I admire you guys who work on your bikes, My technical knowledge would see me break the workings parts of a mop. There is nowhere in my side of the country who teaches motorcycle maintenance, so it's the dealer or nothing....unfortunately
Smiler,
Buy a shop manual, a parts manual (both specific to your model) and read through it. Even if you don't ever pick up a wrench, it helps to understand what you're paying other people to do. You might however realize that you can do some things and as you do those things you gain the courage and confidence to do other things and one thing leads to the next. I learned like a lot of Americans. I bought my first motorcycle at 13 and by the time I was 16 I had completely disassembled it and put it back together a couple times. I lived in Maine and we didn't ride much for 4 months a year. So while I realize now that it was the the ignorance and arrogance of youth that enabled me to tear down an fairly expensive piece of machinery with no clue what I was doing, I also realize that the experience was invaluable. Nowadays, as I purchase a new motorcycle I gradually wean it from the clutches of the dealer. I don't know why I spend $2K(USD) to buy an ESP, but that's another story line.
Anyway, you've got the manuals, you've read them, you've talked with your mates at the pub, and you've watched the mechanics at your local shop do some work so now you're thinking of starting in. The first thing is quality tools. People preach quality tools. I do too, but I didn't start with a $5,000 tool box full of top shelf tools. I started with basic sets purchased at the local NAPA and places like that. Off brand stuff that works well if you're not a professional. Piece of advice. Instead of buying box wrenches, buy a set that one end is a box and the other is a ratchet. Those are the best damn tool out there.
So buy a set of those in sizes from 5/16" through 3/4" and then a couple of regular box wrenches the size of your axle nuts. ( I should know what they are off the top of my head, but I don't) Anyway, a 3/8" drive ratchet set in the same sizes as the wrenches. A 3" extension, a 6" extension and a 12" extension and a universal. A set of allen and torx bit sockets. The torx bits will be 1/4" drive, so you'll need a 1/4" ratchet. Two sets of screwdrivers, 1 standard blade and 1 Phillips. You'll want some pliers, bites, needle nose and lineman's as well as a small and large pair of Vise Grip locking pliers. And lastly, a lift. Don't know about GB, but around here you can pick up a respectable lift for $70(USD) from NAPA or one of the other Auto parts suppliers. There's a lot more things you'll aquire as you go along, but I think I've got you started
B B
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Topic: I'm done with San Diego H-D (Read 6984 times)