Tools for China Bike Mods and fixs

[China Rider 27]

When you get into these bike mods you often can find a process to do the mod but not always does it show you the tools necessary or suggest how to use the tools. Several times it took some hunting on the forum to find the right tool for the job and how to use them. A place for tool information should make it easier to find the tool you need and be especially helpful for those new to mechanics because the right tools to fix and mod these bikes is critical to making it the cost-effective China riding experience we all love.

Please post about your favorite tools, a picture, a description of the tool, where to get it, cost, any links, and most importantly a job you used it for and how it can be used.

[Wild Dog]

With these bikes you don't need a lot of tools to be honest.
A good tool set for these motorcycles from my point of view:
-15" Force wrench with a 1/2 socket

-1/4 ratchet wrench

-A 1/2 Drive torque Wrench.

- 6mm, 7mm, 8mm Allen Wrenchs

- A set of JIS screwdrivers the most important are the #2 and #3
You can also use phillips #2 #3 but if the screws are too tight you may damage them.

- 13mm Wrench for the rear wheel adjusment. Also 8mm and 10mm wrenchs

-Impact sockets from 6mm to 13mm for the 1/4 ratchet wrench (This is for the small bolts)

-14mm and 17mm extra long impact sockets for the 1/2 Force wrench, The 14mm so you can put the engine at tdc. 17mm is the size of the spark plug, it will help to take out the plug in seconds.

-19mm and 24mm impact sockets for the 1/2 wrench. The 19mm is for nuts on the wheels, the 24mm for the engine oil drain

-Feeler gauge and Valve adjusment tool, if you check Nzbrakelathes sells a kit on ebay that's fairly priced.


I thinks with those tools you are good to go.

Also try to avoid power tools, i know that they are cool and quite convenient, but it's also a nice way to mess up bolts, strip threads and over torque the bolts to the point they will snap.

[NzBrakelathes]

Carb air screw tool - don't forget that! maybe most important

[diyRdie]

Spoke wrench....

[China Rider 27]

What is a force wrench?

[China Rider 27]

Sometimes you need power tools. Past few days I gutted the cat in the Hawk stock exhaust and this little carbide cutting bit did a great job cutting the bubble weld out of the header pipe flange. Got it from Home depot pricey at $15. Also used the cut off wheels to make the cuts in the header pipe. You might find cheaper carbide cutters on Amazon. Link to idea.

http://www.chinariders.net/showthrea...hlight=muffler

[JerryHawk250]

Looks like Wild Dog pretty much got it covered. Other things that are good to carry with you are Zip ties, electrical tape, Tire spoons, patch kit, and a small bicycle pump. Whenever I do maintenance on my Hawk I use the tools I carry with me that way I know I have everything I need in case I break down on side the road. So far in three years I only had to reinstall my chain that came off because I got lazy and didn't take the time to remove the excess slack. It didn't take much slack to make it jump off.

[ikeus685]

A pix is worth 1,000 words. My kit here is for a BD125 Vader with 12" tubeless tires so punctures etc can be repaired with the contents of this smaller bag. That small black tubular roll is of course one of those cheap bike tool bags you get with most bikes. Not pictured but carried with the registration material is an extra master link.

[JerryHawk250]

Yes. You can't forget to carry an extra master link too.

[vwhobo]

Originally Posted by China Rider 27

What is a force wrench?

A force wrench is what some parts of the world call a breaker bar...

[China Rider 27]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Looks like Wild Dog pretty much got it covered. Other things that are good to carry with you are Zip ties, electrical tape, Tire spoons, patch kit, and a small bicycle pump. Whenever I do maintenance on my Hawk I use the tools I carry with me that way I know I have everything I need in case I break down on side the road. So far in three years I only had to reinstall my chain that came off because I got lazy and didn't take the time to remove the excess slack. It didn't take much slack to make it jump off.

Great idea use what you carry so you have what will work.

Pix of some tools used for bike assembly and maintenance. Starting on bottom left clock wise one off the WEN with cable drive, hook wrench, spoke wrench, chain breaker, tap and die set, chain cleaning brush, tire spoons, tire rim protector, chain tension gauge, PZ30 idle screw star bit, JIS screwdriver I really like.

[China Rider 27]

Last year at this time I was working feverishly to assemble my new china bike and get going on mods. Tools immediately became an issue. While I am all in for saving money and we all know how the mods eat up a budget having good tools that work well make mechanics a pleasure. You guys buying those new bikes, I suggest budgeting a little for tools. I realized that, tools are just part of the mods! A pix of some tools old and some couple recent.

I did not know that JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screwdrivers existed until a couple of months ago. All I use if I have a choice now. First tool I pick up and the last one I put down (ie bike plastics). You can find some 1/4 inch JIS bits for a driver on amazon.

1/4 inch driver is the second most used tool. About $6 bucks on Amazon. Constant use with 8mm and 10mm small bolts.

You will save money if you buy the Industrial size loctite at around $15 and it is easier to use.

[Megadan]

Just a personal opinion, but you do not need impact grade sockets to use on a torque wrench for these bikes. None of the torque specs are anywhere high enough to warrant that heavy of a duty socket. Just good quality wrenches and sockets will do fine, and a 1/2" drive torque wrench isn't even needed. In fact, the ONLY time I have ever needed to use my 1/2" drive was for the main nut on the clutch for my GL1000 and my VFR (well past 100ft-lbs for both). Otherwise, most decent quality 3/8" drive torque wrenches will actually operate more accurately in the range that most of these fasteners need to be tightened to as most are only guaranteed accurate from 20 to 100% of their torque range. To put that into perspective, that means anything below 60ft-lbs on my 1/2 drive isn't guaranteed to be within the calibrated accuracy range. I would also suggest picking up a 1/4" drive inch-pound torque wrench for fasteners such as the triple clamp bolts and other small fasteners that tighten into aluminum. These often have torque ratings less than 120 inch lbs (less than 10 ft-lbs).

Another tool worth having one or two of is some hook spanner wrenches. Example: https://www.amazon.com/Wadoy-Adjusta...421995&sr=8-39

These are handy for the castle style nuts used on triple tree stems.

There are also sockets made for these style of fasteners that Honda, and thus Honda clones, use a lot on things like their clutch nuts. There are many tools that come with the two most common sizes all over Amazon and Ebay. Example. https://www.amazon.com/Bipolar-Clutc...2422187&sr=8-1

[OneLeggedRider]

Dammit Daniel-Son, I've told you you're too smart for your own good. Jerry, take him out to the shed and give him the standard 20 lashes.

While I agree with Jerry on testing your tool kit before trouble happens, there's alot to be said for a small butterfly impact. It will fit in cramped quarters and has a fair amount of torque. The same with RC cars, use the power tools to disassemble, but not to reassemble. I keep alot of power tools on hand, but I usually screw fasteners in by hand and then put a torque wrench on them.

[AJboughtamoto]

Originally Posted by China Rider 27

Great idea use what you carry so you have what will work.

Pix of some tools used for bike assembly and maintenance. Starting on bottom left clock wise one off the WEN with cable drive, hook wrench, spoke wrench, chain breaker, tap and die set, chain cleaning brush, tire spoons, tire rim protector, chain tension gauge, PZ30 idle screw star bit, JIS screwdriver I really like.

Hey I have that screwdriver! I love that thing, best screwdriver I've ever owned, Just wish it came with a case to keep the bits together.