what tools do you use for working on your ped?

Just wondering what tools you guys use for working on your ped...

In particular... with regard to the Minarelli engine, for locking & removing the variator & also for locking & removing the clutch bell.

I've seen my mechanic use a windy gun, but my compressor is rubbish & wont run a windy gun (will empty withion about 2 seconds flat)

I have seen several tools available on various ped tuning websites...

Just wondered if any of you guys have a preferance or experience of using any of these tools.

Cheers

 

I have a similar cordless impact wrench, I wanted a cordless so I could go to a breakers, and take off any parts I might need, to keep my week-end car on the road, year after year. At 380Nm handy for car crank bolts, when having the head off......... but for ped applications, many use those 12 volt impact wrenches that have two wires and crocodile clips, that connect to a battery, the bike or a car. Obviously not as professional, as a stand alone, but at around £25, much more affordable.

These wrenches need impact sockets, which are harder steel and have thicker walls, normal sockets given any real work, just rip open. Anyway these wrenches make light work of undoing the variator or clutch bell nut. On tightening the variator nut, I torque it up, using a variator locking tool as I never run a light-weight drive face, without any teeth. Pug cranks threads are very small and weak, in my experience, and even tightening to 40Nm can seem a risky business on and old crank.

There is another way of locking a crank, a piston stop, which is safe if used correctly, it screws into the spark plug hole and has a shaft, which comes into contact with the piston, thus locking the crank, the secret is to turn the crank round in the right direction needed, til it meets the stop, and then using a normal wrench to undo the variator nut. If you don't get every little bit of play out of the piston to piston stop, and the piston hits it, risk of damaging the piston. Would prefer not to use this tool, because I believe, as much as possible you should have the right tools for the right job.

An impact wrench really is essential for maintenance of a ped, and you should really have this covered, before you even think of spending out on tuning parts, boring but true.

 

Great response guys!

I have many tools I have amased over the years, including a full Halford Pro tool kit, plenty of impact sockets, torque wrench, etc.

I have a small compressor (25litres), but it's just a hobby thing & not suited to anything beyond pumping the tyres up I would say.

I've just ordered up a variator lock tool & also a clutch bell locking spanner, to help make light work of starting to strip the spare engine I have.

 

I have had a few compressors over the years, and can say that 25 litres is a good tank/pot size, apart from long bouts on a spray gun or sand blasting, that will tackle anything. I have had from 5 litres where the tank is built into the tubular carry handles, to 100 litre petrol.

there is three basic ratings for a compressor;

the cubic cms of air the pump can pump per minute, some air tools, like grinders, use a lot of air, nail guns as they only consume air as the nail fires, don't.

the tank size, for home use, 50 litres is luxury, 25 litres will tackle any job.

the motors Horse Power rating, generally on a domestic electric supply, 3 horse power is as high as you can go, after that it is a three phase industrial supply needed, or you buy a petrol/diesel powered one.

and if you think, tyre compressors have no tank at all, and still do the job. When you have a tank, you should allow the tank to fill, where the compressor cuts out, before you operate the tool. The moment you use air, the compressor will kick in again, maintaining tank pressure.

 

I have this mains powered clark electric impact gun;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Clarke-CEW1...ef=sr_1_1?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1323360664&sr=1-1

Would also recommend an impact screwdriver similar to the following in addtion to what these guys have said;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Expert-22322-12-Piece-Screwdriver/dp/B0001K9R8U

Great for getting damaged/corroded screws and bolts off!

 

the danger isn't just stripping the threads or even shearing off the end of the crank, it is removing the end float out of the crank, which then side loads the bearings, 200 miles later, they are shot.

 

I just ordered the same gun, but from eBay.

Cheers!

 

Definately.

I only use the gun for undoing stuff.

 

I bought the rac, impact wrench from tesco worked great on my pug run it off the battery

Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk

 

may not seem like a tool, but essential kit when you have electrical problems, also you can observe your battery condition and charging system, before they let you down.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-M..._Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item3f0dbccb24

does the job.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professio..._Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item4cfc059300

the one I own.

a shot regulator overcharging your battery, will cook it in no time at all, perodic checks with the tester, will save the battery and you buying another one that will only last a week, if that; before you realize some thing is wrong, and then you might think with out a tester, that it is under charging and suspect the stator.

handy addition, for hands free use;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alligator...492?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c5d097374

 

Just ordered this one, cheers

 

wd40

 

I've always found a set of T bar socekets very useful and ratchet spanners. Halfords ratchet spanners are great, nice smooth action and fine toothed so you dont have to rotate them far before hooking the next gear and a real fair price...just buy the common ones first and go from there. I started out with a few bought for me as birthday presents and have finished the set off over the years.
The T bars are OK up to about 14mm. i actually sold th 17 and 19 as they never got used......



Get a cheap car breaker bar and warm it up to be able to bend it closer to 90 degrees. They extend for extra leverage and have all sorts of applications, plus you can swap the sockets on the end for one of your choice

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/21-EXTENDABLE-17-19-mm-WHEEL-TELESCOPIC-VAN-TRUCK-LORRY-CAR-BRACE-SOCKET-WRENCH-/110747846477?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item19c916074d] wheel wrench[/url]

Dont forget the small magnet on a pole either for when you drop that small nut into the recess in the centre of the cases

Just a couple of tips, never go for the cheap allen keys...they'll chew up the heads and the keys will twist. They're a total waste of money. Get a half decent set from Machine Mart or Halfords. They might cost a little bit more but will last years and save loads of grief.

Get a cheap tool box and get organized. That way you'll know whats where and if anythings out of place you'll know its missing.
If you ever lend tools to mates, write it down somewhere, scrap paper dropped in toolbox or like i do...a tools out board on the garage door of whos got what (even if its my best mate!) The amount of times I've loaned stuff out and forgot where its gone or whos got it...you soon learn the hard way having to buy replacements!