Triumphrat

RandyDTFR · 09-23-2005, 12:47 PM

Iâ€™ve decided to take my motorcycling skills and â€˜04 Thruxton to the next level. Instead of simply riding, I want to start doing some basic maintenance & modifications myself.

Here are my projects:

- Oil change
- Air box removal kit (South Bay)
- Carb re-jet? (its was re-jetted with the TORs)
- Change brake pads (front and rear)
- AI removal

Tools:
- A cluttered tool box with a good selection of metric sockets & wrenches.
- 2001 Bonnie service manual

Buying this weekend:
- Craftsman motorcycle jack
- Torque wrench
- (Mobil 1 oil, filter, accessories above)
- ? anything else ?

Iâ€™d really appreciate some advice from our seasoned Thrux/Bonnie mechanics here.
Are there any special tools Iâ€™d need for the jobs listed above? Are there any surprises I should be aware of?

Cant wait to say; â€œI did it myself!â€ :-D

BTW, when my wife found out labor was $75 per hr, at an estimated 4 or 5 hours, she happily agreed to let me spend $150 on tools... :wink:

Thanks!

Randy DTFR
Ride safe!

Tarmac · 09-23-2005, 01:07 PM

I HIGHLY recommend a 6 pack of adult beverages for when your done.

:-g

RandyDTFR · 09-23-2005, 01:36 PM

Our fridge is always stocked with Guinness for post ride celebrations. :-g

Very good advice though... :wink:

~Randy DTFR
Ride safe!

asphyx9 · 09-23-2005, 02:00 PM

I think a good set of metric tools is valuable. The Thrux has lots of "hard to get to" bolts and nuts, so deep sockets will be a good investment. Crows feet would be good as well.

Also, be prepared to "modify" tools to do certain things. I had to grind my 13mm wrench to fit into the area where the AI injectors are at. It looks ugly (and is ruined for any other purpose) but it works for the AI bolts.

Patience is also a big thing. Our bikes are easy to work on (very confidence inspiring construction!) - and patience is rewarded by a clean bolt/nut removal.

Get a good Torque wrench - I torque everything to specs on my Thrux. Get the type that clicks when your set torque is reached. You can use the ghetto style needle type, but I do believe that the click types are more accurate.

Good luck! My next mods for the winter are Airbox eliminator, billet manifolds, and FCR flatslides.

azvinny1971 · 09-23-2005, 02:57 PM

Asphyx9 I deal with calibrating the torque wrenches at my work. I have found that the click type wrenches are the least accurate. here is the order of accuracy that we have found with the different wrenches.
1. digital
2. dial
3. beam
4. clicker
We have all snap on wrenches. The uncertainty of the digital and dial are 1% clickers are up to 10% on our wrenches. I would hate to check one of those from Wal Mart. :hammer:

asphyx9 · 09-23-2005, 03:31 PM

Thanks for that info Vinny! So the beam ones are more accurate than the clickers. I am assuming the beam one is the needle type correct?

A digital torque wrench would be cool, I like the Snap-on ones that light up and vibrate once your torque is reached.

Don't mean to hi-jack the thread Vinny, but do you know a good place to get a digital one for a low price?

bluesjeans · 09-23-2005, 04:35 PM

Quote:

On 2005-09-23 12:57, azvinny1971 wrote:
Asphyx9 I deal with calibrating the torque wrenches at my work. I have found that the click type wrenches are the least accurate. here is the order of accuracy that we have found with the different wrenches.
1. digital
2. dial
3. beam
4. clicker
We have all snap on wrenches. The uncertainty of the digital and dial are 1% clickers are up to 10% on our wrenches. I would hate to check one of those from Wal Mart.

Having absolutely no experience with a digital torque wrench I thought I'd check them out online over at Snap-On..
Then I saw the price...........

HOLY *****..!!!!!! nearly $1,300..?!?!?!?!

If it's coming out of my pocket.. thanks but NO THANKS..!!!
I'll stick with a clicker..!!

fuzzdevil · 09-23-2005, 05:05 PM

make sure you have the right tools for the job, and if you are going to do your own carb work buy the stainless steel carb screws they are worth their weight in gold.

oh and one of those magnetic bowls are pure genius and a rolling tool/beer holder is super neat to have as well as a rolling stool to plant yer happy ass on.

lenswerks · 09-23-2005, 07:23 PM

Pick up a new drain plug washer when you get the filter. Always, strap the bike to the jack, making sure it will not tip in any direction. When you remove the airbox the weight of the bike is going to be shifting - Strap the bike down! Get some shop rags. When removing the jets make sure you have a screw driver that fits well as they are easy to damage. If you don't have one, STOP and go get one.

Sears sells digital TQ device you can use with a socket wrench for about 100$, For what you have listed you don't need one.

[ This message was edited by: lenswerks on 2005-09-23 17:29 ]

cafestyle · 09-24-2005, 08:30 AM

Randy you can do those jobs yourself. Secret is to just take your time and apply common sense.
If you don't have a spanner, screwdriver or allen key that fits just right - then stop and buy one that does! Tools will last a lifetime if you use them as designed.
There will be no torque specs for the jobs you are doing, except maybe drain plug tension.
A good torque wrench is indeed an invaluable tool......but 10% difference means fuc* all!