Trail Tool Kit Help

[CJBROWN]

Way to go. That lightens it up, eh? One nice thing on the husky is the whole damn thing is put together with a 8mm. KTM is the same way. Some 12's too, so 8, 10,12, & 13 will cover 90%.

If you're going to be doing water crossings you need to be able to pull the plug should you dump it over and flood it.

Last weekend, not that ours would do it, but heard of two bikes where the carb flooded the cylinder and hydrolocked the motor. Only fix it pull the plug and turn it over. I hit a water crossing last year where there were 3 of the 8 bikes in a group disassembled, draining water out of them.

 

[jtemple]

Spark plug removal tool will be added back to the kit for sure. I just have to figure out how to do it with the least amount of stuff.

Just a spark plug socket won't cut it. I don't think there's enough clearance in there for my little T-handle. I'll probably need either an extension or a u-joint. I'll have to experiment.

 

[Coffee]

Lots of great ideas here, thanks folks. I'm buying a few tools right now to trim the fat. For the record, my pictured tool kit weighs 11 lbs, 9 oz.

Once I have trimmed it down I'll take some pics and report the weight.

Mine is less than 2 lbs (I think), never did weigh it. Including a 21" tube (thinnest one I could find).

• Cafe Husky wrench
• light tube
• 2 motion pro tire irons
• spare valve stems (I am always loosing those in the dirt)

I should weight that, but time is short these days.

General tip - cheezy cheap stuff from the back of grocery stores / hardware stores can yield some nice finds..
Regarding the spark plug wrench - some where I got a light weight stamped metal one, with a hole I can put a screw driver in to turn. Weighs very little.

 

[raisrx251]

Plug socket is actually handy. If you ride in any water and submerge the bike, or if the bike quits running you can check for spark. Another little thing you could do is wrap some duct tape around one of your tire irons. I wrap some on my handle bars. Comes in handy for all sorts of things like if someone gets injured, it's a good tool to help stop bleeding.

 

[jtemple]

General tip - cheezy cheap stuff from the back of grocery stores / hardware stores can yield some nice finds..

It sure does! I found some stubby combination/ratcheting wrenches at Harbor Freight. I didn't buy them because I don't like to go cheap on ratchets. Those things usually just fall apart.

Regarding the spark plug wrench - some where I got a light weight stamped metal one, with a hole I can put a screw driver in to turn. Weighs very little.

I have one of those from the OEM tool kit. I'll have to see which works better, a real socket vs. the oem one.

 

[kevmack]

Ref spark plu

Here we go. I did some shopping and trimmed the fat. The whole kit now weighs 3 lbs 6 oz.

I also pack tubes, but they are not included in the weight.

One thing I just removed was the spark plug socket. Do I need to be able to pull the spark plug on the trail?

if your not carrying a spare plug then you dont!!
its the one thing that caught me out years ago..a fouled plug...changed..fouled again!!! Turned out was the regulator rectifier..and when your in the middle of a boggy moor in the middle of nowhere..its a dealbreaker!! I was actually looking at burying the dam thing..he he ..but reasoned just covering it with heather would do..who else was going to find/fix it?? then we tried the wrong plug in her-she fired up..i was gone..wasnt going to stop till brooklyn!! well the highway anyway, but you get my drift..if you'v seen American Werewolf..we were actrually on the "moors" with the fog coming down...and for what it weighs+the spanner [socket] its just not worth not carrying, i ride a 2stroker tho'
Take it you dont cross many deep rivers as well??

 

[Coffee]

It sure does! I found some stubby combination/ratcheting wrenches at Harbor Freight. I didn't buy them because I don't like to go cheap on ratchets. Those things usually just fall apart.

I have one of those from the OEM tool kit. I'll have to see which works better, a real socket vs. the oem one.

Actually the cheaper the better for me. People can borrow them, I can loose them, and I don't care. And best of all some are made of really bad, but lightweight, metal - which I have found to be an advantage because some items can be easily shaped to fit. For example I've needed to grind down certain sockets on the outside to get them to fit into certain places.

On the other hand, I have 'real' tools in addition the cheap ones. Snap-on, etc.

 

[jtemple]

Ref spark plu

if your not carrying a spare plug then you dont!!
its the one thing that caught me out years ago..a fouled plug...changed..fouled again!!! Turned out was the regulator rectifier..and when your in the middle of a boggy moor in the middle of nowhere..its a dealbreaker!! I was actually looking at burying the dam thing..he he ..but reasoned just covering it with heather would do..who else was going to find/fix it?? then we tried the wrong plug in her-she fired up..i was gone..wasnt going to stop till brooklyn!! well the highway anyway, but you get my drift..if you'v seen American Werewolf..we were actrually on the "moors" with the fog coming down...and for what it weighs+the spanner [socket] its just not worth not carrying, i ride a 2stroker tho'
Take it you dont cross many deep rivers as well??

You're right. I do need to carry a spare plug. I'll have to pick one up. Heck, I should have kept the plug I changed out this year. It was still perfectly usable.

 

[kevmack]

Actually the cheaper the better for me. People can borrow them, I can loose them, and I don't care. And best of all some are made of really bad, but lightweight, metal - which I have found to be an advantage because some items can be easily shaped to fit. For example I've needed to grind down certain sockets on the outside to get them to fit into certain places.

On the other hand, I have 'real' tools in addition the cheap ones. Snap-on, etc.

Name-dropper!! Snap=on indeed..ha ha

 

[kevmack]

You're right. I do need to carry a spare plug. I'll have to pick one up. Heck, I should have kept the plug I changed out this year. It was still perfectly usable.

Another thing i carry, but have only had to use 1x and its a "cheaper option" [kill v cure scenario] Liquid Metal..comes in a little tube [MSR,comes like a putty], hit a rock and put small hole in side casing..oil leak..it saved some serious damage!! I wrap some duck tape round it, this can be helpful as well.
I'v just realised most of what i/we carry like zip-ties etc are there for a quick fix to get you back to the van-and i guess you only need what you aint got...ONCE. ps we also have a recovery card amongst us..and at worst you could tow the bike to the highway!!! [only joking???]

 

[jtemple]

Oh yeah. JB Weld. Forgot about that.

 

[lankydoug]

Oh yeah. JB Weld. Forgot about that.

You could always tell the wife that the reason you had to stay another day was because you bought the slow acting JB weld by mistake.

 

[jtemple]

You could always tell the wife that the reason you had to stay another day was because you bought the slow acting JB weld by mistake.

She wouldn't know any better!

 

[Slowpoke]

Ditch the spoke wrench and the pick-up tool. You should never need those on a ride. The bead buddy can be left at home as well. Do some tire changes without it to learn the tricks and you'll be set. A Mini can of WD40 will make your life a ton easier if you have to change a flat trailside.

If you have a loose spoke, the adjustable will take care of that. Should never be an issue on the trail anyways.....
Add a small adjustable wrench, about 6" long and a plug socket/wrench. Add some quicksteel(as suggested), a small LED flashlight, a shop rag, a 15-16" long piece of 3/4" heater hose(to repair a damaged rad hose, or bypass a smashed rad) and some hose clamps, spare bolts, spare plug and a couple feet of duct tape wrapped around one of the wrenches.
Also, if that multi-tool doesn't have a saw that will cut steel, include a 6-7" piece of hacksaw blade with the duct tape wrapped around it (instead of the wrench) for a handle. You'll need the saw at some point if you ride with any late model KTM's.
Maybe consider adding a Moose tow-strap. They're light, strong & compact.
If you get a proper front axle nut, you won't need that 12mm allen socket.

Some spare fuses taped under your seat is a good idea.
About $10-20 in cash folded up in a small waterproof ziplock bag with your insurance slip & ownership might come in handy at some point......ie. to buy gas from a farmer or something, when you realize your wallet is still at home......it happens.

About 3 ft of clear vinyl hose the same dia. as your fuel line can be coiled up in your back pack. It doesn't weigh much, can act as a siphon hose, or replace a damaged fuel line.

 

[WHITEROCKET5.9]

not much to add on tools but i carry a cell phone ziplocked up in a fannypack pretty much everytime i ride even if just out on the track infront of the house....something happens i dont want to be layin there for hours on end waiting on someone to find me

 

[Slowpoke]

I rarely ride alone, so don't usually carry a cell. Some areas it's a waste anyways, as we don't have coverage in all areas.
I actually have my stuff divided between my Zac-speed backpack and my tool pack, as I only carry my tool pack on certain rides & the backpack goes everywhere.

All the hard tools go in the toolbag & softer items in the backpack, like the towstrap, siphon hose, first aid kit, small knife, lighter, compass, small container of 'Deep Woods' 'Off' & most important: a part roll of TP

Honestly, having a solid bike maintenance program & proper bike setup/prep will eliminate most reasons to carry tools etc.
In the last 6 years & about 7-800 hrs of riding I've only been towed out once(watered out & unfixable trailside) & had to tow about 3-4 people. Have only had 2 flats, one from a pinched tube & one from a worn out tube. The worn tube flat was in a small Teraflex tire with 2 rimlocks, so I was able to ride it 100km to the finish of the ride & fixed it when I got home. Have helped to fix a couple other flats as well.
Have had to dig into the toolbag several times for other riders when sweeping events, sometimes to fix damaged/broken things & often for maintenance/bike prep related things. example- one guy forgot to tighten his front axle pinch bolts & the axle came out about 40km into a ride out in Gods country. Unfortunately it caused a lot of damaged & broken parts. With the help of several folks & several toolpacks and trailside rocks, we were able to pound the front axle back in and make the bike towable.

However, by far the most reason I've had to dig into my toolkit trailside is to fix a jammed stapler when arrowing trails. Go figure........

 

[WHITEROCKET5.9]

since you dont ride alone much i guess thats cool but i would feel kinda weird without it, used to havin a phone with me all the time. plus we probably have a lil more coverage areas down this way, not so much wilderness.

 

[Stroker Ace]

Mine is less than 2 lbs (I think), never did weigh it. Including a 21" tube (thinnest one I could find).

• Cafe Husky wrench
• light tube
• 2 motion pro tire irons
• spare valve stems (I am always loosing those in the dirt)

I should weight that, but time is short these days.

General tip - cheezy cheap stuff from the back of grocery stores / hardware stores can yield some nice finds..
Regarding the spark plug wrench - some where I got a light weight stamped metal one, with a hole I can put a screw driver in to turn. Weighs very little.

Swap meets baby,**************************************** got almost everything I needed for around 20.00, sometimes even the good name brand stuff too. ( Except for the High Output Feather Duster). Paid big for that........ LOL.......

 

[jtemple]

Here's what I've added that isn't pictured:

4 hose clamps of 2 different sizes

a length of steel wire

duct tape wrapped around one tire lever

Here's what I plan to add in the very near future:

tow strap

spare fuses

JB Weld

fuel line (although a regular riding buddy already has this)

6" hacksaw blade wrapped in duct tape

 

[Fast1]

just to add to the thread ... here is mine,, minus the plug wrench, tire soap and MTB pump and spare front tube.