What tools for working at Harleys?

What non motorbike related things are you doing, making, building, planning or designing
Bigjawa
Posts: 1930
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:54 pm
Location: Ballymena Co. Antrim
Has thanked: 221 times
Been thanked: 878 times

What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Bigjawa »

Eldest has managed to blow up his GPz550, which is impressive as even I have never managed to blow up a kwak 550. Anyway, for reasons best known to himself, he's went and bought a bloody Harley and as usual, muggins here will have to fix the bloody thing.

Being as it's a Yank, what spanners, sockets, Allen keys and stuff do I need to buy as I assume the usual agri spec hammers and molegrips won't work.
"Does this bus go to the Titanic?"

"No missus, It's a submarine you need....."
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12167
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9825 times
Been thanked: 10144 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Skub »

'Tis all imperial gear you'll need. Muricans don't do that metric thing.

Get good quality,they may be well used. :lol:
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14197
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7526 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by KungFooBob »

Mole grips and a big hammer... same as any other bike.

If it's got tubed tyres you'll need flat head screwdrivers too.
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12167
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9825 times
Been thanked: 10144 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Skub »

KungFooBob wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:22 pm Mole grips and a big hammer...
That's just for the tappets,though.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14197
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7526 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by KungFooBob »

Skub wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:24 pm
KungFooBob wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:22 pm Mole grips and a big hammer...
That's just for the tappets,though.
Do they have adjustable threaded pushrods?

You might need two pairs of molegrips.
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12167
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9825 times
Been thanked: 10144 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Skub »

KungFooBob wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:27 pm
Skub wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:24 pm
KungFooBob wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:22 pm Mole grips and a big hammer...
That's just for the tappets,though.
Do they have adjustable threaded pushrods?

You might need two pairs of molegrips.
Not metric molegrips now,they need to be imperial to work properly.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
User avatar
Horse
Posts: 11549
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:30 am
Location: Always sunny southern England
Has thanked: 6187 times
Been thanked: 5087 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Horse »

Hammer is already covered, so broom and shovel for bits that fall off?
Even bland can be a type of character :wave:
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14197
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7526 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by KungFooBob »

You'll need to buy oil in qrts rather than litres, whatever qrts are?
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 12167
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9825 times
Been thanked: 10144 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Skub »

And petrol only works if it's in gallons,Harley tanks don't recognise litres.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
User avatar
KungFooBob
Posts: 14197
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:04 pm
Location: The content of this post is not AI generated.
Has thanked: 539 times
Been thanked: 7526 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by KungFooBob »

Skub wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:38 pm And petrol only works if it's in gallons,Harley tanks don't recognise litres.
...and don't get Imperial gallons confused with US gallons, or you'll need the AA to come drain the tank like when you fill up with diesel instead of petrol.
User avatar
ogri
Posts: 463
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:11 pm
Location: Wymering
Has thanked: 1036 times
Been thanked: 224 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by ogri »

If it is a newish one, will probably have hydraulic valves, no adjustment req.
Keep a spare drive belt handy, apparently some go often, others last forever.
Ignorance is bliss
User avatar
MrLongbeard
Posts: 4585
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 2:06 pm
Has thanked: 599 times
Been thanked: 2435 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by MrLongbeard »

Mine is mix of metric and standard with a few torx thrown in too, but then it's fairly new.
This comes in handy
Nidge
Posts: 537
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:41 am
Location: Oxfordshire
Has thanked: 705 times
Been thanked: 701 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Nidge »

Depends on the age. Mine is a 1985 and all bolts are A/F, which is fine for me as I have a pretty comprehensive collection for my T140, but Harley often have some large (and weird sized) fittings- the rear wheel spindle nut is an annoying 1 and 1/8 inch (and the silencer means you’ll have to use a spanner rather than socket) and if you need to take off any of the primary drive components (clutch nut, compensator socket) you’ll be needing some big sockets 1 1/2 inch iirc
User avatar
Rockburner
Posts: 4375
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 11:06 am
Location: Hiding in your blind spot
Has thanked: 7814 times
Been thanked: 2527 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Rockburner »

Nice strong anchor chain?
non quod, sed quomodo
cheb
Posts: 4905
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:51 am
Been thanked: 2616 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by cheb »

Assuming it has fuel, I'd suggest a box of matches.
Nidge
Posts: 537
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:41 am
Location: Oxfordshire
Has thanked: 705 times
Been thanked: 701 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Nidge »

cheb wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 1:09 pm Assuming it has fuel, I'd suggest a box of matches.
:x Yank Bikes Matter!
cheb
Posts: 4905
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:51 am
Been thanked: 2616 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by cheb »

What grates with me for Harleys is that every non motorcyclist thinks every motorcyclist wants one. To me they are overly heavy, underpowered and have a really ugly engine. That, and the vast bulk of them have 2 strokes too many.

TBF though some of the above can be similarly applied to any lifestyle product, Apple and VWs come to mind.
Bigjawa
Posts: 1930
Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:54 pm
Location: Ballymena Co. Antrim
Has thanked: 221 times
Been thanked: 878 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Bigjawa »

Well lads, it's a bit of a moot point as it lasted 3 days before the electronics fucked up, currently in the dealership whilst they try to get their paws on the diagnostic stuff. :roll: :roll:
"Does this bus go to the Titanic?"

"No missus, It's a submarine you need....."
User avatar
MrLongbeard
Posts: 4585
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2020 2:06 pm
Has thanked: 599 times
Been thanked: 2435 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by MrLongbeard »

Better a diamond with a flaw, than a pebble without.
Lutin
Posts: 648
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:52 pm
Location: Just across the border in the Republic
Has thanked: 257 times
Been thanked: 331 times

Re: What tools for working at Harleys?

Post by Lutin »

Nidge wrote: Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:54 am
cheb wrote: Sun Jun 28, 2020 1:09 pm Assuming it has fuel, I'd suggest a box of matches.
:x Yank Bikes Matter!
Where's the "unlike"button when you need it? ;)
Blundering about trying not to make too much of a hash of things.