Pre-Motorizing Tools/Equipment

Down the line there are a few other tools which come in very handy, especially in putting a build together. One is a vice of some sort that you can attach to a work bench or even a table. I don't have a lot of tools or a decent work shop, so often I work on an old picnic table and use C clamps to hold the vice in place. A rotary tool (like a dremel) is so handy for so many things. You can get all sorts of little bits for it from cut off wheels to grinding tips. If you find the itch to make things for your bike, the rotary tool goes along way in scratching the itch. Doesn't have to be a dremel by any means. I have an inexpensive one from harbor freight which has been durable and versatile. Vice grips are handy. Some time or other, especially if you find one at a yard sale... get yourself a stationary grinding wheel which can be switched over to a wire wheel for cleaning rusty parts. Also some protective eye wear if you use either the grinder or the rotary tool. Another handy tool if you find one used is a side grinder which is so useful for stripping a bike down to bare metal or grinding steel or even cutting it... uses different attachment wheels for different purposes. Even the one from Harbor Freight would be adequate for occasional use. That's about it. Without either the rotary tool or the side grinder, you might want a hacksaw. Even with those other tools you may want a hacksaw. Oh, and a metal file comes in handy. Some things are just as good used, like sockets or a wrench... screwdriver (good quality used ones are better than new cheap ones), but something like a file should be new since they wear out and get dull.
Keep in mind that someone else would likely give you a different list of preferred tools. Once you get into this or some other form of crafting/mechaniching you come to appreciate tools and the smart people who thought things up in the first place... unsung heros we know nothing about, but who we owe a big debt of gratitude to. Think of life without pliers or the adjustable wrench. Did you know that the circular saw blade was invented by a woman? I always tell young girls that when I can so they stop thinking that tools are just boy things. Supposedly that is what separates man from the rest of the animal kingdom, we are makers of tools. (Yeah, I know there are exceptions, but no monkey made tools by snap on). Tools rule!
SB

I'm going to add a Metric tap set from Harbour Freight. $12 and with the after market bolts and studs you got you need it. The Chinese often do not tap the holes to the bottom. This leads to stripping the threads right out of the block. Three things you can do about that is; 1) drill and tap to a bigger size, not always an option. 2) JB Weld the stud in, 3) Helicoil the hole. That takes drilling out to a specific size and you usually need one of those 119 piece drill assortments to do that which is why Helicoiling is best left to a machine shop or Motorcycle repair shop.

Use some of that suspension grease you got on the tap. The grease will hold the chips from tapping and not let them fall into places you don't want them. When you tap the head stud holes cover the piston with a baggie and tape off the opening. When I was tapping the head studs holes I ran out of clearance over the piston for the tap handle and had to switch to a small Cresent wrench. This is acceptable when there's problems of clearance, just get the tap started very straight down the hole. Turn the tap in 1/2 turn then back 1/4th of a turn to clear the chips. Run the tap as far in as it will go. Don't force it, you can tell when far enough is far enough. Tap all the holes with threads for studs like the intake, exhaust, and head studs.

DaveC said:

I'm going to add a Metric tap set from Harbour Freight. $12 and with the after market bolts and studs you got you need it. The Chinese often do not tap the holes to the bottom. This leads to stripping the threads right out of the block. Three things you can do about that is; 1) drill and tap to a bigger size, not always an option. 2) JB Weld the stud in, 3) Helicoil the hole. That takes drilling out to a specific size and you usually need one of those 119 piece drill assortments to do that which is why Helicoiling is best left to a machine shop or Motorcycle repair shop.

Use some of that suspension grease you got on the tap. The grease will hold the chips from tapping and not let them fall into places you don't want them. When you tap the head stud holes cover the piston with a baggie and tape off the opening. When I was tapping the head studs holes I ran out of clearance over the piston for the tap handle and had to switch to a small Cresent wrench. This is acceptable when there's problems of clearance, just get the tap started very straight down the hole. Turn the tap in 1/2 turn then back 1/4th of a turn to clear the chips. Run the tap as far in as it will go. Don't force it, you can tell when far enough is far enough. Tap all the holes with threads for studs like the intake, exhaust, and head studs.

Click to expand...

Not to hijack the thread, but how easy is this? And how easy is it to screw this up? For 12 bucks, seems like a cheap fix, but I have no experience with tapping holes. Is it pretty straight forward?