Jens is the owner as far as I know. Yes, Steve sits in the office closest to the parts area. I’m not actually 100% sure of their titles...sorry - maybe I misspoke.
Rob
Two Wheel Motorsports
- Thread starter ToSlow
- Start date
Jens is the owner as far as I know. Yes, Steve sits in the office closest to the parts area. I’m not actually 100% sure of their titles...sorry - maybe I misspoke.
Rob
My bad. I thought Ron was the sales manager. Lol. I’ll shut up now.
I just know that I escalate any issues to Steve and he helps get stuff sorted.
Rob
Is it up to the Shop to obtain the computer diagnostic equiptment ?
I brought my '12 GSX1250 to Robert at Pannon last summer to ask for a scan of the computer over a fuel delivery issue and he told me he can't diagnose some of the modern bikes without dishing our mega $ for the factory diagnostic tools. As it turned out I found the problem perusing a few YouTube vids.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
$1000 in tools sets you up to fixing lawnmowers and weed eaters. $10,000 is closer for a mechanic working in shop, 20k if you want to setup to work alone.
Mechanics cant spend 2 hrs a day running around buying and replacing cheapie tools, you need to be equipped to do most jobs that show up.
Ratchets, breakers $300
Torque wrenches $500
Sockets ( metric, imp, torx, hex) swivels, extensions $600
Wrenches metric, std, line, stubbier $500
Screwdrivers and hex sets $300
Pliers, vice grips, cutters $400
Hammers and punches $200
Misc files, drifts, filter wrenches, brushes, picks, chain tools, drill bits, taps/dies $1000
Electrical: meter, circuit testers, soldering, crimping $500
Measuring tools $300
Impact gun, drill, grinder, die grinder, air chisel, heat gun $1000
Toolboxes $1500
that’s a good home mechanics setup (not
Snap-on or MAC) and doesn't include specialty tools or shop tools — add $10k or more for a compressor, tire machines, lifts, welder, diag tools, parts bins/racks benches.
You cut a few bucks by using tools made by the shop Princess, that’s a pay me now or pay me later thing.
Mechanics cant spend 2 hrs a day running around buying and replacing cheapie tools, you need to be equipped to do most jobs that show up.
Ratchets, breakers $300
Torque wrenches $500
Sockets ( metric, imp, torx, hex) swivels, extensions $600
Wrenches metric, std, line, stubbier $500
Screwdrivers and hex sets $300
Pliers, vice grips, cutters $400
Hammers and punches $200
Misc files, drifts, filter wrenches, brushes, picks, chain tools, drill bits, taps/dies $1000
Electrical: meter, circuit testers, soldering, crimping $500
Measuring tools $300
Impact gun, drill, grinder, die grinder, air chisel, heat gun $1000
Toolboxes $1500
that’s a good home mechanics setup (not
Snap-on or MAC) and doesn't include specialty tools or shop tools — add $10k or more for a compressor, tire machines, lifts, welder, diag tools, parts bins/racks benches.
You cut a few bucks by using tools made by the shop Princess, that’s a pay me now or pay me later thing.
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As an academic exercise, this weeks CT flyer (everything on sale):
Tool Chest, top and bottom $1100 --this one should actually be good enough for many years.
Chrome Mechanics Socket and Wrench Set $600 -- this is actually a pretty nice set and a really good deal.
Impact Socket Set $150
Double Ended Wrenches $60
-The mechanics set comes with gear so you still need a proper box end set.
Screw drivers $22
Drill bits $35
Cordless Drill and Driver $160
Hammers $35
Pliers both locking and non-locking $65
Tap and Die $70
SAE and Metric mostly covered, the better quality stuff but all these sets like to skip important sizes.
Tools Above: $1200
Tool Chest $1100
$2300 total, $1200 in tools alone BUT there are still lots of missing items like a good chain tool, measuring tools, grinder, torque wrenches, air tools, electrical tools, individual sockets and wrenches (skipped in the sets), etc. etc. Plus for some of the above (specially sockets) they will need at least two of many sizes so they will likely pick up another smaller cheaper set on sale. So an easy 400 to 800 more in tools at sale prices are needed to just have the basics covered for actual motorcycle mechanics work (automotive even more) that does not include engine rebuild etc. If so add more.... All this assumes the shop supplies the diagnostic tools....
No way $1000 gets you started professionally on anything more than lawn mowers. Very basic hobbyist maybe.
Tool Chest, top and bottom $1100 --this one should actually be good enough for many years.
Chrome Mechanics Socket and Wrench Set $600 -- this is actually a pretty nice set and a really good deal.
Impact Socket Set $150
Double Ended Wrenches $60
-The mechanics set comes with gear so you still need a proper box end set.
Screw drivers $22
Drill bits $35
Cordless Drill and Driver $160
Hammers $35
Pliers both locking and non-locking $65
Tap and Die $70
SAE and Metric mostly covered, the better quality stuff but all these sets like to skip important sizes.
Tools Above: $1200
Tool Chest $1100
$2300 total, $1200 in tools alone BUT there are still lots of missing items like a good chain tool, measuring tools, grinder, torque wrenches, air tools, electrical tools, individual sockets and wrenches (skipped in the sets), etc. etc. Plus for some of the above (specially sockets) they will need at least two of many sizes so they will likely pick up another smaller cheaper set on sale. So an easy 400 to 800 more in tools at sale prices are needed to just have the basics covered for actual motorcycle mechanics work (automotive even more) that does not include engine rebuild etc. If so add more.... All this assumes the shop supplies the diagnostic tools....
No way $1000 gets you started professionally on anything more than lawn mowers. Very basic hobbyist maybe.
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Iceman
Well-known member
Yes but most of you are forgetting the fact that we were talking about a first year apprentice just starting out. $1000 in hand tools will be enough for anything that he/she will be allowed to touch in the first year...
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No way, even with the crappiest way too small tool chest and the very very basic tools it is well over 1K.
Drop the chest down to $600 (sale price again), Buy the basic smaller Mastercraft non-Maximum socket sets most of the rest is needed (screw drivers, at least taps for thread chasing, wrenches, hammers, pliers, drill, bits--all basic mechanic tools.....) they are down to maybe $1400 from my list, still waiting for sales (likely higher as there are things covered in the $600 set that will now need to be bought in individual sets now), then they still need a good chain tool ($100 to $200 right there), measuring tools ($50), torque wrenches ($150 to $200 to cover the range), very basic air tools ($100), electrical tools ($50+), the skipped socket and wrench sizes (($40)....etc. Still hitting $1800 plus. Sure it can be a little less (but actually not that much) if they go the PA Power Fist or some pot metal tool route, $30 chain tool that will break in actual shop use, rounded bolts and eventually broken sockets and wrenches will get old fast (to the mech and the shop).
Unless it is expected that a starting apprentice does not replace chains, does not torque any bolts to spec, measures nothing, does not troubleshoot electrical....etc.etc.. Instead just watches, gets coffee and sweeps the floor...
They can borrow from other mechanics but that will not last long if it is constant for the basic items, the other mechs need to use their tools as well and will not tolerate waiting for the apprentice to be done with their tools so they can get their jobs done...
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If you're buying tools for professional use; AVOID CANADIAN TIRE AND PRINCESS AUTO AND HARBOUR FREIGHT.
CTC sells a "professional" wrench set that goes on sale regularly for $49. The only Mastercraft tools I own. They're almost as good as Snap-on. (The older ones are better. The new ones they tried to copy Snap-on's "flank drive"... it didn't work).
You're going to need some 6 point sockets and wrenches. Something CTC and Princess Auto doesn't sell, so you're going to have to buy SK or Snap-on. A 15mm 6 point Snap-on wrench is $47 USD
Almost all tool boxes in Canada are made by Beech (not Snap-on. They're made in the US)
Snap-on makes the best ratchets (A tip: when you buy a decent ratchet get them to throw in a re-build kit for free. It may save a job later in life)(... but I can almost guarantee you lose it before you need it).
A cheap "beam" torque wrench is as accurate as anything else you're going to use in a garage setting.
You don't want/need air tools anymore, the cordless electrics are that good and cheaper and easier to use.
Used tools are usually a good deal. Old stuff is usually better quality and you get better stuff for less money. Old Craftsman (from Sears. The new stuff is crappy Stanley/Black and Decker) or Proto or Westward is as good as Snap-on for sockets.
Buy the best BASIC tool set you can afford. I'm sure I could put together a decent basic tool set for a motorcycle apprentice for $1200-1500.
Most shop mechanics will NOT lend you tools... more than once. If you need it a second time BUY ONE.
When you NEED a special tool, buy it cheap. If you break it, buy a better one. Nothing like spending $500 on a special tool, only to use it once.
One of the best techs I know works out of the most ghetto tool sets I have seen. When I go to his shop, I bring a tool box.
I also know a tech that has more money in his tool box than I have in my house.
Tools are an investment. I own tools older than me.
... a secret they don't want you to know: Snap-on/Mac tools aren't necessarily BETTER, the reason Snap-on and Mac are popular with mechanics is the tool store came to the mechanic... and offered credit (at usury rates). DON'T BUY TOOLS ON CREDIT
CTC sells a "professional" wrench set that goes on sale regularly for $49. The only Mastercraft tools I own. They're almost as good as Snap-on. (The older ones are better. The new ones they tried to copy Snap-on's "flank drive"... it didn't work).
You're going to need some 6 point sockets and wrenches. Something CTC and Princess Auto doesn't sell, so you're going to have to buy SK or Snap-on. A 15mm 6 point Snap-on wrench is $47 USD
Almost all tool boxes in Canada are made by Beech (not Snap-on. They're made in the US)
Snap-on makes the best ratchets (A tip: when you buy a decent ratchet get them to throw in a re-build kit for free. It may save a job later in life)(... but I can almost guarantee you lose it before you need it).
A cheap "beam" torque wrench is as accurate as anything else you're going to use in a garage setting.
You don't want/need air tools anymore, the cordless electrics are that good and cheaper and easier to use.
Used tools are usually a good deal. Old stuff is usually better quality and you get better stuff for less money. Old Craftsman (from Sears. The new stuff is crappy Stanley/Black and Decker) or Proto or Westward is as good as Snap-on for sockets.
Buy the best BASIC tool set you can afford. I'm sure I could put together a decent basic tool set for a motorcycle apprentice for $1200-1500.
Most shop mechanics will NOT lend you tools... more than once. If you need it a second time BUY ONE.
When you NEED a special tool, buy it cheap. If you break it, buy a better one. Nothing like spending $500 on a special tool, only to use it once.
One of the best techs I know works out of the most ghetto tool sets I have seen. When I go to his shop, I bring a tool box.
I also know a tech that has more money in his tool box than I have in my house.
Tools are an investment. I own tools older than me.
... a secret they don't want you to know: Snap-on/Mac tools aren't necessarily BETTER, the reason Snap-on and Mac are popular with mechanics is the tool store came to the mechanic... and offered credit (at usury rates). DON'T BUY TOOLS ON CREDIT
But they need the basics that I listed just to start (again): storage, wrenches, sockets (shallow, deep, allen, torx...), missing sizes for wrenches and sockets, pliers, hammers, screw drivers, chain tool, drill, bits, torque wrenches, taps, measurement tools, vacuum gauge, electrical tools etc.... Even if you consider air tools and impact sockets some how unnecessary and extravagant (they are not)....nothing fancy on that list and the list is not happening even at CT deep sale prices (which are not pro quality BTW but can be good enough day one) for under $1000, the very basic tool chest (that will last more than a few months in shop use) top and bottom on sale alone eats up half that. Chain tool $150....then $200 here, $20 there, $50 for that thing so on and so forth.... up to 2K before they know it.
If they show up with $1000 in tools, they will spend the other $1000+ before the next week if they want to keep the job. Unless they have a horseshoe up their butt the missing tools will also be at full retail if not planned ahead.
Imagine the apprentice showing up the first day with no chain tool, missing socket and wrench sizes, no pliers, not even a volt meter....or maybe just a bunch of bags or rubbermaid for tool storage because they only spent $1000.
J_F
Guest
an apprentice will get away with borrowing some tools for a short time
but need to be willing to buy what they need as they go
the way it's supposed to work is they get only basic jobs on their own
for more involved work they are with a Journeyman for awhile
it's not at all realistic to have an apprentice show up with all they need
it takes years to even know what they need
but need to be willing to buy what they need as they go
the way it's supposed to work is they get only basic jobs on their own
for more involved work they are with a Journeyman for awhile
it's not at all realistic to have an apprentice show up with all they need
it takes years to even know what they need
I agree but just to cover those basics absolute and to include proper tool storage 1K is not going to cover it. Approaching 1.5 to 2K to start with on sale CT/MC quality... Without storage is it plausible for 1K, but a bucket of tools, rubbermaid???
The seasoned mechanics (well some) can be good about lending for the new guys but it gets old fast if it is all the time for basics (hey can I borrow pliers, screw driver, volt meter, a 16 mm socket, chain tool, metric spark plug socket...) and when it causes them delays in their work. One other thing I forgot to mention earlier, when a tool is borrowed and they have to go looking for it when they need it because the apprentice has it! Oh boy.
Purchase of my 2009 Ducati 2 years ago was great from 2Wheel.Salesman was awesome.The service department not so much.They put new rubber on it (which was not expected) But assembled the caliper wrong.This is what you get for $18/hr.
Corrected by me.
As received.
Corrected by me.
As received.
bigpoppa
Well-known member
Purchase of my 2009 Ducati 2 years ago was great from 2Wheel.Salesman was awesome.The service department not so much.They put new rubber on it (which was not expected) But assembled the caliper wrong.This is what you get for $18/hr.
Corrected by me.
As received.
I take it an actual ducati dealership would be better? I hear ducati is quite strict with their franchises
Hack
Well-known member
It's a brembo calper.The tech was just lazy and a bit stupid.
Raise your hand if you asked the service manager to have the tech that makes $32/hr change your brake pads.
