Section : General

Essential Tools for your Triumph 

Posted By : James Carruthers, 29-Aug-2003, 11:59am

The topic of tools was bought up yesterday in chat...

Got me thinking... what are the most useful tools... my opinion is that the right tools make the job easier...


Top of my list are the following:


Proper ratchet spanner set (open ended on one end and ratchet on the other)
Standard spanner set
1/4 socket set (with push to release ratchet & wobble bars)
3/8 socket set (with push to release ratchet& wobble bars)
1/2 socket set (with push to release ratchet & wobble bars & breaker bar)
A good set of screwdrivers - ranging from very small to huge
Pliers - standard and long nosed
Feeler gauges
Hammer
Mole grips (standard and long nosed)


Axle stands
Wheel ramps (lazy axle stands ) )
Chocks of some sort...

Oil drain container thingy
Funnel



That's my lot for now...


James

• Essential Tools for your Triumph 

  Posted By : Michael Davis, 29-Aug-2003, 12:12pm

  A Jack would probably be a good thing to add to that lot :-)
  
  I guess it depends what you're after. Are these tools to carry in the car? or tools for general maintenance? or tools to keep in the garage just in case you need them one day?
  
  Offset ring key spanners are useful for getting at bolt heads in recessed areas. Not always easy to find in imperial sizes though.
  
  Mik

  • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

    Posted By : James Carruthers, 29-Aug-2003, 12:21pm

    Ooopps... yeah... a jack... good idea...
    
    Didn't say it was a complete list though... but that was a glaring ommision on my part...
    
    Im thinking a good set of tools to keep in the garage, and then you fit whatever you can in to a toolbag...
    
    
    
    
    James

• Essential Tools for your Triumph 

  Posted By : David Thompson, 29-Aug-2003, 01:53pm

  A few additions;
  
  Circlip pliers
  Puller
  Spring compressors
  Rear spring lifter
  Multi-meter
  brake adjuster spanner
  bleed nipple spanner
  grease/oil gun
  Torque wrench
  
  Then if you're getting really serious;
  
  Engine hoist
  Dial guage
  Micrometer
  Cam degreeing wheel
  Piston ring compressor
  Compression tester
  Adjustable timing light
  Carb synchrometer
  Stud extractor
  Impact screwdriver
  Welding kit
  Angle grinder
  Compressor
  
  
  The list just goes on and on!
  
  Dave
  

  • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

    Posted By : Michael Davis, 29-Aug-2003, 02:15pm

    Hacksaw - have we had that yet? Essential for removing bolts that have been soaking in water for the last 25 years.
    
    Mik

    • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

      Posted By : Michael Davis, 29-Aug-2003, 02:18pm

      A big can of degreasant too and one of those sprayers you can buy from garden centres and that you pump of to pressure before spraying everywhere.
      
      Brush deagreasant well into things and blast the muck off with water from the sprayer. It's amazing how well some things clean up once you get rid of 25 years accumulated road gunge :-)
      
      Mik

      • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

        Posted By : Adrian Lee, 29-Aug-2003, 03:29pm

        The most important thing in my garage is a fridge........................

        • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

          Posted By : Adrian Lee, 29-Aug-2003, 03:29pm

          Full of beer and lager....just what you need when everything is going wrong!!!!!!

          • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

            Posted By : Chris Wilson, 29-Aug-2003, 08:37pm

            Hmmm - although not an essential tool - perhaps a swear box too? I know if I used it everytime I did summat on the car and was diligent and honest in putting money in it, I'd be able to afford another spit by now (that would solve my racing car acquisition/funding!!)
            
            Regards
            
            Chris
            
            1975 1500

            • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

              Posted By : James Carruthers, 29-Aug-2003, 11:19pm

              The car is a reverse swear box! (bear with me on this...)
              
              You spend your money on parts, then you swear at it trying to fit them...
              
              Its the satisfaction of getting it done, thats the reward...
              
              
              
              James

              • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                Posted By : Graham Bingham, 31-Aug-2003, 12:26pm

                A large wallet full of cash & a particularly ugly wife so that spending time in the garage is preferable to the other option.

                • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                  Posted By : Don Cook, 31-Aug-2003, 06:10pm

                  I've always found that my son's mate, Scroaty, is always handy to have around!

                  • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                    Posted By : Adrian Lee, 31-Aug-2003, 07:19pm

                    Piece of sponge on the floor for when you drop a headlight........................bollox.Another tenner.

                  • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                    Posted By : Graham Reeks, 01-Sep-2003, 08:41am

                    Ok, Don, do we want to ask why he's called that? Or even why he's handy? Please, please say he's mechanics mate?
                    

                    • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                      Posted By : Helen Smith, 04-Sep-2003, 00:15am

                      Well i got the fridge and the beer, but what i need to find is a good set of imperial sockets/ratchet etc, not the ones with metric in the set aswell. Anyone point me in the right direction.... and don't say.. " Back to the kitchen sink !! " Thanks Helen

                      • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                        Posted By : John Davies, 04-Sep-2003, 09:03am

                        Helen,
                        Even Triumphs had metric in them! EG Late Girling calipers.
                        
                        But unless you eschew any cars after ?70s? you will need metric tools from time to time. A lot of Imperial tool sizes are a very near fit to metric nuts & bolts, and vice versa, eg 13mm & 1/2" but you risk rounded nuts and unrounded knuckles.
                        
                        John

                      • Essential Tools for your Triumph - suppliers 

                        Posted By : James Carruthers, 04-Sep-2003, 09:15am

                        Helen,
                        
                        
                        I still reckon my local Halfords still do imperial (AF)... I think...
                        
                        
                        Machine Mart, there must be one of these near you, they're all over the place (H - there is one right near you):
                        
                        http://www.machinemart.co.uk/
                        
                        
                        Weird name, decent prices, lots of choice...
                        
                        http://www.justoffbase-tools.co.uk/
                        
                        
                        
                        Another alternative...
                        
                        http://www.screwfix.com/
                        
                        
                        
                        And if you're a complete nutter about your tools, and/or have too much money!:
                        
                        http://www.snapon.com/UK/default.asp
                        
                        Drool drool drool...
                        
                        
                        
                        If you're buying a ratchet and socket set... make sure it has a wobble bar, a high number of teeth in the ratchet, and a push-button-release-thingy on the ratchet... when you have oily hands its a god send! Oh and don't underestimate the usefulness of "deep" sockets...
                        
                        You probably want 3/8 to start off with... 1/2 is a bit bulky to get to most stuff... and 1/4 will be too tiny... you might even be able to find a set with all three for about 50 quid... maybe...
                        
                        Oh - and spend money... you'll be using these tools for hours at a time... get some good ones... no point in being thrifty with your tools... :o)
                        
                        
                        
                        James

                        • Essential Tools for your Triumph - suppliers 

                          Posted By : Barry Huffer, 04-Sep-2003, 12:47pm

                          Halfords do stock AF including a 1 13/16" socket.
                          
                          I would add to James list a look at Sealey's web site
                          
                          www.sealey.co.uk
                          
                          They have a tool box promotion although most of them seem to be based on metric sockets.
                          
                          Also Draper
                          
                          www.draper.co.uk
                          
                          Get a decent tool box as well, James has a lovely little bag he might let you have but I would recommend a box like real mechanics use.
                          
                          Regards
                          
                          Barry
                          
                          1973 Spitfire ( Yellow, the only colour to have)

                          • Essential Tools for your Triumph - suppliers 

                            Posted By : Helen Smith, 06-Sep-2003, 07:50am

                            Thanks everyone for all your suggestions, certainly given me lots of other places to check.
                            If James has 5 sets !!!!! Sounds too many to me.... needs me to lighten the load of all that metal.

                      • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                        Posted By : Adrian Lee, 04-Sep-2003, 09:49am

                        Try this excellent site for good tools at cheaper prices
                        
                        
                        http://www.primetools.co.uk/system/index.html
                        
                        Wobble bars are ok for access but i don`t like them on stubborn stuff.

                        • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                          Posted By : James Carruthers, 04-Sep-2003, 10:07am

                          Wobble bars are dangerous as hell if you want to put any load on... scraped knuckles ouuuuccchhhh! Done that a few times for sure!
                          
                          They are essential for getting at Spit 1500 lower manifold nuts though :o)
                          
                          Hmmm... more tools... its alarming me that I may be about to purchase 2 more sets of spanners... then I'll have 5 sets in total! And I might even want a set of those weird angled ones too... :oS
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          James

                      • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                        Posted By : Martin Robinson, 04-Sep-2003, 10:52am

                        Has anyone used the Metrinch spanners/sockets, as seen in the Club catalogue? I was wondering if they're any good as they seem to say they do everything imperial and metric!
                        
                        Cheers,
                        Martin
                        
                        

                • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

                  Posted By : Graham Reeks, 01-Sep-2003, 08:40am

                  Sorry, I don't understand? Wife? Hmmm ... you can't replace those every weekend can you?

    • Essential Tools for your Triumph 

      Posted By : Graham Reeks, 30-Aug-2003, 01:55pm

      grinder's quicker! And more fun ...
      best add some eye safety equipment.
      Kettle
      Dehumidifier
      Radio