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The TTR250 FAQ web pages -> TTR250 -> Repairs and maintenance -> Essential workshop consumables - my choice - UK products
Post Info TOPIC: Essential workshop consumables - my choice - UK products
TTRfan


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Essential workshop consumables - my choice - UK products
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As suggested by brindabella, I have started this thread to show my own choice of "proven/economical/useful workshop consumables". I have started off with my UK thoughts maybe other owners from USA, Australia, etc, can weigh in with their local equivalent brands......

First off, one of my most used bit of kit is a Karcher power washer. I buy a large can of non-caustic TFR (Traffic Film Remover) from a local discount car parts store and decant it into a 4l can with a sprayer attachment which is the best system I have found over the years.

Power washing kit.jpg

 

Having tried thinners and panel wipe, I eventually settled on brake and clutch cleaner for de-greasing parts prior to fitting or spraying. I decant it into a squeezy bottle, which you may recognise, to use on the bench. Don't breathe too much in or you may get an unwanted high!

Workshop essentials 001.jpg

 

Spray paints are an essential for me as its not worth setting up a spray gun for small parts.

The CarPlan Silver 09 paint is the best match I have found for the TTR engine colour.

The Simoniz wheel paint is great - covers well and dries quickly plus its tough as you would expect from a paint made specially for car wheels.

The Indiasa gloss black is used by many professionals (according to the storeman!) and has a wide spray pattern, covers brilliantly and dries very fast!

Workshop essentials 002.jpg

 

Miscellaneous stuff.

The Kwik-Tak is a great contact adhesive for fixing foam to inside the side panels, etc, but mask things up as the spray goes everywhere and is a sod to clean off!

The gasket stripper doesn't work great but can help when things get difficult. Haven't found a better one yet.

The contact spray is nice and easy to use when assembling block connectors etc.

Workshop essentials 003.jpg

 

I like Fuchs Silkolene products as you have guaranteed quality even if it costs a bit more than other brands. 

I have used Silkolene Super 4 10W-40 semi-synthetic oil in my engines for many years and have had no problems. I think air-cooled engines like on the TTR need a bit of body in the oil so don't use fully synthetic.

Probably all fork oil is good but Silkolene offer a good range of weights.

Workshop essentials 004.jpg

 

I use chainsaw oil on my chains as it has low fling properties and is cheap enough to use generously. I decant it into an old fashioned oil can to apply it cleanly. Really sticky if you waste it!

Workshop essentials 005.jpg

 

More miscellaneous stuff - from left to right:

Silkolene (what else?) brake fluid.

3-In-One oil for cables

Loctite 574 gasket goo for joining crankcases and small repairs on cracked cover gaskets. If any of it gets into the engine it won't block the oil ways.

Rubber grease for caliper pins.

Fuchs quality grease for swing arm bearings etc.

Workshop essentials 006.jpg

 

What do you recommend?

Brian

 



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Mogwai


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Parrafin for de-greasing cheap as chips for 5 litres, combined with an old toothbrush, cracking results. Gt85 for cleaning, always on offer in Aldis, 1.99 for 400ml cans.

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matador


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I see you use 'chainsaw oil' Brian, I have gallons of the stuff, so use it on my bike chains. Recently I have used spray on grease but as the dirt sticks to the chain & it forms a grinding paste - not good for sprockets. To clean the chains on both bike without damaging the o-rings I span the wheels & used plenty of chainsaw oil and let it drip off removing the dirt at the same time overnight. Went out today on the XTR for a 80 mile Cotswold run and the chain is still oily, yep going back to chain oil.

I also have an 'enviro- friendly' pressure washer = war time stirrup pump.

One good item - tyre gel, you can slip your rubbers on faster than using KY gel.

 



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Dullthud


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I would add Servisol silicone grease for electrical re-connections after cleaning. You can get it from Maplins or your local diving shop. They use it to seal up all their rubber to metal bits. It also helps in such applications on the bikes. Carb inlet rubbers and such. Tube lasts for ages.

You can use ACF50 for the electrickery stuff. Not really 'budget' though, but it does last a long time and it seems pretty good. I sprayed some inside the frame with the intention of employing its anti corrosion claims. I may have wasted it but I feel better.

I have a big tin of brake cleaner as well. I decant it into a regular spray bottle. Way cheaper than aerosols.

I usually replace bolts with stainless when it comes up (and its not a high tension one.) Then I will apply copper grease to prevent that electrical differing material bonding thing that we all know and (don't) love. Same for bolts into engine type alloy. Same reason. I still have a tub of Rockoil stuff that I may have bought twenty years ago (jeez, where did that go.) There's about a third left still and it's quite stodgy. I got a little tube for a carry round and it's not very good. Way too runny. Do people still put this on the back of brake pads to avoid squeal? I still do, so runny is not helpful.

I'm deeply ambivalent about jet washers. They are not a motorcycle's friend in my experience. They are, after all, designed to blast away anything greasy, including grease. Like the stuff in your head bearings, swinging arm and suspension linkage. However, I am aware of this thing they call laziness, so I would counsel standing back a way and let the juice do its thing once its lost a bit of force. I've seen them ruin paint jobs that had a bit of patina to them. I have a big drain clearing syringe plunger thing that you can control the force on pretty well and works more by volume force than pressure force. Stirrup pump sounds good though. I'll keep my eyes open. In fact I'm doing an e-bay search next thing.

Andy




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leigh


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Great tips! Can't seem to find Simoniz wheel silver for sale in Australia.

Anyone know who might sell it?

Brian are you willing to sell it via your normal channels?

Cheers Leigh.

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TTRfan


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Sorry Leigh but it isn't possible in my experience for us to send aerosols abroad. A few years back I bought some old stock of the fantastic PJ1 aerosol frame paint in the States and after a number of abortive attempts to get them to the UK they eventually got dumped cry

My guess is that there will be an equivalent of the Simoniz in your country and I hope one of your fellow Australians will come along to enlighten us wink

Brian



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leigh


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Fair point. Thanks anyway Brian.

That would be great if anyone has some tips?

Cheers Leigh.

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petenz


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You fella's make dam good paint over there....

Supercheap here in NZ sell it.

I used their engine enamel on both my Montesa frames... Australian Export Paints.. ( maybe the word Export means you don't get it !!!!)



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TTRfan


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This may seem an odd "essential" but I have to say these "big" wet wipes are really useful for cleaning all sorts of stuff from tools and parts to a whole bike if its only dust and light road grime wink

A pack lasts ages as long as you keep them well sealed so they don't dry out.

Brian

Wetwipes.jpeg



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