tool kit

[unreal]

Happy new year to one and all!
I was in the the garage today having a tidy up and started to put together a basic tool kit small enough to go in my back pack. Ending up with far too much and wondered if anyone has honed it down to the "perfect" mobile kit?

These things tend to come from experience so this is the place!

Si

[MickeyMoto]

I go on the assumption that you need to mend punctures, adjust the chain and replace the plugs as well as tightening loose nuts and change bulbs, anything else needs a trailer, you ain't going to be doing a crankshaft change beside the road....

so,

Spark plug spanner
8mm combi
10mm Combi
12mm Combi
13mm Combi
14/17 Open Ender
hooge spanner for wheel nut
Spark plug(s)
Pliers
philips head and flat blade screwdrivers

oh, and an RAC card.

[morini_tom]

Make sure you've also got an open ended spanner (11mm I think) and suitable flat headed screwdriver for the clutch arm locknut. It's a real showstopper if that one unwinds. Other than that I think mickeymoto's covered it.

I'll be tempting fate here but I hardly ever carry tools on the dart anymore. All I've ever had to do away from home is change plugs (and only because I was fouling them when I was trying to get the 501 jetted), adjust the clutch and free off sticky carb floats (which of course requires Allen keys on the dart too to de-clothe it) If your morini is well maintained it will reward you with years of reliable service.

In over a decade of having a morini as main (or only) transport I've very rarely had to carry out 'running repairs, And only had to call the RAC out for a puncture on the kanguro and a gammy battery on the corsaro. And I have never endured the indignity of seeing my morini winched onto a lowloader, its always got me home. In comparison the Ducati rode the RAC Express multiple times, and I've also been recovered aboard Bimota, Vincent, and, would you believe it K75.

There is still a lot to be said for the simple design and inherent reliability of a morini. Look after it and it'll look after you.

Right, I'm off to find some wood to touch...

[unreal]

The other things I'd add are a 5mm allen key, duck tape around the screwdriver, cable ties and my favourite tool, a knipex plier tool 180mm. This a great tool, like a super adjustable, opens to 35mm enough to do the rear hub carrier, flat jawed and can be used like a ratchet.

Si

[robint]

......and the exhaust nut spanner on the first few trips after a rebuild until its seized solid..........

[morini_tom]

......and the exhaust nut spanner on the first few trips after a rebuild until its seized solid..........

Actually I find that when out and about a 5mn Allen key is a perfect fit between the castellations to use as an emergency lever and tighten the nut back up with. Infact, where exhaust nut access is poor on the dart ('only' the rear and front cylinders!) the Allen key approach is often favoured in the workshop too...

[corsaro chris]

Interesting that no-one mentions the toothed belt drive for the cam. That was the last thing that broke on the Strada (just after I'd started to use it having bought it from my brother-in-law). I think it broke because I made the lazy presumption that he'd have changed it, him being an old hand at Morini ownership...

So that's the extractor tool and associated allen key (to get the engine case off) and spanners ~ already packed for other uses of course ~ plus a spare belt. This can be the one you took off to replace with a fresh belt after the 12,500 miles (or far more if the bike is used regularly) the service book suggests you change it at.

When mine broke I didn't have the spare on the bike, and so left it around a friends house, cadged a lift home and came back in the week to fix it. 30 minutes to do, but it'd take longer on a Dart. Then I bought and fitted a new belt. Note that all the stuff I carry goes in the tool tray - and that includes an old tyre lever (but no tube - how daft is that?).

Other essential? Membership of the MRC, of course!!

Good riding for 2011!

CC

[MickeyMoto]

...so we now need a knife, a flywheel holder, an extractor...

how about the square tool for the rockers? A Birmingham screwdriver? A torque wrench? A grease gun? A can of engine oil? A topbox to carry the tools? Chain lube? A can of Red Bull? A rag? Tyre pump? Swarfega? Feeler guages? Latest copy of ATG? A novel to read whilst waiting for recovery?

Now lets get down to the sapres we need to carry too....

MM

[EVguru]

Interesting that no-one mentions the toothed belt drive for the cam. That was the last thing that broke on the Strada (just after I'd started to use it having bought it from my brother-in-law). I think it broke because I made the lazy presumption that he'd have changed it, him being an old hand at Morini ownership...

Belts break because of use (fatigue and/or wear) or age. At just £5 each for Gates belts, you could afford a new one every year and there would be next to no chance of one breaking on the road.

If the bike had been sitting for some time, then you need to to clean the pulleys! Finely powdered rust is also kown as Jewelers Rouge and is used as an abbrasive. Running the engine for a bit (but not riding it) before changing the belt will help, but ideally you want to pull the pulleys.

[3potjohn]

I puzzelled over rear wheel nut removal and came up with getting an adjustable spanner,cutting 3 inches of the handle, squeezing a box spanner flat at one end which slips over the spanner to give back the inches missing. and a flexible plug spanner for the rear plug. Oh yes and a led mini torch.
I know from experience that my BMW tool kit is very good but when my petrol tap sealfailed on my 60/7 I was scuppered for the sake of a tuppenny ha'penny o ring. On a brighter note I nearly ran over a red squirrel just now.

[unreal]

Well all things considered mine now looks like this:
4 spanners
5mm Allen key
2 screwdrivers
Knipex plier wrench
Duck tape
cable ties
mini torch
AA card and mobile

Most of that will fit in the under seat tool tray.

And trust that if I look after her, she'll look after me!

Happy riding (when the sun shines).

Si

[MickeyMoto]

That should cover it. As Morini_Tom says, look after the bike and it will look after you. I have never broken down on a Morini, and I've had 4, including going abroad with most of the tools you mention. I also have an original Morini 28/22 spanner for the wheel. The only recovery I required was when riding a Guzzi, the plug tip fell off and took a lump out of the exhaust valve. Game over.....

MM

[morini500dave]

Hi all.
Somthing I'd add to the tool kit is 45 degree tyre valve adapter,as I found this very usefull especially when using garage/filling station air pumps which don't always fit correctly onto the valve.

Regards morini500dave.

[Brett]

Hi Guys,

Interesting ideas, I am looking to put together a tool kit for the 3 1/2 Sport.

I am looking at:
set of metric spanner
metric allen keys
pliers - cutters
multigrips
cable ties
sparkplugs
electrical tape
fuses
spare wire
tyre repair kit
oil
(spare cam belt although this would be an issue without the puller and special tool to hold the dyno.)

I am thinking that this would get me out of most issues if the bike is kept in good order. I am hoping that I can fit this into the space under the seat.

Any other thoughts??

Thanks

Brett

[mikeh]

I'm putting together a tool kit for my Strada right now, can anyone recommend a spark plug spanner that will work on the rear cylinder without dismantling half the bike?

Mike