Service Manuals/Tools

[Shortlegs]

I just picked up my Honda Sevice Manual, Almost had to take out a loan to pay for it $182.05 Can List, They gave it to me for $!50.00 since I had just purchased the bike from them.
Now I'm wondering if there are any Honda Techs online that can recommend the must have Service tools, before I start re-mortgaging my house to buy them.
Bike is a Honda 750 VT Shadow /05
Thanks.

[cowboy]

IM not a honda tech but all you really need is a torque wrench ,socket set,wrench,screw driver set,alen wrenches,and a bottle of rum and something to mix it with.

[Machinehead]

Helm inc is where most get new service manuals and most are priced at $60.

If you plan on wrenching it yourself the most used tool in the shop is a lift....many buy the lift from Sam's.

Other than that buy or rent "special" tools as you see fit....some "special/specific" tools you may never use, some you may be able to borrow, but I wouldn't rush out and get every one listed in the manual.

WELCOME ABOARD

[Cactus Jack]

I agree. A lift is an absolute must. You'll find out what tools you need as you start reading the service manual. Do as much stuff as you can at home. Unless you find a really good mechanic that you trust, you'll be better off doing the small stuff yourself. And, there are plenty of good mechanics here on this forum that can give you advice if you get scared.
Good Luck

[Shortlegs]

Thanks for the tips, Movin the boat out of the shop and shopping for a a lift.

I've got all the hand tools I will ever need, its more the bike specific ones I'm thinking about.

I'm a Marine Mechanic by trade, and it seems that every different engine manufactur has its own tools for gearcase work bearing pullers etc etc, Just wondering if its the same for bikes.

Thanks again for the replys

[cryin'wolf]

If you ever need to take your flywheel off thread a 22mm bolt down the center of it, and it will come right off. It's a lot cheaper than the Honda puller. :happy:

[JetDoctor]

I use blocks of wood instead of a lift. I am sure a lift is way nicer, but blocks work if you are on a budget. A set of metric sockets and wrenches and a decent torque wrench should do you.

[RAZOR]

the best tool i use is a 2 pound hammer....:happy:

[redline]

Harbor Freight has a lift for $59 and you dont have to be a member, but I dont know if they have a store in your area.

[anesthesia]

I found this site the other day, a DIY bike lift.

http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/bikelift.htm

[JetDoctor]

Good link. That can save peeps some money.

[Wild Coyote]

Bike lift is a must! Metric allen wrenches a must. A beer and woman in a thong a must. The woman polishing your knob while you wrench your bike is priceless!

[anesthesia]

Just made the DIY bike lift and tried it out, works pretty nice.

Home Depot didn't have any 4'x8' material, so I used a 2"x10" and cut it down to 2 sections, 4'x8 1/2" and fastened them together with plenty of glue and screws.

The pipe was a bitch to get thru the 1" hole, not sure if my spade bit is a little undersized or the pipe was a little oversized. Took me about 30 minutes using a pipe wrench to screw it thru the hole.

Also, I would recommend getting some high quality lag bolts. I sheared 2 of them off screwing them into the wood. Boring bigger pilot holes may have helped, plus the wood I used is old and VERY hard.

Took a couple of tries to find the right spot to lift the bike. If it was just a little too far forward, the bike kept rocking onto the back tire, too far back it would want to sit on the front tire.

I also put the eye screws on to be able to fasten tie downs to the bike. They really do give that extra support needed. One tip there (it's obvious to me in hindsight) undo the ties BEFORE letting the bike down. The bike was left sort of suspended and the lift was sitting at an angle. Kind of scared me to try to support the bike with one hand and lossen the tie with the other, no casaulties, though.

One other thing I did was take an old rug and fasten to the side that the bike sits on, just to avoid any scratching.

If you want a cheap lift, I highly recommend it.

[Wild Coyote]

Holy shit that's a lot of work. Farm and fleet here in Illinois has a nice Hydrolic lift for $60.

[anesthesia]

I thought it was pretty easy, except for threading the pipe thru the wood, which wasn't that hard, just took a little time. Cost me right around $20 including buying the 1 3/8" spade bit and the tie down. Already had the wood and screws .

All in all, probably took me a little under an hour.

[Shortlegs]

Lots of great help here and I appreciate the tips, cant find the second part of Wild Coyotes suggestions though, dont let my wife in my garage & would rather spend my money on Bling then a rent a wench..

[RustyJake]

Lots of great help here and I appreciate the tips, cant find the second part of Wild Coyotes suggestions though, dont let my wife in my garage & would rather spend my money on Bling then a rent a wench..
Holy crap, nice to see you again Shortlegs. Hope the holiday season treated you well. SSDD up here. Met a few from SCRC on their polar bear ride today. Hard to call it that at +9 celcius, and no, I was in the cage.

[Spider]

The dealer has the most expensive parts/etc
If your into savin money there are lots of aftermarket companys that you can buy from. Even e-bay, for instance? the new Factory Service Manual I bougtht for my bike ? ( I almost hate to tell ya and wish I could of before you paid the $150.00 for yours) was $30.00 plus $7.00 shiping.
You have a 2005 right ? unless it's got lots of miles on it , you probably won't need any special tools for a long time. Well ok, maybe an oil filter wrench.