Is there a 'Tools and Tricks' type thread here? Could be helpful/fun.

[oldGSfan]

Some forums have a 'tools you made' thread, and it can be interesting. Today I was removing/replacing my '83 GS1100E headlight shell and I was annoyed by aligning the bolt holes down under the sides. So simple, a bit of masking tape on top and slice it down the groove between shell and trim ring. Putting on was a cinch. Not much of anything but it sparked a thought - a brainwave, even. I learned many tricks here like the zip tie method for valve shim remove/replace. Maybe it would be good to have a sticky? I dunno, just thinking. Which is usually dangerous.

 

[Burque73]

I can't think of any single thread for custom tools, but surely you've seen the forum section for tips and tricks.
https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/forum/technical-forums/tips-and-tricks

One neat tip in there is to insert a tiny piece of vacuum hose under the nut in your battery terminal. It'll hold the nut in place while tightening the screw.

 

[oldGSfan]

I can't think of any single thread for custom tools, but surely you've seen the forum section for tips and tricks.
https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/forum/technical-forums/tips-and-tricks

One neat tip in there is to insert a tiny piece of vacuum hose under the nut in your battery terminal. It'll hold the nut in place while tightening the screw.

Oh yeah could just subscribe to that.

And wow, how I hate those battery terminal nuts. Was just working on them today and could have used that advice. I wedged a screwdriver behind it and fumbled around for a while. That design always perplexed me, seems a captured nut would work out better.

 

[MikeLyon]

One neat tip in there is to insert a tiny piece of vacuum hose under the nut in your battery terminal. It'll hold the nut in place while tightening the screw.

good one

Over the years ive used all kinds of things to do that.

 

[Cipher]

Oh yeah could just subscribe to that.

And wow, how I hate those battery terminal nuts. Was just working on them today and could have used that advice. I wedged a screwdriver behind it and fumbled around for a while. That design always perplexed me, seems a captured nut would work out better.

Some batteries use a rectangular captured nut that is a gd pita to secure. Its fiddly and the nut can drop below the limits of bolt length.

 

[Sandy]

If your carb sync barbs are too short or your fingers are too fat use a 3"-4" piece of vacuum hose attached to the barb to thread it in then pull the hose off and then attach the sync tool hose. Reverse the procedure to remove the barb.

 

[rphillips]

Stupid bike batteries, It seems to me something as simple as a slightly longer screw or a slightly thicker nut would be a huggggge improvement