View source for A beginner's guide to maintenance tools

[[Category:New Riders|Engine|Intake]]
'''So you're new to riding, and wanna save money by doing your own maintenance?'''

This is the ULTRA beginners guide... for those who haven't Any experience, much less tools. For those folks, the prospect is often a daunting one when it comes to doing any sort of work on their precious new bikes. You're worried about screwing something up, voiding the warranty and just generally getting in over your head. Well, not to worry. If you can read and use your hands, then you have what it takes to do anything your bike(s) might need. 

'''First things first'''

Just like gear is needed before you start riding, information is needed before you start wrenching. This forum, its associated FAQ and archive search are an Amazing free resource. Chances are that no matter what you plan on doing, a handful of members have already done the same job. And it's even fairly likely that there's a pictorial write-up floating about with step-by-step instructions. But that doesn't mean you should skip out on buying the factory service manuals ~ there's a LOT of detailed information in those 2 manuals that's not found anywhere else. And yes, that includes the cheap aftermarket knock-offs... There is sometimes information in those that is just blatantly wrong. 

99924-1066-01 Service Manual EX250E 36.95<br> 
99924-1109-62 Service Manual Supplement* EX250F 24.95 

Above are the 2 manuals needed and their associated part numbers. You can buy the manuals from anywhere that supplies Factory Kawasaki parts, such as [http://buykawasaki.com/Default.asp? buykawasaki.com], [http://www.ronayers.com/index.cfm Ron Ayers], and your local dealership. The noted prices are full retail. Since this is asked from time to time, there '''are no legal downloads''', it's not on CD and be wary of the copies on ebay ~ Kawasaki takes its copyright laws seriously. 

Now that you have the information available, it's a good idea to thoroughly read and research whatever task you're going to tackle. Know if you will need any consumable parts, like o-rings, crush washers or gaskets, and order those well before you plan on doing the work. Know the [[Torque Values]] of all the bolts you're going to be touching, and you might even want to photocopy the page(s) you'll be using so they're handy for quick reference without smudging up your books. There's Nothing worse than doing some simple service and having to put it all on hold while you look up the next step in the process or wait for a part to be delivered. If you've got all your information together and you're still hesitant, ask if there's anyone in the area that can help ~ there are members all over the place with different levels of mechanical skill... one may be near you and able to help. 

'''Tools'''

This is a touchy topic with a lot of 'right' answers. It's a good idea to make sure that the stuff you use most often is of the highest quality, with the stuff you use only occasionally cheap. There's an old saying that 'Only a wealthy man can afford cheap tools', because the tools themselves will break, and they'll do a sub-par job. The best example is trying to remove a phillips screw: most cheap screwdrivers will Not grip the screw very well and will end up stripping out the head in short order. Then you have to worry about trying to drill it out, using an EZ-out or similar. Spend your money on the best you can afford.... you'll be doing these purchases in small steps so it's not out of the question that you could buy Snap-On/Mac/Matco type tools. See the [[Ratings Of Tools By Brand|tool article]] for a discussion of tool brands.

Here are tool purchases broken down by common jobs: 

The first maintenance item most riders are likely to perform would be changing the oil. Not a very daunting task, you've heard it said. Maybe you've seen it done with family cars. There are only 2 bolts, and they're the same size (17mm on the 250). So, the first tool purchase is going to be Either a 3/8-drive  socket wrench and a single socket (or the better deal, a set of sockets), OR a set of combination wrenches. Sockets are generally a little easier to use, especially for this particular task, but they cannot be used on all aspects of motorcycle maintenance. If you buy a set, the Important sizes are 8,10,12,14,17,19mm and sometimes larger (for axle bolts; this is highly bike-dependent, though). 13 and 15mm are usually included in such sets, but rarely used on motorcycles (they will come in handy if you work on metric cars, though). See here for another look at [[What should a good set of tools include?|what should be in your toolbox]].

A 6-point socket is superior to a 12-point because it fits the bolt/nut better, providing more surface area and less chance of rounding off the head. For $100 you can buy all these pieces from a High-end maker, or about $70 from Sears/Home Depot/Lowe's (always buy from a company who offers a lifetime unconditional guarantee and is easy to access... this might be Home Depot and Lowe's for most people). You'll also need an oil drain pan ($10). A funnel and rubber gloves really help a lot, too. 

As soon as you buy sockets, and, really, before you do any work on your bike, you should buy a quality torque wrench. Some places will offer limited warranties, others offer free calibrations (they go off after awhile and need to be recalibrated) ~ you'll have to find one that meets your price range and works for you. This is a tool you'll be using non-stop (almost) so spend the money if you have it to spend. Also, be aware while you're shopping that the first and last 10% of the range isn't accurate on a wrench, so buy one that fits the majority of your work. And remember, a torque wrench is used to check the tension on nuts/bolts. Don't use it to loosen bolts with. That's what a ratchet or breaker bar is for. 

The next item of maintenance a rider is likely to encounter is adjusting the chain. This is one of those areas where a socket just won't work and you need a wrench. You'll still need a socket to loosen the rear axle, but the wrench will be used for adjusting the tension of the chain. You need to buy wrenches in the same sizes as the sockets mentioned above. Another cheap, but handy tool, is a 6" metal machinist's ruler ~ this will easily fit under the swingarm and give you accurate measurements for checking the slack ($3 anywhere). Similarly, a standard issue tape measure (the kind that you pull out of a body, usually goes to about 7 or 10') will come in handy for measuring the distance from the center of the axle to the center of the swingarm pivot on both sides, so you can ensure that the wheel is straight in the swingarm. 

Changing tires will probably be the next issue that crops up, but you already have the tools necessary for the job with the sockets you bought earlier. You Might need to buy the specific size for your bike, but one socket is usually between $5 and $10, so it's not a burden at all. 

By this time, it's probably winter and you're going to want to put the bike away for a few months. Since you want it to start easily when you pull it out the next season, you're going to need to [[How to drain the float bowls|drain the carbs of fuel]] so they don't get all gummed up. This is a REALLY simple task, but you need some screwdrivers. This is the One place you are urged to splurge and buy the best that's out there. Buggered-up screws are Always headache and are easily avoided by using a quality tool, and always using the right size screwdriver for the job. You'll want to buy a #1, #2 and #3 Phillips, and small and large flat blade screwdrivers. Stubbies, long shaft, and other odd screwdrivers can be of lower quality, but not the ones you use on a daily basis. 

At some point, you're going to need to remove the fairing or something else that uses allen screws. There are a few options for Allen drivers: A set of individual keys, (usually with a ball on the long end), a set of T-handles, and a set of 3/8-drive sockets. You'll probably use the sockets the most, followed by the T's, and rarely pull out the individual keys. You'll want a set from 3mm to 10mm. The better the quality, the less likely they will round off (in this case, the tool rounds off while the screw is somewhat salvageable). 

With all the success you've had doing maintenance, you might finally decide to take on a valve adjustment. Your tool kits are becoming fairly well stocked and you have most of the tools needed to do the job. The only 2 new additions at this point are the  [[Is there a special tool to make this easier?|Factory (or Motion Pro) valve adjustment tool]] and feeler gauges. Long feeler gauges (5" or longer) of the 'go, no-go' design are easier to use in tight spaces like the ex250 head.  

Other tools you ought to pick up as time and money allow (these can all be cheaper, though it's always a good idea to buy something with a warranty) are: 

A pliers set with normal, needle nose, and diagonal cutters<br>
Various vice-grips, they come in handy every now and again, especially the needle-nose kind<br> 
An impact driver that uses sockets (and associated screwdriver bits on sockets)<br> 
A rubber or brass mallet - sometimes you just need to hammer on things<br> 
A high quality [[What sort of pressure gauges are available?|tire pressure gauge]]<br>
Various greases, lubes and cleaners<br> 
Drill and drill bits (both normal and reverse - the reverse bits work better at removing rounded screws than EZ-outs)<br> 
A [[Lubing the cables|cable luber]] ($10 item that's absolutely necessary for keeping your clutch and throttle cables in good working order) 

And you'll find by this point that you're fairly comfortable working on your bike. After you have all the tools you need, start getting those that will make doing the work easier/quicker. One example is a T-handle that can accommodate 3/8-drive sockets. You may find you use it more than your actual socket wrenches. As you do more work, you'll always find an excuse to buy more tools.

Hopefully, this will help several of the newer riders out there that often ask simple questions of the maintenance nature. Get the proper resources, use the right tools, and you'll be well on your way to a well-maintained bike.