Tools

[Fritzc]

After attending my first tech session, it has come to my attention that I need some tools. I did go out and buy a B&D cordless electric screwdriversand a set of drivers in order to ease the pain of removing all those 3 mm fairing bolts but realize I need a sparkplug wire remover thingy and sparkplug wrench. It appears the average toolbox sparkplug wrench will not reach into the deep cavity. Also I noticed a lot of fellows had feeler gauges that were yellow and white, color coded for intake and exhaust, evidently. I'm sure I could buy at the dealer for a premium but does anyone have cheaper alternatives? Thanks in advance.
BTW I have a 2001 1100 cc Police Oilhead.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Bob's BMW has the feeler gauges for your bike. That's where I found them anyway. Happy wrenchin' :wave

[bluwing]

The feeler gauges are Wurth available at A&S or Bobs or http://www.adventurersworkshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Tool_and_Gadgets_Feeler_Gauges.
Kobalt makes a thin walled spark plug socket that you can put a torque wrench on and you can get it at Lowes.
The plug wire puller should be in your stock kit.

[dixieoutlaw]

Your standard tool kit should have had the sparkplug wrench and plug wire removal thingy with it. Apparently someone has lost them along the way. You may have to get them from a dealer as I don't think a standard plug socket will fit into the cavity around the plug. As for other tools there are certainly better choices than the dealer. Pick up a feeler guage from any auto parts store. recommend a set of metric T-handle hex wrenches from either Home Depot or a Craftsman set (constantly handy). I carry a bank of 3/8 drive hex wrenches with me ranging from 4mm to 10mm. and use a short handle flex head wratchet. A nice set of pliers, small multimeter, standard and phillips screwdrivers, and a small adjustable wrench sure come in handy in the garage and on the road. Even if you don't know how to use them someone else may. Look around you bike and see what tools are required to remove items you can work on yourself, ie. valve covers, brake calipers, wheel lugs, front axle, oil plug, oil filter wrench, transmission and rear drive fluid plugs, mirrors. Then go buy some quality tools to fit these items and a Haynes manual. Get someone to show use some basic wrenching on your oil head and save yourself some money and feel comfortable doing it again on the road in the event you have to.

Good wrenching,
Gary