Tools needed to work on my Rebel

**dabney** · 07-25-2010, 09:32 AM

this is your greenest greenhorn talking here...i got the manual in the mail yesterday & only a LITTLE intimidated..HA! right away i see i am deficient in tools. where do i get them? what are some good names? hubby says Craftsman/sears is a GOOD line. i was hoping to check / clean the oil filter when i change the oil today but may not be able to.
I'm still hoping to find someone in my area to 'mentor' me...
any tips are appreciated!
dabney

**Blueberry** · 07-25-2010, 11:10 AM

All of my tools are Craftsman. Sears has good sales on tool kits that will handle about 90% of what you need to do. I started with a basic kit over 30 years ago and have added on over the years. One of the good things is Sears will replace a tool free if it ever breaks if its a craftsman. I'm no super repair person but with a manual and tools I have been able to do most repairs needed. I'm sure you will be able to do the same. Good luck and please keep us posted.

**twitch** · 07-25-2010, 11:19 AM

I have many Craftsman tools and am very pleased with them. Before I got a Rebel, I had no mechanical experience at all. After seeing what kind of prices I could expect to pay to have the stealerships work on my bike, I took a maintenance and repair class (offered on the side by a MSF instructor). The most important thing I learned in that class is what a relatively simple machine the Rebel is and that I did not need to be afraid to try to work on it.

I got one of the manuals and a metric/ASE socket set--the two most important tools you can have for this bike. They will cover 90% of everything you need to do. If I can work on my Rebel, so you can you. Good luck.

**dabney** · 07-25-2010, 12:12 PM

Many thanks! I will look for a class in my area. (I took the riding class but that was 1000 miles from here.) Today I'm happy to just get the oil changed.

**Guba** · 07-25-2010, 12:25 PM

The good news is that you don't need a lot of tools for the Reb. However, it might be cheeper to buy a whole wrench set for example.

Here's pretty much a basic list for most everything, unless your doing a complete engine tear down.
-8mm
-10mm
-12mm
-14mm
-17mm
-22mm, these can be either wrenches or or sockets. But keep in mind that sockets won't always fit into an area that a wrench will.

-Philips
-flat blade screwdrivers

-6mm
-8mm hex key wrenches (allen wrenches)

The '07 Rebel doesn't have an oil filter, it has an oil screen which is very course. In my opinion, unless your having serious issues with lubrication (in which case it would be cheeper to buy a new bike), you might actually be doing more harm than good checking that thing as Honda recommends. It's too easy to get dirt and debris inside the engine case. JMHO

**dabney** · 07-25-2010, 12:43 PM

that's not so many tools! I bet we already have them all - yeah.
And that was real good news on the screen !!!!
thanks Guba

**PhilipJ** · 07-25-2010, 01:48 PM

... I do think it's important to have a couple of torque wrenches ... one for the oil drain torque and other low-torque applications like fasteners, another for the rear axle bolts ... the first you'll be doing quite frequently, and don't want to strip the threads, the second you'll be doing when you need to tighten the chain and want to make sure are tightened correctly for safety (not much chance of stripping threads on such large bolts) ... look in your manual for the two torque ranges and Google "torque wrenches" ... the first one (small torque) is the type that clicks when you reach the set torque ... the second (large torque), for me, is the type where you have two rods in parallel, one you apply the torque to (it has a dial mounted on the end), the other one remaining untorqued but lined up with the dial, indicating by flexing of the torqued one how much torque is applied (sorry to be long-winded) ...

**dabney** · 07-25-2010, 01:54 PM

nope, that's good too, Philip...i do need to start at the beginning & learn it all...can't get 'too' basic for me.

**flitecontrol** · 07-25-2010, 03:21 PM

I've had both kinds of torque wrenches because I didn't have a lot of $ in high school. The deflecting bar type is a little cheaper than a micrometer "click" torque wrench, but not nearly as accurate. You can (or could) get a relatively good one for around $25 that may last a lifetime. Follow the directions for usage/storage and it will last a very long time.

**PhilipJ** · 07-25-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flitecontrol

I've had both kinds of torque wrenches because I didn't have a lot of $ in high school. The deflecting bar type is a little cheaper than a micrometer "click" torque wrench, but not nearly as accurate. You can (or could) get a relatively good one for around $25 that may last a lifetime. Follow the directions for usage/storage and it will last a very long time.

Flitecontrol, I love how you convey in a few words ("deflecting bar type") what I struggled to do in about a paragraph!

Our Communities

Automotive Communities

RV & Travel Trailer Communities

Marine Communities

Honda Rebel News Delivered to your Email!