One of my earliest motorcycle DIY experiences was with a cam chain tensioner bolt on a 79 Honda CX500. I too thought I could get away without a torque wrench. This was when I learned how to take an engine out of a bike, open it up, drill out a snapped bolt, rethread a hole, and reassemble.

Buy a torque wrench and use it religiously!!!!!!!!!

 

this post brought a tear to my eye!


so true.

 

Without a doubt, an absolute must. I've had inch lb & ft lb wrench's for years. The proper torque is the spec that keeps bolts, etc., where they belong. Too much torque and the threads are stressed, too little, things fall out. Some applications (not all by any means) require loctite. Correct torque rules.

 

i'm a fan of the penetrating loctite myself, when ya forget it makes it soooooooo easy.

 

get the torque wrenches.....I actually have an older style beam type wrench that goes from 0-800 inch pounds... This is also incrimented in nm so I do not need the two wrenches. Not quite as accurate as the other style of wrench but very cost effective and with the ranges for the bolts torque specifications it is fine. (just torque to the middle of the range)

 

i think 1/2 the reason harleys get a bad rap re: **** falling off is due to diyers not using loctite!

and well, the other 1/2 is casue they vibrate like a bitch!

 

torque wrench and service manual together combine for hd holy grail if plan on doing any of your own work

 

Naaaaaa... dont listen to these guys they just like to spend other peoples money,"torquewrench" ha!One of these guys hereis a Snap-On tool salesman, what did you think he was gonna say? What you need is a really good set of "easy outs" and a really good "drill bit set" ....oh and a cheap box of Band aides for the knuckles, notthe brand name ones way over priced, they all fall off in the shower anyway .

Only funnin' ya. Yep... Inch and foot pounds, one of each 3/8 drive. I have Snap-On, but I like expensive tools and the calenders! For a starter,look at Sears Craftsman, get the clickable type...and remember this..... Always....reset them to the lowest setting when not in use so they dont take a "set" and never use them to just remove nuts and bolts. Last advice when the book says "10 to 14" inch or foot pounds, set the wrench between the little number and the bigger number . When your at Sears, get the really big tool box, the one that needs a step stool to see in the top, your gonna need it later anyway, hell you just filled up two drawers, one for the manual and one for the torque wrenches.

No you can't borrow mine.

 

You really need to get one or like everyone else said. you will be standing in your garage with that look on you face. Then it will turn into[:@] this realizing you have to fix what you just broke before the thing will be ridable again. you didn't lie to you wife you just thought that was all you needed. Well go down to the nearest Sears store and buy it already you will be much happier in the end!

 

I've never owned one, it's always been one of those things I've been meaning to buy and yes I have broke off and stripped allot of stuff over the years.