CX500 GL500 650 Global

As a longtime tinkerer/bodger/shadetree mechanic, I've found a few inexpensive things that you might not necessarily think of as tools that can make life a lot easier around the shop.

1. Wire hangers. If you know somebody who gets their clothing dry-cleaned, they're free. They're malleable but strong, making them very useful for fishing wires through holes, copying contours from one surface to another, and using as prototype brackets (or, for us rat-bike guys, permanent brackets). You can also use them to hang parts off of racks (or trees) for easier painting

2. Dental picks. Usually found at flea-markets, they hold a very fine point, making them useful for pulling up O-rings, scraping crud out of small or awkward spaces, retrieving parts out of small or awkward spaces, etc. Just be warned- they can be very sharp, and they are also brittle, making them very easy to snap when trying to pry things.

3. Turkey baster. Generally available at dollar stores in the U.S., they're a great way to empty out master cylinders, remove excess oil from forks to fine-tune the level, and get oil into CX/GL cylinders without having it drain out the hole at the bottom of the spark plug tube.

4. Jumper wires. If you do any kind of electrical troubleshooting, you'll want to take the time to add a small alligator clip to each end of a meter or so of flexible 12- or 14-gauge wire. While you're at it, do two- one red (preferably with a 10-amp fuse in-line), one black. In particular, these make it easy to make temporary connections directly to the battery to bypass suspect switches and connectors and test replacement parts.

5. A few scraps of wood. A bit of 4x4 treated fencepost is very strong, and a couple scrap pieces, 6" to 12" in length, can often be just what you need to prop up an engine, block a tire, or support something you're pounding on. My jack of choice while stripping the Transverse Twin Armada out in the yard.

6. A box of toothpicks. Good for unclogging spray can nozzles, getting bolt holes lined up, removing goop from softer surfaces (aluminum, etc) that steel tools would tear up, getting wires routed into tight spots (inside handlebar switches, for example), removing bugs from teeth.

Weekend's a' comin', so get those tools ready...

...dave

Excellent.Thanks for posting

And don't forget old toothbrushes!

If I had to pick my most used tools (other than wrenches), the first would have to be a 8" curved hemostat. Great for everything from pulling and installing vacumm hoses, retrieving nuts, etc that have fallen, unsnapping electrical connectors, clamping onto connectors for testing, and lots of other things. Dental picks and a angled small razor knife are used for cleaning, scrapping, and cutting tape, etc. Another item is a butane micro torch. I got mine from Harbor Freight for $5.00. I has a pizzo starter and a large butane supply. I use it to do most soldering, and heat up small areas for soaking with PB Blaster before trying to remove screws. Another is a small needle nosed and regular type Vise Grip with the blue cushion grips. I use mine for breaking loose float bowl screws, clamping items for soldering, starting the screws in the inside cutoff valve, just never use them on a hex nut or bolt. You will probably round the corners. And I have yet to find ANY locking pliers that are remotely as good as Vise Grip. Spend a couple of bucks more and get the best. Another handy item is a flashlite on a flexible tube. Mine is only maybe 3/16 thick at the bulb and probably 12" long shaft. I don't think I would have gotten the tach cable and locking screw back in last week without it.

So now just hand this post to your wife or girlfriend and her Christmas shopping is partially done, and she probably won't spend over $30.00 for everything.