How many times has your tool kit saved your butt?

MirrorrorriM · 10-14-2008, 03:32 PM

When I first bought my bike and checked out the tool kit strapped underneath the seat, I remember thinking "man, F*%k these cheap ass tools" because they looked so dinky and like they would break in half if I ever had to use them. I found myself eating those words today.

Yesterday, I put a new chain on the bike and the ride was so much smoother, but I have been cautious riding with the work I had done. Well today, after getting about 2 miles from my school, I go over a bump in the road and hear "CLANK!" and thought "Man, there goes my freaking chain". I quickly pulled over and realized that I had apparently forgotten to tighten down the left axle adjuster on the side of the swingarm, because the nut backed off the rod and the end cap of the swingarm was just flopping around. I thought "man wtf I don't have tools, how can I get this back on"...then I remembered about my dinky little tool kit underneath the seat. Grabbed the right wrench, used a makeshift socket wrench to bend the rod back straight into place, and tightened on the bolt again. Luckily the axle was still nice and tight so that did not go out of alignment at all. Time in total to fix = 2 minutes tops after I figured out what the hell went wrong.

Moral of the story: always make sure that cheapy little tool kit is there, because you may need it when you least expect it.

What about you guys/gals? What have you done that needed to be desperately fixed while out on the road, and do we have any MacGyver tales out there?

Chuck289 · 10-14-2008, 03:58 PM

Im a new rider, Ive only had my bike a few months. I bought it used so it didnt come with the tool kit. I do have the little tool box mounted under the rear fender though. I put a few allen wrenches in there (just the sizes I need), An adjustable cresent type wrench and a leatherman multi tool. Thats all I can really fit in that tiny tool box. It should be able to take care of all the jobs that the stock tool kit could do.
Oh and I also threw in a small flashlight. People seem to forget how usefull light can be. Remember on average its dark about 50% of the time.

Schneiderman · 10-14-2008, 04:51 PM

I used the toolkit in my connie to get to the box and check my fuses when the taillight went out one night. The fuse wasn't blown, but I guess taking it in and out cleaned the contact a little cause the light started working again.

On my Ninja 500 I used the supplied "thing" to change my spark plugs, it's actually pretty nifty.

shamrock7777 · 10-14-2008, 05:06 PM

Tool kit is a must with metric bikes. Hard to find larger MM sizes just any where. I actually broke down and bought a fork bag because of all the stuff I carry now. And yeah the flashlight thing is a great idea. I even carry a Fluke DVM when I take longer rides.

Cue-Ball · 10-14-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck289

An adjustable cresent type wrench

The correct name for this tool is:

Bolt Head Rounder Offer

Chuck289 · 10-14-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cue-Ball

The correct name for this tool is:

Bolt Head Rounder Offer

Lol, yeah I absolutly hate using adjustable wrenches. I dont even think I have one in my tool box at home or work. But when space is an issue....

MirrorrorriM · 10-14-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cue-Ball

The correct name for this tool is:

Bolt Head Rounder Offer

Haha, I second that one.

iamgumby · 10-14-2008, 10:46 PM

Nothing works as well as the tool kit's plug wrench for pulling plugs in my Bandit. On a 3-week trip I made a couple of chain adjustments, too. Oh, and the shock pre-load spanner

. I don't know why anyone would pull the tool kit out of a bike - what else is it good for?

chuckyb3684 · 10-14-2008, 10:51 PM

Yeah a good old suggestable wrench is great for getting those nice round edges!!!

GI Jack · 10-15-2008, 02:54 AM

second day I had the bike I bought a tool kit. mabey use it ever other day. bikes getting on in years and doesn't always wanna start.

That, and I gotta do a carb rebuild when I get home, and retune everything,(someone on the GS forums had a nice thread for a DIY cylinder synchronization kit, gotta find that)

chaindad · 10-15-2008, 05:03 PM

Check this out....this is the tool kit that comes standard on a new Honda Shadow Aero 750....

Impressive huh? At least it stows behind a lockable storage compartment so no one can steal it....lol. Speaking of the lockable compartment....when I first bought Faith my bro-in-law & riding buddy Randy told me he duct taped a spare key inside his side cover on the Triumph....I told him I had a lockable compartment & he said "duct tape it in there!".....think about that one for just a second before you start laughin'.....hehe.....

10-15-2008, 06:02 PM

Ok the key in a locked compartment reminds me of my buddy who used to keep his spare car door key under the hood of his car, that was until the first time he needed it. ... No door key ...no access to hood latch .. oooppps (where did my smileys go?)

CB750F · 10-15-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schneiderman

On my Ninja 500 I used the supplied "thing" to change my spark plugs, it's actually pretty nifty.

It's also one of the few tools that are capable to get down in there to change the spark plug. My sockets were all too thick.

Mines saved me a few times with the 500 and before that it's saved me on my 1100 Virago I had. I can't count the many times I've used the tool kits on my 4 wheelers.

David 1 · 10-16-2008, 12:54 PM

I'm an old old man and the tools only saved me once. In a car. I had the full box in a borrowed car. We were going San Francisco to Chicago (early 1970's) and stopped for dinner in a small town in Colorado. Coming out it sounded like the belt pulley onto the alternator was loose. It was. All I needed was a quick touch of the nut rounder offer (crescent type) and it ran nice the rest of the 2500 miles.
Other times I had to get the tow truck, or a buddy to come and fix, or whatever.
dc

MirrorrorriM · 10-16-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David 1

I'm an old old man and the tools only saved me once. In a car. I had the full box in a borrowed car. We were going San Francisco to Chicago (early 1970's) and stopped for dinner in a small town in Colorado. Coming out it sounded like the belt pulley onto the alternator was loose. It was. All I needed was a quick touch of the nut rounder offer (crescent type) and it ran nice the rest of the 2500 miles.
Other times I had to get the tow truck, or a buddy to come and fix, or whatever.
dc

It's for that reason that I always keep my 150 piece mechanics tool kit in the trunk of my car. It's saved me a few times before.

hsartteacher · 10-16-2008, 06:48 PM

Tools? I am probably the LEAST mechanical person on the planet. I bought a Corbin seat... "supposedly an easy DIY install" .... I had ready my standard tool kit: a hammer, phillips screwdriver, and regular screwdriver. The instructions named 3-4 tools I would not recognize if they bit me.

Needless to say my husband wound up installing it when he got home.

I always tell him I married him because he was mechnically inclined. Luckily he thinks I am kidding.

When I did have a side-of-the-road breakdown (by myself), well technically I dropped my bike on a gravel construction road u-turn and broke the clutch lever, I had a lot of people stop to help. A couple of the construction guys pushed my bike up the hill and off to the side of the road. Another called his buddy, who worked nearby as a motorcycle mechanic; he came in 5 minutes with a replacement lever. I think the backhoe driver felt bad seeing me wipe out like that

The mechanic fixed it right away and refused payment. cool:

I like the damsel in distress method much better.

10-14-2008, 03:32 PM	#1
MirrorrorriM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 265	How many times has your tool kit saved your butt? When I first bought my bike and checked out the tool kit strapped underneath the seat, I remember thinking "man, F*%k these cheap ass tools" because they looked so dinky and like they would break in half if I ever had to use them. I found myself eating those words today. Yesterday, I put a new chain on the bike and the ride was so much smoother, but I have been cautious riding with the work I had done. Well today, after getting about 2 miles from my school, I go over a bump in the road and hear "CLANK!" and thought "Man, there goes my freaking chain". I quickly pulled over and realized that I had apparently forgotten to tighten down the left axle adjuster on the side of the swingarm, because the nut backed off the rod and the end cap of the swingarm was just flopping around. I thought "man wtf I don't have tools, how can I get this back on"...then I remembered about my dinky little tool kit underneath the seat. Grabbed the right wrench, used a makeshift socket wrench to bend the rod back straight into place, and tightened on the bolt again. Luckily the axle was still nice and tight so that did not go out of alignment at all. Time in total to fix = 2 minutes tops after I figured out what the hell went wrong. Moral of the story: always make sure that cheapy little tool kit is there, because you may need it when you least expect it. What about you guys/gals? What have you done that needed to be desperately fixed while out on the road, and do we have any MacGyver tales out there? __________________ -Clark

10-14-2008, 03:58 PM	#2
Chuck289 too slow Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SF Bay, California Posts: 440	Im a new rider, Ive only had my bike a few months. I bought it used so it didnt come with the tool kit. I do have the little tool box mounted under the rear fender though. I put a few allen wrenches in there (just the sizes I need), An adjustable cresent type wrench and a leatherman multi tool. Thats all I can really fit in that tiny tool box. It should be able to take care of all the jobs that the stock tool kit could do. Oh and I also threw in a small flashlight. People seem to forget how usefull light can be. Remember on average its dark about 50% of the time. Last edited by Chuck289; 10-14-2008 at 04:00 PM..

10-14-2008, 04:51 PM	#3
Schneiderman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 3,160	I used the toolkit in my connie to get to the box and check my fuses when the taillight went out one night. The fuse wasn't blown, but I guess taking it in and out cleaned the contact a little cause the light started working again. On my Ninja 500 I used the supplied "thing" to change my spark plugs, it's actually pretty nifty. __________________ Big Government is a problem, not a solution.

10-14-2008, 10:46 PM	#8
iamgumby Fallen Riders Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Texas Posts: 3,950	Nothing works as well as the tool kit's plug wrench for pulling plugs in my Bandit. On a 3-week trip I made a couple of chain adjustments, too. Oh, and the shock pre-load spanner . I don't know why anyone would pull the tool kit out of a bike - what else is it good for? __________________ 03 Suzuki GSF1200S Bandit, HIR headlights, GIVI shield, SWMoto guards, Hayabusa shock, lowered 2", H/S backrest & tailrack, Avon Storms, VStrom Hand Guards, IBA SS 1k

10-14-2008, 10:51 PM	#9
chuckyb3684 Verified Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Augusta SC Posts: 56	Yeah a good old suggestable wrench is great for getting those nice round edges!!! __________________ My ride - 74 BMW R 90/6 Cafe style

10-14-2008, 05:06 PM	#4
shamrock7777 Verified Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Golden Valley, MN Posts: 25	Tool kit is a must with metric bikes. Hard to find larger MM sizes just any where. I actually broke down and bought a fork bag because of all the stuff I carry now. And yeah the flashlight thing is a great idea. I even carry a Fluke DVM when I take longer rides.

10-15-2008, 02:54 AM	#10
GI Jack Sickle Punk Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 966	second day I had the bike I bought a tool kit. mabey use it ever other day. bikes getting on in years and doesn't always wanna start. That, and I gotta do a carb rebuild when I get home, and retune everything,(someone on the GS forums had a nice thread for a DIY cylinder synchronization kit, gotta find that)

10-15-2008, 05:03 PM	#11
chaindad Knees 2 the breeze! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,465	Check this out....this is the tool kit that comes standard on a new Honda Shadow Aero 750.... Impressive huh? At least it stows behind a lockable storage compartment so no one can steal it....lol. Speaking of the lockable compartment....when I first bought Faith my bro-in-law & riding buddy Randy told me he duct taped a spare key inside his side cover on the Triumph....I told him I had a lockable compartment & he said "duct tape it in there!".....think about that one for just a second before you start laughin'.....hehe..... __________________ Always in our hearts..RIP iamgumby..forum legend

10-15-2008, 06:02 PM	#12
nsbugman Guest Posts: n/a	Ok the key in a locked compartment reminds me of my buddy who used to keep his spare car door key under the hood of his car, that was until the first time he needed it. ... No door key ...no access to hood latch .. oooppps (where did my smileys go?)

10-16-2008, 12:54 PM	#14
David 1 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,460	I'm an old old man and the tools only saved me once. In a car. I had the full box in a borrowed car. We were going San Francisco to Chicago (early 1970's) and stopped for dinner in a small town in Colorado. Coming out it sounded like the belt pulley onto the alternator was loose. It was. All I needed was a quick touch of the nut rounder offer (crescent type) and it ran nice the rest of the 2500 miles. Other times I had to get the tow truck, or a buddy to come and fix, or whatever. dc

10-16-2008, 06:48 PM	#16
hsartteacher I Ride Like A Girl Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,526	Tools? I am probably the LEAST mechanical person on the planet. I bought a Corbin seat... "supposedly an easy DIY install" .... I had ready my standard tool kit: a hammer, phillips screwdriver, and regular screwdriver. The instructions named 3-4 tools I would not recognize if they bit me. Needless to say my husband wound up installing it when he got home. I always tell him I married him because he was mechnically inclined. Luckily he thinks I am kidding. When I did have a side-of-the-road breakdown (by myself), well technically I dropped my bike on a gravel construction road u-turn and broke the clutch lever, I had a lot of people stop to help. A couple of the construction guys pushed my bike up the hill and off to the side of the road. Another called his buddy, who worked nearby as a motorcycle mechanic; he came in 5 minutes with a replacement lever. I think the backhoe driver felt bad seeing me wipe out like that The mechanic fixed it right away and refused payment. cool: I like the damsel in distress method much better. Last edited by hsartteacher; 10-16-2008 at 06:55 PM..

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