Tool kit rant.

[kevin_stevens]

Originally Posted by max384

I haven't priced a tool set in awhile, so I never realized that metric-only sets are hard to find. At this point I'm only buying specialty tools and add-on sets, as I already purchased a good basic set years ago. It shouldn't be hard to buy a metric-only set though IMO, so that is a valid complaint.

However, like I said, if I were buying a starter set, I would only buy a set with both metric and SAE. I'd imagine that the tool manufacturers that sell sets are marketing them toward new tool owners. Those who already have a solid base of tools aren't usually (with exceptions, of course) buying sets. At this point, I guess it makes sense for them to include SAE. If I were buying a starter set, I'd pass on a metric-only set for completeness sake.

I have a cheap metric/SAE set I keep in the trunk of the truck for emergencies, and I have nice metric sockets and ratcheting combos, etc. that I have in the toolbox. What you can't find are ok-to-nice sets in the nice blown plastic cases where everything fits nice. I do have one for metric 1/4", which is cool because I use it so rarely that it helps to keep everything together. But it would be nice to buy those 99-piece sets in just metric.

KeS

[rgbeard]

I use SAE all the time, but, Kevin, you know what's in my garage.

From the half-and-half side of life, when doing a cyl head gasket on a Jaguar AJ6 or AJ16 you use nothing but metric until you get to the cam sprockets. Then you have to grab your 1/2" wrench to loosen those bolts. The metricization (?) I guess was only skin-deep.

Hey, I got to use a not-often used wrench on Friday. While changing the brake light switch on my '67 420 the original was 1". Not a wrench I often need to grab. The replacement needed a 7/8" to fit it. (yes, a brake light switch that screws into the brakes lines, activated by hydraulic fluid pressure. Don't get me started! Grrrrr.)

[Sequentialshift]

Originally Posted by rgbeard

I use SAE all the time, but, Kevin, you know what's in my garage.

From the half-and-half side of life, when doing a cyl head gasket on a Jaguar AJ6 or AJ16 you use nothing but metric until you get to the cam sprockets. Then you have to grab your 1/2" wrench to loosen those bolts. The metricization (?) I guess was only skin-deep.

Hey, I got to use a not-often used wrench on Friday. While changing the brake light switch on my '67 420 the original was 1". Not a wrench I often need to grab. The replacement needed a 7/8" to fit it. (yes, a brake light switch that screws into the brakes lines, activated by hydraulic fluid pressure. Don't get me started! Grrrrr.)

I love those fluid pressure brake light switches. I retro fit those to my bikes as I find they last the life of the bike and don't go faulty like them stupid little micro clickers inside levers.

[Markk9]

I hate how H-D went to Torx and allen bolts, except for the bolts used fluid changes.