engine mount bolts

[DGXSER]

If your using 1/4" drive ratchets on those sized bolts, your going to be breaking alot of ratchets. You will definitely want to invest in at leat a 3/8" drive socket set. And probably a breaker bar.

I have a piece of SS pipe I use for a "cheater" on my 3/8" ratchet. So far, I have yet to break it and I have stood and stomped on that cheater bar before. I have a breaker bar, but really very very rarely ever use it. I grab that cheater 99% of the time.

[WMarshy]

If your using 1/4" drive ratchets on those sized bolts, your going to be breaking alot of ratchets. You will definitely want to invest in at leat a 3/8" drive socket set. And probably a breaker bar.

I have a piece of SS pipe I use for a "cheater" on my 3/8" ratchet. So far, I have yet to break it and I have stood and stomped on that cheater bar before. I have a breaker bar, but really very very rarely ever use it. I grab that cheater 99% of the time.

But eventually they get sloppy from doing that too much and then ya never know when they'll decide to jump a tooth. I like the skin on my knuckles too much, I'd rather use the proper tool. Your right though, you need to pick up some 3/8" drive sockets and ratchet. Best bang for your buck is craftsman, they'll always replace a broken tool with no questions asked. Just dont buy their EVO line of tools, they dont cary the same Warranty.

[CatatonicBug]

The 3-point guards do require a single piece of all-thread to go across the front of the engine. I think it's worth the trip to Home Depot to pick up some hardware to get those things installed, especially if you do any distance riding.

I can't think of a single time when I would have wanted to use a 1/4" drive on my bike. I actually just got a 1/2" drive set because the 3/8" set was a little weak at times.

[XS1100 Newbie]

Something you all forgot to tell him. You can't expect harbor freight ratchets to hold up to any more than pounding butter. Buy good quality tools man! You don't have to go to Snap on, just buy Craftsman.

[Yard Dogg]

I have a craftsman socket set and have only broke one socket (abuse). I like the set cause I can see what's missing right away. I haven't lost a socket in 5 years.

Harbor freight does sell some decent stuff. I have 2 sets of their impact sockets and those are good. I've never broke one even when taking the drive train out of my rusted out 83' Dodge 4wd, and sometimes I've had to jump on the breaker bar to break em loose. I wouldn't rely on their socket wrenches though.

[crazy steve]

I quit buying Crapsman tools 35 years ago.... As a cheap tool, they're better than the HF stuff, but if you buy a good tool, they don't break (or very rarely). SK, Mac, Proto, Williams, Snap-on will cost you more but are better made (and still made in the US, something that's not always true of Craftsman anymore). Sears tools also have the least-comfortable handles of any hand tool I've ever used. I'm not a fan of Snap-on either, as their polished handles get real slippery when greasy; look pretty, but not practical.

Sure, Sears will replace any that break, but when a tool fails after the store closes, then what? Not to mention the time it takes to go get the replacement; my nearest Sears store is an hour away.

I've broken 4 Proto tools in 35 years; three were from over-the-top abuse, only one in 'normal' use. All but one were cheerfully replaced. The one they wouldn't replace? That was a phillips screwdriver that had been 'converted' to an awl, and after 40+ years (inherited from my Dad) of beating on the handle it finally broke.

I realise this will upset all you Craftsman fans, but it is what it is. If Crapsman is all you can afford, it's the best of the 'budget' tools but not in the same league.

My .02....

[conquest87tsi]

I also have not used a 1/4 drive ratchet once worling on either of my Yamahas. I can't think of an instance where I would. I do agree that Craftsman is the best deal for the money, however if money is really an issue there are cheaper alternatives without buying Harbor Freight junk. I bought two Tool Shop 3/8 ratchets from Menards for roughly $3-4 a piece. One is a stubby and the other 16" with a swivel head. I use both extensively and rarely touch my Craftsman ratchets. Oh and I almost forgot, they also have a LIFETIME warrenty! I haven't had to return one, but a buddy of mine has. As long as Mr. Chin Chong Huyui keeps making them, I can get a new one.

[Laptop_geek]

I quit buying Crapsman tools 35 years ago.... As a cheap tool, they're better than the HF stuff, but if you buy a good tool, they don't break (or very rarely). SK, Mac, Proto, Williams, Snap-on will cost you more but are better made (and still made in the US, something that's not always true of Craftsman anymore). Sears tools also have the least-comfortable handles of any hand tool I've ever used. I'm not a fan of Snap-on either, as their polished handles get real slippery when greasy; look pretty, but not practical.

Sure, Sears will replace any that break, but when a tool fails after the store closes, then what? Not to mention the time it takes to go get the replacement; my nearest Sears store is an hour away.

I've broken 4 Proto tools in 35 years; three were from over-the-top abuse, only one in 'normal' use. All but one were cheerfully replaced. The one they wouldn't replace? That was a phillips screwdriver that had been 'converted' to an awl, and after 40+ years (inherited from my Dad) of beating on the handle it finally broke.

I realise this will upset all you Craftsman fans, but it is what it is. If Crapsman is all you can afford, it's the best of the 'budget' tools but not in the same league.

My .02....

I have to agree with this, The new stuff they're making is not of the same quality as the older stuff, but it does work for those of us on a budget. I tend to use Autozone tools alot of the time, they are about the same quality, and I can get them replaced at any time in the store for any reason (as long as I bought it and I remember the phone number I used). I get tired of dealing with sears and the crappy sales service we have here in town, and the guys at the AZ all know me (store is 1/2 miles from my house). Do be careful though, not all of there tools carry a lifetime warranty (they will say it in the packaging if they do), and some of the stuff isn't all that good (ie: there tap and die set sucks, and it doesn't have a warranty).

Just my 0.02

[DGXSER]

As a Craftsman tools owner, I am not upset by it Steve, but all I have owned since I graduated form the Buffalo brand of Big Lots tools is Craftsman. 90% of the wrenches, sockets, and screwdrivers in my collection, I got as a Christmas present from my wife when we were dating back in 1988. The only one I have borken was a 14 mm socket, cheerfully replaced. As stated, I abuse the chit out of them to. I have 12" length of SS pipe for both my 3/8" and my 1/2" sets. I use my normal 1/2" sockets on my air gun hammering away on crank bolts and such. I have kicked and stomped on that 3/8" ratchet with the "extension" on it so hard I feared rocking the car off the jackstands. Beat the heck out of it with a 2 lb sledge to break a bolt loose. To date, no failures.

So while I will not say Craftsman is the same quality as snap-on, Mac, or some of the others, for the average everyday shadetree mechanic, my expereince shows the Craftsman product holds up very well. Like always, YMMV.

Now, I would not venture a guess at how many Buffallo brand ratchets and sockets I destroyed pulling engines, transmissions, heads, and such off old farm trucks over the years.

[crazy steve]

It's really a shame, as there used to be more US tool manufacturers and/or tool lines. Challenger (made by Proto), Blue Point (still available, but in a very limited line), New Britain (US-made for NAPA), Penncraft (JC Penney; many of those were rebranded Proto at 1/3 the price!), Husky (Home Depots attempt to unseat Sears; really good tools for the money when they were US-made) and my first tool set, Industro. Probably a few brands I missed. I bought the Industro from JC Whitney for the princely sum of $23 in 1964, it was a 1/2" socket set (7/16"-1 1/4") with ratchet and breaker bar (but no extensions!), open end set, and box end set. Also came with a tool box, hacksaw frame (which my Dad immediately threw away... 'you'll hurt yourself with that, kid...) and some junk screwdrivers. The wrenches/sockets I used until I lost so many that I needed a 'real' set. I still have and use the box wrenches, as I have yet to find a set as useful.

Some of HF's stuff is good; the already noted impact sockets are the equal of anybodies, and their ratchet-drive allen and torx drivers work well too. I also like their 'standard' plier sets; they're the only ones still offering an extra-large pliers (somebody ripped off my no-longer-made Proto ones.. ).

Good tools make any job much easier, and if you're doing much wrenching spending the extra money will pay off in the long run.