by louis_sutton on Sun 24 Jun 2018, 1:48 pm
Definitely helps to plan things out. I lay out tools and equipment Thursday night then start work when I get home Friday. Thinking through what order you want to do thing in will help if (for example) you don't have someone to stand on the rear brake if you need to lock things up.
I found that the cheaper chain tools didn't survive contact with the enemy and I had to buy a heavier duty one. But if you compare the cost vs getting it done at a mechanic, it's a no brainer really.
I assume your chain and sprockets are going in the bin? If that's the case, you might want to consider not using the chain breaker tool to push the rivet pins out. It sometimes proves a bit too much for the cheaper tools to handle. Easier to use an angle grinder or a dremel to take the flared part of the pin off, then push through (or just cut through the chain). Just makes the job slightly easier. Worth giving it all a good clean - my chain adjuster blocks looked like they were about to grow stalactites. Not even going to mention the front sprocket mess.
Tools I found particularly useful were a set of vernier to make sure I didn't oversqueeze the chain plates together (and to check the flare of the pin at the very end). Torque wrench. Breaker bar. Engine cleaner/degreaser as you have unfettered access to the swingarm and other parts. Make sure you've some wood to rest the rear wheel rims on whilst working on it. And then a decent breaker/joiner tool. Delboy's garage did a video on chain changing which isn't bad (although it's on the other side as he works on a Triumph. If you've not had the rear wheel out before, it will also let you access the rear caliper, always worth a quick spray, clean and scrub with a toothbrush (when I bought mine, the sliding pins had seized as no-one had ever touched it), plus a swift regrease.
It's a slippery slope - til all of a sudden you find that you're doing damn near everything on the bike on your own!
