I was talking to a friend of mine the other day, as he was having trouble getting something done to his dirt bike...I asked if he had tried a few things, and the 2nd thing I suggested worked, and he asked me "How the heck did you ever think to do that?"
I think many of us have picked up "tricks" that we use all the time, and I think many of us assume other people know these things, but many don't. I think it would be a good thread (sticky maybe?) for people wrenching, especially people new to bikes and spinning wrenches, to help them through when they get "stuck" working on something.
I'll throw in a few I've found / been taught over the years that I regularly use:
- Wrench Leverage : Need more leverage on a bolt / nut where you can't get a ratchet on it, you have to use a wrench and you just can't break it loose. Use the correct box end wrench...take another longer box end and 'hook' the box end of the second wrench to the open end of the first wrench. Essentially doubles (or more) the length of the first wrench making it easier to bust loose stuck fasteners
- Fastener organization : Tearing something apart that might be apart for awhile? (Like fairings etc)..and you don't want to forget where each bolt goes? Instead of using zip loc bags with labels, try this....when removing a fairing for example, simply remove the fairing, then thread each bolt back in the hole in came from. They won't get lost, and you won't have to guess which bolt goes where when you go to put it back together.
- Bolt Torque : Putting an engine together? Or another assembly where the torque setting on the fasteners are critical? Try dabbing a mark with some paint on fasteners after you torque them. You'll never have to second guess whether you torqued it or not.
- Extension = Leverage : Need a little more length on that ratchet or wrench? Don't have a huge extension or breaker bar? Take a length of metal or plastic pipe and slip it over the end of the ratchet / wrench handle for an improvised breaker bar.
- Spark Plug Removal / Install: Want an easy way to remove / install spark plugs without the risk of crossthreading them? Slip a piece of vacuum / fuel line onto the end of the spark plug and use that to loosen / tighten the spark plugs.
- Centerstand / bike stand: Don't have a centerstand? Don't have the $$$ to buy or time to wait on getting bike stands? Or do you need to take both tires off, do some suspension work etc? Make your own homemade stand that will support the entire bike with ease. I made one..total cost about $50 from Home Depot. Sturdy enough with 2 ratchet straps on either side of the frame I did my oil pan removal etc without any issues at all
I know there are tons of other tips and tricks out there
Chris
I think many of us have picked up "tricks" that we use all the time, and I think many of us assume other people know these things, but many don't. I think it would be a good thread (sticky maybe?) for people wrenching, especially people new to bikes and spinning wrenches, to help them through when they get "stuck" working on something.
I'll throw in a few I've found / been taught over the years that I regularly use:
- Wrench Leverage : Need more leverage on a bolt / nut where you can't get a ratchet on it, you have to use a wrench and you just can't break it loose. Use the correct box end wrench...take another longer box end and 'hook' the box end of the second wrench to the open end of the first wrench. Essentially doubles (or more) the length of the first wrench making it easier to bust loose stuck fasteners
- Fastener organization : Tearing something apart that might be apart for awhile? (Like fairings etc)..and you don't want to forget where each bolt goes? Instead of using zip loc bags with labels, try this....when removing a fairing for example, simply remove the fairing, then thread each bolt back in the hole in came from. They won't get lost, and you won't have to guess which bolt goes where when you go to put it back together.
- Bolt Torque : Putting an engine together? Or another assembly where the torque setting on the fasteners are critical? Try dabbing a mark with some paint on fasteners after you torque them. You'll never have to second guess whether you torqued it or not.
- Extension = Leverage : Need a little more length on that ratchet or wrench? Don't have a huge extension or breaker bar? Take a length of metal or plastic pipe and slip it over the end of the ratchet / wrench handle for an improvised breaker bar.
- Spark Plug Removal / Install: Want an easy way to remove / install spark plugs without the risk of crossthreading them? Slip a piece of vacuum / fuel line onto the end of the spark plug and use that to loosen / tighten the spark plugs.
- Centerstand / bike stand: Don't have a centerstand? Don't have the $$$ to buy or time to wait on getting bike stands? Or do you need to take both tires off, do some suspension work etc? Make your own homemade stand that will support the entire bike with ease. I made one..total cost about $50 from Home Depot. Sturdy enough with 2 ratchet straps on either side of the frame I did my oil pan removal etc without any issues at all
I know there are tons of other tips and tricks out there
Chris
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