Tell us your best tip for working on your bike!

[Eveready1100]

That's probably the best tip so far, Xtian. I'll have to give it a try next time,,,, or maybe the next.

[Christian Raith]

Well um ....my suggestion is don't drink too much beer before you start.....
My problem every time I go and look at my tiny garage with no light 

Where are those 6 numbers??

[netbikes]

plastic zip lock bags and a marking pen.  Handy if you stripping a complete bike or a engine total strip. Different bolts etc from different areas into different bags and mark them, time saver on re assy.

see this link lower part of page
http://auction.netbikes.com.au/vjmw.php?dir=j1&page=kawasaki_j1

.... chris

[pgnz]

Thanks Fungorus, I Like it! I am having trouble with my bike at the moment, cant get the exact right bolts for the camshaft sprockets (anyone know what they should be? my thread piitch gauge is 100kms away at a mates house!)
Big bucket of bolts is good idea, and i throw away those square 20l containers at work. Thanks!!

Anyone else?

Those cam bolts aren't a usual size,  they're 7mm X 1.0  11mm length flange bolt with 8.5 mm length of thread on them 

[steptoe]

EVERY THING HAS A SPOT,,,everything IN IT'S spot,,

 clean and tidy floor,

heaps of clean rags,

get yourself a magnetic dish from supa-cheap, or the like

go over the job, BEFORE tearing into it,

might sound dumb, but make sure the socket/spanner is on square

as has been said, right socket/spanner for the head/nut, eg,,only a 5 sider 10mm for cam sprocket bolts,,

bad news I'm sorry as for the cam nuts,, only original will work,, no other has the small shoulder that fits,,

[Eveready1100]

That bit "designated draw" is what I have the problem with, as Steptoe can vouch for as he's seen my garage.
    Main problem is that there's always a number of projects/ repairs on the go at any time and the scratch trays come out when I need a couple of bolts or spacers and they get filled back up with other stray bits from the tractor/mowers/ pumps etc
   I spose the best tip would be to have a seperate area just for bike stuff, and leave all machinery related work to the outdoor areas.....................But the garage is cosy.

[essjay]

Thanks Fungorus, I Like it! I am having trouble with my bike at the moment, cant get the exact right bolts for the camshaft sprockets (anyone know what they should be? my thread piitch gauge is 100kms away at a mates house!)
Big bucket of bolts is good idea, and i throw away those square 20l containers at work. Thanks!!

Anyone else?

[fungorus]

Get hold of some 20 liter plastic container (old used ones for free are best) and slice them in half long ways. Now you have two draws for a shelf with a handle on the end. Now every time you dismantle a bike/car or anything with bolts/nuts/washers/springs etc put them in a designated draw. Over a few years you will acquire a huge range of readily available replacement stuff. Then when you restore a bike of fix it you can replace stuff that is knackered with old but still good replacements. Saved me alot of money and time running back and forwards to shops. Now I have good supply and only took me three years.......

[essjay]

Best tip, best tip... hmm. Well, have your workshop manual on hand, and use the right tools for the job. No excuse really for not having a shop manual, if you can read this, you can download the manual for free and read that too. And the right tool for the job means getting that 30 year old oil drain bolt out the first time, instead of rounding the head with a cheap socket or a shifter and spending the whole weekend trying in vein to fix it. The trip down to the shop to get the right sized socket that you need is quicker and cheaper in the long run.

Nothing earth shattering or new there, but proven over and over. What is your best tip? I'd like to hear them, maybe i can save myself some more weekends and broken bits!