There are many good reasons for doing your own maintenance. The most pressing at the moment is the cost-of-living crisis. Money saving hacks can be found everywhere and there is definitely cash to be saved by getting on the tools to take care of your own scooter / or motorcycle.
Recessions don’t last forever though, and the benefits of being a DIY mechanic will remain with you. Getting down to the nuts and bolts of your scooter will give you a better understanding of it and there’s immeasurable satisfaction to be had in a job well done too.
Essential Tools
Spanners – combination spanners are the most useful as they are open on one end and ring on the other. The ring end fits better around a nut or fastener head than the open end and is less likely to slip. Ratchet spanners are a good option, although these can’t be used with as much force as non-ratchet types. There will be times when you will likely need a spanner on both ends of a fastener so having spare of each, or at least the most popular size, spanner is always beneficial.
A decent socket set is a staple of any home mechanics toolkit. For scooter / motorcycle work, 1/4″in” and 3/8″ drive sockets rather than 1/2″ are more useful. A big drive on a small fastener can mean too much torque, risking stripped threads or snapped fasteners. A quality drive has a fine ratchet with more teeth for less movement before it engages. Bear in mind, the more teeth, the weaker each is and vice versa. As with spanners, bi-hex (12-point) gives more points of access than hex although 6-point is preferred for larger, tighter fasteners as it’s less likely to slip.
Buy quality screwdrivers, remembering that they do wear out. Japanese bikes use JIS Crosshead screws, so buy the correct screwdrivers to avoid damaging fasteners. Pliers and side cutters have a place in your toolbox too and a multi-meter is essential for basic electrical checks.
Here at Cornish Scoots we sell a range of tools, including the top quality Bikeservice Tools brand. If all of the above sounds a little bit overwhelming we can help, simply buy the Bikeservice Tools Master Mechanics Tool Kit! This kit is a comprehensive tool set with all tools and tool sizes specially selected for motorcycle service and maintenance. It is a 110 piece set that includes a comprehensive selection of quality Bikeservice screwdrivers, Allen keys, ratchets, sockets and bit sets. Ideal for motorcycle technicians, apprentices and DIY enthusiasts.
Specialist / Other Tools
First, torque wrenches. Don’t be tempted to buy one to cover all bases; it is unlikely to be accurate at either end of its range. Buy one for the low torque settings and another for the high. If you can afford it, three is even better. A torque wrench should only be used for final tightening and same rules apply for drive sizes as for sockets.
Cornish Scoots can supply a high-end product ,the Bikeservice Tools 1/4″ Square Drive Digital Reading Torque Wrench. This is a 1/4″ square drive, 72 tooth reversible ratchet with left or right hand capability. It features an LCD display that can show Nm, ft-lb, in-lb, kg-m or kg-cm. It has an oil resistant and impact resistant casing and a torque Range 10-50Nm, perfect for use on a scooter or small motorcycle. This product is supplied in protective blow moulded case and automatically powers off after 2 minutes of non-use. It also comes complete with a calibration certificate so you know it is quality and fit for purpose.
Adaptors are available to let you use, for example, 1/2” sockets on a 3/8” drive. Get a feeler gauge with blades going up in small increments and a vernier calliper is also handy for quick measurements. A small rubber or nylon mallet is useful for applying gentle persuasion and a long breaker bar will help with things like sprocket nuts and wheel spindles. To do your own chain and sprockets, buy a quality chain riveting tool.
The Workspace
Assess the workspace you have and get it organised and equipped properly. Sturdy shelves and decent toolboxes are essential. A ramp for the scooter and a workbench to work on components and assemblies are definite bonuses. Sort out your lighting too. LED battens are cheap to run and chuck out decent light from the ceiling. More localised light sources, such as work lamps and a headtorch, will illuminate the shadows.
Rubber floor tiles or workshop mats offer insulation in the colder months and look much better than carpet offcuts sourced from your local flooring specialist, although those are better than nothing. Safety is, naturally, paramount. Your workspace should be easy to ventilate when required and you should always have at least one escape route available in case of fire. Get a couple of fire extinguishers so that one is always within easy reach.
Other workshop essentials are greases, for example anti-seize copper grease and red rubber grease, and general workshop sprays, such ss GT85, brake cleaner and carb cleaner will cover the basics.
Stands
The centre stand has made a useful return to many new motorcycles in recent years and does keep the bike upright as you work on it, of course this is standard on most scooters as well.
If you have a motorcycle as well as a scooter in your garage (I mean, why wouldn’t you?!) then paddock stands are the next go-to, of course Cornish Scoots offers a wide variety of stands, depending on what kind of motorcycle you own. When it comes to a front paddock stand, the head-lift type that locates under the steering stem makes front wheel access easiest. Paddock- stand golden rules are don’t attempt to use a front stand on its own and last in, first out.
Reference Works
A workshop manual is rightly seen as the definitive work on what you need to know to work on your bike. Aftermarket manuals, particularly from Haynes, are useful too as they often have extra reference pics.
Getting Parts
The best value for generic and service consumables is often with aftermarket suppliers. Use a reputable vendor however and be aware that eBay can be rammed with knock-off items like snide spark plugs and brake pads.
Here at Cornish Scoots we have a vast Parts section, offering everything from Filters, Levers, Exhausts, Grips, Starter Motors and Scooter Tyres.
Shop with satisfaction at Cornish Scoots
As you can tell from the above information, there is a wide variety of tools and accessories that you can buy to kit out your garage, shed, or even front room in your house (we’re sure the missus won’t mind!).
Cornish Scoots offer a vast selection of tools, along with PPE equipment, lubricants ranging from Engine Oils to Fuel Additives, scooter / motorcycle component parts, accessories for your vehicle and even clothing.
Visit our Shop today to browse and we are sure you will find something you have either been looking for, or perhaps never knew you needed!