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Wrenching Basics
Intruder Alert Canada
FaceBook Vlog
For starters,
BUY decent tools
Cheap sockets, wrenches, pliers & screwdrivers, have a tendency to Break,
at the worst time & can or will, damage the fasteners themselves.
You don’t have to purchase
Snap-On or MAC Tools,
but many hardware stores
will sell a “Store Brand” that has
a Lifetime Guarantee.
Canadian Tire
carries the Mastercraft brand (my personal favourite)
In Canada, if you watch the sales flyers, almost EVERY tool you will need,
goes on sale eventually.
Use the Proper
tool for the Task
Vice-grips are handy in an Emergency, but will eventually round off that
bolt head, not to mention the unsightly marks, left on Chrome bolt heads.
I Use 1/4
drive ratchet & sockets
As much as possible, when working on the motorcycles. The smaller size
means I am less likely, to snap a bolt through the extra force, I can exert
with the typical 3/8th drive ratchets. I use a 3/8 - 1/4 adapter on my Torque
wrench
The Phillips (star)
screws on MOST Metric motorcycles are NOT in fact Phillips
screws. They are JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard)
which have a “different”
profile or cam than the standard Phillips screw. You can purchase
JIS Screwdrivers from multiple suppliers online
Amazon Canada is one. No
matter what screwdriver you use, a “light” tap on the end with a
hammer, will
help “break” the screw free & help to prevent “stripping”
the head
Buy a Pair
of 3/8 Drive Torque Wrenches
The first one should be in Inch Pounds, as many bolts on your motorcycle
have a low Torque value & every 12 inch lbs is equal to 1 Foot lb
My 3/8 drive, Inch lb. Torque wrench starts at
25 inch lbs & goes to 250 inch lbs.
Some math skills will be needed to convert 9 ft lbs to inch lbs;
multiply 12 X 9 = 108 inch lbs. (2 ft lbs - 20.75 ft lbs range)
My 3/8 drive Foot
lb. Torque Wrench starts at 20 ft lbs & goes to 100 ft lbs,
which is more than enough range for most motorcycle applications.
The Advantage of the 3/8 drive Torque Wrenches over the typical 1/2 drive
Torque Wrench is the smaller size, which is handy when working on your motorcycle.
Do NOT use
your Torque Wrench to Loosen bolts, as it can affect
the
calibration; use a regular ratchet or a breaker bar
Electrical |
A basic 12 volt test light, is a
simple tool to verify “Live” circuits. Clamp to
a “Ground”, typically any engine bolt or bolt in the Frame. Use
the pointed
or probe end, to pierce wire covers or to touch metal showing @ a connector.
If the “light” glows, you have a “live” circuit
Link shows a picture of a “Common” 12 Volt tester @ Amazon
Canada
Note: Bolts on the Frame are NOT
grounded if the frame is NOT Steel
Included Links do NOT mean
I endorse the Products or Vendors
Links are for Canada, but give those in Other parts of the World,
an idea on where to Start their Search
There are many Helpful members
in the Group, who will offer Advice;
Ultimately they are trying to Diagnose a problem from a “Distance”
&
your use of any Advise is YOUR Responsibility
I will update this Note, as I think of more helpful tips
There
is a lot of useful information on this site, but errors are possible
All Images/external links open in New Tab
Helpful
answers are $1.00 each
dumb looks are still FREE
These Tips come from many people,
on the various
motorcycle forums I frequent.
If You Attempt Modifications & Ruin Your Motorcycle
It Is Your Problem.
If You Are Not Mechanically Inclined,
Get Help From Someone Who Is
I Am Not Responsible For Use/Misuse Of These Tips &
Tricks
Use @ Your Discretion
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©
2002-------> Intruder Alert.Ca |
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