What tool is critical in the tool bag

Just this morning. Opened up the tool bag for the first time. There was only one phillips screw driver inside the bag. I bet the previous owner did not even realize that. I did not check that either.

So, I am going to put some small tools in the bag. Over the years, I have a lot of tools scatter around the garage. May not need to purchase the OEM set.

Here is my question to the Swing guru: What are the must have tools in the bag?

Two most common ones I can see are plug wench and shock adjuster. Because they are unique for the model. Where is the cheapest place to get them? Thanks.

I was told sometimes back that riders only need 2 things on the road. Wd-40 on things that suppose to move but not moving; and the duck tape for those things that not suppose to move and moving.
Well, that maybe practical, but really like to have some small tools around other than these 2 for the peace of mind. Thank you.

Link to a must-have tool. Tire Inflator

I think the best tool you should take along anywhere you go and the first tool out of your tool bag is knowledge of your scooter and knowing how to use your tools correctly.

DennisB

I like to have some of all of the above - I'm no professional mechanic by any means, and I am still able to do most of the maintenance on my swing. For traveling, or just all the time, I always do carry duct tape, tire plugs and CO2 for inflating, no WD40 though.

Between having some knowledge and these things, I guess I can hope nothing major happens, or if it does, here's the other "BEST TOOL" to carry:

some kind of road/towing service membership. I use AAA, and have in fact used it twice on broken down scoots.

Pliers, allen keys, adjustable wrench (small), cable-ties, tape, puncture repair kit with gas cartridge, torch (flashlight), Swiss Army knife, spare fuses, bulbs (legal requirement here), biscuits, bottle of water, AA card for the UK.

Breakdown recovery card in wallet and mobile phone to call them out if I require their services.

With my previous ride, 400 Burgman I did carry a spare headlight lamp as they blew for a hobby. No doubt I will adapt to the wing after learning its habits.

Silverwing's bad habits:

Addictive to ride, and upgrade.

Also if you don't latch the seat, the light inside that goes on when you open it, will drain the battery.
http://silverwing.org/cgi-bin/topic_show.pl?tid=727

A tire plug kit and a small bicycle pump are worth carrying as well as a tire gauge. I prefer a small bike pump over the CO2 inflator because it will always work though it takes a bit more effort. A Leatherman tool will take care of most small things and a small set of Allen wrenches would be useful. I also carry a pair of rubber gloves in case I have to effect a tire repair or other dirty job. That way you don't get all the dirt and grease on everything when you finish.

I too carry a roadside assistance card (from Gieco). Also, a small flashlight might come handy. In addition to a cell phone a small "pigtail" with a fuse and a 12V plug on the other end to connect directly to a battery (unless of course you have an aux. plug wired in). Thanks.

A habit I picked up from my Dad was to be prepared for anything. As a master carpenter he carried enough tools to build a small community, enough rope to rig a small to medium sailing vessel and more engineering knowledge in his head to tackle any job! I have scaled all of that back to a 3/8" metric socket set, metric hex sockets, plug wrench w/6" ext and uni, medium and small adjustable wrench, phillips #2, wire strippers, e-tape fuses, small flashlight, plug gap tool, small needle nose and one of those telecopic magnetic screw retrivers to retrieve those screws that fall into those unforsken places (you know those places ) this all fits in a small bag (10x2x4 inches and weighs less than 5 lbs) I also have on board the complete SW tool bag and tire gauge. I also carry a tire plug kit with inflator capsules. I maintain my scoot and check things before I ride so the chance that I will need any of this is slim to none. I just brings peace of mind knowing I can repair just about anything I need to. At the very least I can offer roadside assistance to some one broke down. Some carry a credit card and a cell phone, go figure!

Waspie wrote:

Breakdown recovery card in wallet and mobile phone to call them out if I require their services.

With my previous ride, 400 Burgman I did carry a spare headlight lamp as they blew for a hobby. No doubt I will adapt to the wing after learning its habits.

dspevack wrote:

Silverwing's bad habits:

Addictive to ride, and upgrade.

Also if you don't latch the seat, the light inside that goes on when you open it, will drain the battery.
http://silverwing.org/cgi-bin/topic_show.pl?tid=727

I second that...the light is the only real bad habit, and that one is solved easily. The other ones are just expensive, in time and money. But life is short!

By the way, my husband gave me one of the battery powered lights that you push to light, b/c I leave for work in the dark alot.

I'm a coward and a retired jet engine technician. Fearing not having needed tools during a possible breakdown in the proverbial "middle of nowhere" resulted in my having a full tool box or bag always handy in my vehicles. This unbroken habit started at the tender age of 18, being newly married, in the service, and living 1500 miles from home(this was in '63, before 'all' the new interstate highways).

Have I made good use of them? Well... Hardly ever(only used a tire repair kit once under an emergency condition; plus used my own tools to change out a bad 'generator' at a Missouri service station on another occasion). But it was a comfort to know they were there if needed. The SWing is no exception. I have to agree with 'masscoot'; even if I don't use them, maybe I'll be able to help someone else one of these days.

And yes, I have AAA coverage too which has been very helpful on occasion. "My" kit consists of a basic socket set, 'most-used' wrenches, hex key set, requisite pliers/screwdrivers, flashlight, and tire repair kit(need to add small compressor).

The thing with carrying tools in a scooter is space and weight. Some folks believe in carrying spare parts, of course that guarantees it will be something else that breaks. When touring on a motorcycle or scooter space and weight is a major consideration.
I'm leaving on my GW Saturday for a Steve Saunders get together in Montrose, CO. Not that the 1200 miles over there is a particularly long ride, but all I carry is the OEM tool kit (which is a lot better than the SW's kit), a small vise grip, a Leatherman Wave, tire plugs, auxilary hose, and a tire gauge. The auxilary hose is because the GW has a built in air compressor for the suspension that can also be used to air up the tires.
For non tool items on any road trip there's the toilet paper in it's waterproof bag and a roll of paper towels packed away sans the cardboard core. Rain gear, waterproof gloves and boots, Tourmaster cold weather coat along with my leather jacket, and my normal traveling clothes and shaving kit. Of course I have my digital camera and cell phone but those are in my pockets.
That pretty well fills up a Goldwing. Gear for my SW would need a bit of refining to get in the smaller space. A top box and saddle bags would help of course.

I carry a good quality marine all-in-one tool (a bit more comprehensive than a leatherman), a quart of oil, a small funnel to use with the oil, a tire gauge, my rain gear and a lightweight cover for my scooter.

The oil, funnel, rain gear and cover go under the seat (I admit to removing them for short rides, including errands), which means I can still get my helmet in there. The rest of the stuff goes in the unlocked glove compartment. I also carry my EasyPass in the locked glove compartment.

Fifty years ago I used to carry oil for my '49 Triumph 650. It leaked and used oil. I haven't carried oil for a bike in a long time now. Last year in my 5500 mile ride from the West Coast to the East Coast and back my GW that now has 130,000 miles on the odometer didn't use a drop of oil. Neither my Goldwing nor my Silverwing use any oil between changes. If either of them sprung a serious oil leak on the road it's not likely anything I could carry would do much good anyway. Raingear, not that I can agree with whole heartedly, I always carry mine and have needed it more than I would prefer.

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