Home-made tools

[CheeserBeezer]

I've built lots of wheels over the years. This started out of necessity; as an ex moto-cross rider bent wheels were commonplace. I would advise using the wheel's own spindle, clamped down in a simple U-shaped bracket, so that the wheel spins on its own bearings. If you allow the spindle to turn, any imperfections in the spindle will transfer to the rim and make it look as though the rim is out of true. If you then true the rim and fit the wheel back in the bike the rim will be out of true again!

[muskrat]

G'day Tim.
The rollers are the ones for sliding doors from Bunnings. Make it high enough to do a 23" wheel and I made mine so I can adjust the width.
I use the wheels spindle (after making sure it's true) but find the wheel bearings aren't as free as the rollers for balancing.
It's paid for itself 1000 times over. I charge $100 to lace and true a wheel (takes 4-6 hours).
Cheers

[Colsbeeza]

Hi Muskrat, I have built several wheels including the A10. Pleased to hear that you spend 5-6 hours. I spent about that and thought I was glad not to be a motorcycle mechanic on hourly rates - no body would pay me.
Col

[groily]

Seeing the parallel thread about forks and fork swaps, thought I'd put up my damper tube holder, to allow the allen screw on the boittom of the sliders of my XJR's legs to be undone. (Spring tension alone hasn't been adequate on the two occasions I've wished it would be.)
Just a solid bar, with a modded Beesa fork top nut slightly milled off on the hexes so it sits snugly in the funny socket-like thing down inside. With a rod nicked from some or other car hub puller screwed on to get to the required length.

Probably would work for any number of japanese bikes with trad telescopics I suppose - subject to dimensions of the recess in the top of the damper rod.
Was quite pleased with it actually, as it makes fork stripping a complete doddle.

[Triton Thrasher]

[RichardL]

First-rate job making those slip-joint pliers.

Richard L.

[Triton Thrasher]

First-rate job making those slip-joint pliers.

Richard L.

They’re not that good!

Relegated to chain wrench duties.

[RichardL]

I wish my home-made tools were elegant, like John’s, but this is what I have for today. Basically this is part of a tool. For laughs, any guesses? One reasonable answer might be that I made it to channel my father.

(Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s a micrometer. Very funny.)

Richard L.

[Greybeard]

It looks like a bracket. Is it part of a tool to put the centre/center stand spring on?

[RichardL]

GB, thanks for trying.  Not much interest in this diversion, it seems.  Even if there was, I think there is no chance this one can be guessed, maybe because no one would think of wasting time this way. Nevertheless, the wasting of time is still to be proved, I’ve yet to put it to work due to the time used to make it last night. I hope the picture tells the story.

Richard L.

[muskrat]

G'day Richard.
Well done mate, not very pretty but functional.
Cheers

[Greybeard]

Ah yes, that'll do Pig, that'll do 👍

[RichardL]

Ah yes, that'll do Pig, that'll do 👍

Yes, I do know the reference, so, no offense taken. 

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWeaWor5cIku7VO3u22c-zjl0eFD0bOrRIF_XXTQ4Dtc9AQQxFztz_oXZTgmRLdETY6io&usqp=CAU

Ricahrd L.

[Topdad]

Check the oil level Richard the bike looks dry  it works, thats good enough !!

[Greybeard]

Ah yes, that'll do Pig, that'll do 👍

Yes, I do know the reference, so, no offense taken. 

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWeaWor5cIku7VO3u22c-zjl0eFD0bOrRIF_XXTQ4Dtc9AQQxFztz_oXZTgmRLdETY6io&usqp=CAU

Ricahrd L.

That film is set in Britain but it's so obviously an American made movie. It's as fake as Dick Van Dyke's Cockerny accent in Mary Poppins.