So,

I am looking at purchasing an F2 this weekend and I want to start working on my own bike as I am pretty sure it has carb issues as it has been sitting for a bit.

I have a basic socket set and some other random tools like crescent wrenches and the like. What sort of tools do I need to do basic maintenance / repair?

I know I will need a torque wrench, will a 1/2" do fine for now? Money is kind of tight right now so where is a good place to start?

 

If it makes you feel better, I currently have the crank from my bike sitting next to me on my desk, and as I recall that didn't take much more than what you have to make that happen. They're very simple to work on. I have a 1/2" drive tq. wrench, and it does all I've ever needed. Just promise you won't be one of those shady people that thinks every metric size has a corresponding SAE size.

I've found some purpose for a good set of spanner wrenches, but Honda usually makes this unnecessary. The only place on the bike I can think of off the top of my head that needs them is the chain adjustment blocks in the rear, but even that could honestly be had with metric deep-well sockets.

 

I second Jimmy's response. These bikes are very easy to work on. All you really need to start with is a decent set of metric sockets and wrenches. Additionally you will probably find needle nose pliers useful, and other things like a funnel and shop rags.

If you buy this bike and it needs carb work, I would like to share my technique for removing them. When you attempt to pull all four carbs off at once, you may find it to be very very difficult. I ended up using a crow bar to pry the carbs off. You can use a portion of the frame in front of the battery as your fulcrum point. Place a small piece of aluminum under the two center float bowls to keep the crowbar from damaging anything. Then pry gently and use your hands to rock the carbs forward and backward until they come loose.

 

If you're ever gonna take the motor out then you'll need some allen head type sockets for the engine hanger bolts(12mm I think). The cylinder head also has some hold down bolts that need those kind of sockets.(10mm from what I remember)

 

Yeah, to take the cylinder head off you'll need 8-mm allen wrenches. It is better to have them in 3/8 or 1/2 socket form so you can get appropriate torque.

You'll definitely need the socket form of the allen wrench for the installation because the torque of the cylinder head bolts is especially important.

 

Thanks for the quick advice! I am not planning on tearing apart the engine just yet... but it will probably be in my future.

The only experience i have with building an engine was back in Junior High when we had to build a 2 stroke 1 cylinder. I remember the valves springs being a major pain in the A**! Although, I would love to get down and dirty again

 

I thought a 2-stroke engine doesn't have valves? I was under the impression that the motion of the piston in the cylinder pressurized a part of the crankcase, forcing fuel into the cylinder. Are there some 2-stroke designs that rely on valves? If so, when and how are they opened?

 

It was a long time ago, I could be wrong in my memories and it may have been a 4 stroke... but I distinctly remembered having grief with the stupid valve springs.

 

"The only experience i have with building an engine was back in Junior High when we had to build a 2 stroke 1 cylinder. I remember the valves springs being a major pain in the A**! Although, I would love to get down and dirty again "

please do not be offended, but I have saved this forever.

On to other matters. So. I kinda forgot about the engine hanger pinch bolt. You might need a 12mm allen wrench, but what I did was this: I got myself a spare bolt off my parts bike with a 12mm head, and I leaned it against a wall. Then, I took the biggest hammer I had and bent it into an "L" shape against the corner of the wall. As you may have guessed, I now have a 12mm allen wrench.

Hint: The 12mm large grub screw that holds your motor in (mentioned above) is also the tool that removes your flywheel from your crankshaft.

 

haha no worries :P "Newbies say the darndest things"

That's one way to make an allen wrench