you are going to use an impact driver on your bike always use JIS bits in it otherwise you may do more harm than good.

JIS screwdrivers are a must when working on any Jap bike, they are not common but they are about if you look hard enough. .....There is an article on Wikipedia about it but I cant link to it for some reason.

[pantablo]

more tools!

[pandy]

Just my Opinion but here is the set I basically started with.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00934245000P?vName=Tools&cName=Tool+Sets&sName=Mechanics+Tool+Sets

I *do* like this tool set, and I'm definitely going to see what prices are offered for the holidays. Right now, I'll borrow an Allen wrench from my boss to tighten my spools if I can't find an el cheapo one at Cycle Gear (I need to get Locktite before I put the spools on anyway).

Never in a million years did I think I'd get this excited about starting my tool collection! 

[GI_JO_NATHAN]

I started with the 137 piece set, it was ok for a while. But eventually the case became junk and if you picked it up all the tools would shift around making it impossible to find what you need. I ended up having to put a cargo strap around it every time I wanted to move it. I also spent untold amounts of money buying all the stuff I needed that the kit didn't come with, like wrenches.
This is the kit I ended up getting to replace it. Got it on sale for a bit less, worth every penny.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00934245000P?vName=Tools&adCell=A3

[Jughead]

Really Pandy you won't be Disappointed with that set.

I keep that set in my Shop but have since Bought a Small set of KD Brand that I haul in my Vehicle.I've added several things to it since I bought it.I used to Keep everything in .50 Caliber Ammo Cans but have since Upgrade to an old Craftsman Drill box that I cut the Blow Mold guts out of .It fit Behind the seat in my old dodge but Works Perfect in my New Ford. I found some different Truck tool boxes designed to fit behind the seat so I may try one of those.

[bombadillo]

pandy, check out the 144 piece set that they had for 99 bucks.  Way better kit, more useful stuff instead of random hex bits and crap you won't really use.  Then go to harbor freight, get a bunch of their gear wrenches, wobble joints, extensions and stuff that will eventually break, and you'll soon figure out what you need and what you don't.   

[Mandres]

IMO what really need is:

a set of metric gearwrenches in 8-19mm:



a set of 1/2 metric sockets in the same, a good 1/2" socket wrench (SK, Proto, or Craftsman Professional, the Craftsman "raised-panel" standard line is junk), a few extensions and swivel joints, and a good set of ball-end allen wrenches and screwdrivers.  Wiha (German) makes good affordable versions of these. 

I don't really see a reason to get a set of sockets in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" and 3 different wrenches when 1/2" covers it all.  Better to spend the money on a good socket wrench because the cheap ones don't hold up well when you have to apply a lot of torque.  On that note, a 1/2" breaker bar is a good thing to add to the list too. 

[Jughead]

Yeah I don't use Craftsman Ratchets.I usually bust the guts within a Month or so.I started using KD Ratchets.
Gear Wrenches are the Dogs Balls.

[pandy]

Darnit...now I want ALL those tools.... I can see why buying tools does terrible things to the budget! 

[bettingpython]

Tools



http://www.thearsenal.us/SP89%201.jpg

Now these are expensive tools.

[pandy]

Those look fun, too! 

[Kasumi]

Is that an M4A1 tactical rifle in the right of the pic?