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I am updating and organizing my tool box. Outside of a standard set of sockets, screwdrivers, box wrenches; what do you think are must have tools? (This can include aforementioned tools is sizes not generally found in standard sets) Help me justify buying more stuff.

I believe the following are on the list, so I have bought......

Snail gauge

17mm male socket

Twist ties

Torque wrench

Timing light

Feeler gauge

Test light (2 clip)

Duct tape

 

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Wolfgang, the twist ties are for cleaning the idle jets. Add a spray can of carb cleaner. And some clean rags.

Chris, I have a 3/8 and a 1/4 ratchet along with a couple short extensions and a full set of 6 point sockets, 7-19. Also all open end sizes. Don't forget a deep 18mm for your plugs.

Extra set of spark plugs, pre-gapped.( I also keep a little round plug gauge in my bag)

Why do you need feeler gauges? Don't you have chromoly pushrods? Loose zero there, no feeler gauges needed. If you have electronic ignition, no points. If you have points, by all means, and a spare set with cap, rotor, and condenser. When you pull the dizzy, leave the clamp attached, that way your timing should be close enough until you get back home.

A spare fan belt and the box wrench for that.  

Definitely the trans plug socket.

A couple screwdrivers of each type, and a right angle screwdriver is a good idea.

Any tools that are very specific to your car: I keep a 9/16 socket for Pauter rocker studs, a 5/16 hex wrench for valve covers, and 1/8" hex-key and 11mm(7/16) to adjust valves.

I don't have the specifics of the pushrods, don't know how to adjust them (but on a list of things to try. I have 2 of pretty much everything. 

In my bag, I have:

Deep sockets to 21mm 3/8 with ratchet

Full screwdriver set

Box wrenches, mainly metric but a few standard that fit my car in random places

Full set of 1/4 sockets and rachet

Random 3/8 socket

Needle nose and standard pliars

Mirror

Magnet stick

Stethoscope

Vice grips

Adjustable wrench

Allen wrench set

1/2 ratchet with a few sockets

Test light

Blue tape

Zip ties

Fan belt

Springs 

Gloves

A rag

Hose clamps 

 

 

Carlos G posted:

 

...A means to pump air...

 

Times two.

One of the last things I thought about for my on-the-road kit.

Yeah, you can carry a spare, and a jack, and tire chocks - all of which I do.

But.

Most of the time, you've picked up a nail and have a slow leak, which you only notice when the tire is too low to drive on. You could hassle out putting on the spare, but, well, hassle.

If you could just make it home, or to a more convenient spot to do the wheel change, or to a tire shop that could do a proper repair, life would be good.

If you ride a bike, you know about these:

MorphPump

I like the Topeak Morph, but there are a bunch like it. This takes up no space and has a few cute tricks. A real handle, A little foot peg. An inline gauge. An extendable hose that will actually reach the valve. No wires to hook up. No expendables to replace. Simple. Neat.

Yeah, you will be pumping a lot to pressure up a car tire, but how often will you need to do this?

Besides, cheap insurance. If you have it with you, you'll never need it.

 

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  • MorphPump

 

Full disclosure:

I don't have a compressor in the garage, so have always used a bicycle floor pump to top up my tires. (Floor pumps are way easier to use than the little portable bike pumps.)

This works fine if you just have to add 5-10 pounds of pressure - which is probably all you'd need to limp home if you have a nail in the tire and it's seeping slowly. Remember, I carry a spare tire and jack in the Speedster if there's a serious tire problem.

I've always used the Topeak Morph as my frame-mount take-with-you bike pump. It works great on the road for bike tires. I had an extra one, so threw it in the Speedster frunk, figuring what the hey - better than nothing.

So last night, after posting here, I went out to the garage and tried using the mini pump to top up a Speedster tire and... well, not so much fun.

The 12V pump is more bulk than I want to add to my frunk (especially since I'd be using it maybe once every five years), so now I'm looking for another solution. I see that Lezyne has a higher volume 'floor-style' compact pump that I may check out.

Stay tuned.

 

 

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