Hi All,

I just bought my first HD (Street Bob) and would like to do all the work on it myself.
Could anyone please list some of the more common tools you need to work on your HD.

Cheers
Vlad

You will need,

A set of star shaped allen key's

Imperial set of spanners and sockets.

That'l get most things on and of your bike.

The Star shaped keys are called Torx.

Invest in good quality SAE open and ring spanner set ie: 7/16" to 1 1/4" (King chrome make a set with metric as well)

Most common sizes are 1/2", 9/16", 5/8"

Good set of SAE Sockets including a spark plug socket

Good set of SAE Allen keys

Phillips head and straight blade screw drivers (Don't scimp on shit ones)

A bike lift makes some jobs easier (Well more comfy anyway)

Assorted bits n shits, you'll work it out.

 

Thanks heaps guys. Will have to do some tool shopping this saturday.
Do you use torque wrench much when working on your HD?

A torque wrench is needed if you want to do regular servicing.

 Correct torque maintains fastner integrity.

Your also gonna need a 10mm 12 point spanner / socket to work on the brakes.............................

Yep, 3/8 drive for bikes, 1/2 for cars, 1' for trucks and 1 1/2 for large earthmoving stuff.

Remember all torque listings are for clean and dry (no oil) parts unless a lube or tread locker is listed with the touque value. A dry listing of 25ft.lb with an oiled bolt is equal to 32 - 35ft.lb = stripped tread!!!!!!!

As me old dad used to say "After tight comes loose".

 ... for me, I've invested in tools all my life.. I generally get quality.. but, as far as the Torque Wrench is concerned.. It would have to indeed be THE ONE... mostly neglected, or if we have one, it's usually inferior .. Mine is.. 

 http://home.jtan.com/~joe/KIAT/kiat_1.htm

I was a book worm over the weekend... Locktight or Loctite® Tight® is indeed a part of good 'house keeping' .. but you will find the bolts are actually Springs in there own right.. and under 'Pre-load' 

.. for information to all, and sharing.. 

 

 

I find a set each of allen and torx head 3/8" drive sockets to be very useful. They come clipped on a strip that you can mount somewhere if ya want to.

Don't forget a 1/4 ball head allan key stub for your starter motor. I just bought the best allen key I could then cut 1 inch of the end to get the left bolt of the starter to work on the primary

I bought a paper repair/maintanence manual but also got a download and a disc for around $13.00 at www.repairmanualsoncd.com

great correspondance and quick. I had asked in the" wanted to buy" forum and help came from every where

Get tools with a lifetime warranty. The cheap shit won't hold up, and if you damage one with a no-questions asked warranty they'll change it over for you. I generally try to buy all my auto-tools from a single supplier, makes it easier to swap things over if needed.

SP is good stuff - personally I don't like Kinchrome. Had a cheap torx bit that twisted getting my derby cover off, and that shouldn't be on tight. Sidchrome isn't what they used to be but there are some good deals out there.

Check out Jims catalogue in the US. They have a heap of harley specific tools you might need, depending on what you're planning.

The Warren and Brown micrometer torque wrenches are some of the only ones that will measure torque in both directions. This is a consideration if you're working on the compensating and clutch sprockets since they are high foot pound, one is left and the other right handed threads. Most of the other threads will be normal so any torque wrench will do. The W&B that measured in both directions was not cheap, but a 40-200ft/lbs wrench will do most of the bolts you don't wont coming off at speed and if does both threads that's a bonus.

The deflecting beams wrenches are good - but will only measure torque in one direction (clockwise) unless they have a socket adapter that allows you to flip them over and use them in the other direction.

One of the biggest problems on most bikes is checking the tyre pressure when not in your garage. 

Could be worth a look. Especially how it fits onto the rear wheel for tourers

Does seem like a decent bit of gear

If you buy a torque wrench, calibrate it, not hard to do, u tube has some good vids on it.

If anyone's replacing a clutch cable you will also need a decent set of circlip pliers. Theres a rather large circlip in the trans cover that needs to be removed to reinstall the cable. 

The circlip for the clutch lever pin is quite small so you need a small out side and a large inside one.

Your right ken. I filed down a cheap set of circlip pliers for that clutch lever pin circlip as it's so small and the holes in it are tiny. But there's a large circlip holding the other end of the cable. The one that goes into trans cover with the ball and ramp assembly. At least on the late model twin cam dynas annway