Arggghhhhhhhhh....... Can anyone please tell where I can buy a 14mm allen key for sensible money, without paying stupid postage and packing costs. Searching on the internet is driving me bloody crazy with places like toolbar charging £2.78 for the key and £6.99 for small order charge
I only want about an inch of the bloody thing to make a gearbox drain plug tool!!
Screwfix charge £4.95 postage rather than £6.99.......
You'll always pay a disproportionally high postage charge for small items like that - better to go to a local tool store or even Halfrauds, if they sell them individually. You'll pay more for the tool itself, but no postage.
Why not buy a set of 3/8" or 1/2" drive hex keys including the 14mm one? They're bl**dy useful to have around.
sproggy wrote:Screwfix charge £4.95 postage rather than £6.99.......
You'll always pay a disproportionally high postage charge for small items like that - better to go to a local tool store or even Halfrauds, if they sell them individually. You'll pay more for the tool itself, but no postage.
Why not buy a set of 3/8" or 1/2" drive hex keys including the 14mm one? They're bl**dy useful to have around.
Thanks Sproggy. Only trouble is Screwfix don't sell allen keys individually (I think).
I have previously bought 3/8 drive 14mm hex socket (purpose made sump plug tool) but with ratchet or breaker bar attached its too long due to proximity of exhaust to drain plug. Also bought one of those double ended sump plug tools (14 and 17mm) with a hole through the main body for a bar to fit but again, too long.
I need 20mm length of 14mm hex bar to use with a open ended or ring spanner.
Any kind soles out there want to swap one of the above tools for a bit of 14mm hex??
See "Gearbox seal washer" on previous thread.... I actually used a .5 inch allen key in the end. It was big enough not to cause any rounding of the socket and fit in perfectly w/out fouling the exhaust pipe. So a correct 14mm allen would be fine, should you eventually get one at the right price. No need to cut it.
Stuart
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Is this drain plug access/clearance problem one that affects only bikes fitted with a standard cat? I've had no trouble changing my gearbox oil but I have a Y-piece fitted.
Sounds to me like another good recommendation for fitting a Y-piece
sproggy wrote:Is this drain plug access/clearance problem one that affects only bikes fitted with a standard cat? I've had no trouble changing my gearbox oil but I have a Y-piece fitted.
Sounds to me like another good recommendation for fitting a Y-piece
Nothing to do with the cat. Simply that the right hand header runs right under the drain plug so there is little room for socket, etc. I assume you used a 14mm allen key?
There are lots of threads about this issue and the general consensus seems to be to use a cut down allen key (except for Julian who has pukka Mercedes tool).
It's not the extra power (which I don't particularly care about), but the way the Y-piece smooths the delivery (which I care very much about). Same reason I've fitted 9 degree advance cam sprockets and a Power Commander - the peak power will be barely affected but the way in which it's delivered is improved (as far as I'm concerned) already, even before the PC is set up on a dyno next week.
But you're excused from going the Y-piece route, Stuart, as I know you have homologation restrictions
Nu2beemers wrote:I assume you used a 14mm allen key?
Errrr....I think so. Either that or the 3/8" drive hex key on a ratchet - I can't really remember. But there wasn't a clearance issue with whatever I used.
Hi all,
I bought a 14/17mm sump drain plug tool from a local motor factors, about £3.75, and chopped the 17mm end off with my Dremel power tool. It took a few cutting blades but the end result is a handy tool made for the job. A large shifter on the end bingo, one loosened drain plug.
If you want to borrow it Nu2 then I'll be happy to post it on.
Cobbster wrote:Hi all,
I bought a 14/17mm sump drain plug tool from a local motor factors, about £3.75, and chopped the 17mm end off with my Dremel power tool. It took a few cutting blades but the end result is a handy tool made for the job. A large shifter on the end bingo, one loosened drain plug.
If you want to borrow it Nu2 then I'll be happy to post it on.
Cheers cobbster.
Thanks for the offer Cobster but have this evening done exactly the same thing myself, although I must admit I used a disc cutter to remove the 17mm bit rather than a Dremel.
Result?.....one excellent drain plug tool that clears the header/cat collar a treat
Can anyone please tell where I can buy a 14mm allen key for sensible money, without paying stupid postage and packing costs. Searching on the internet is driving me bloody crazy with places like toolbar charging £2.78 for the key and £6.99 for small order charge 
