Building a Commando Toolbox

Conrad

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I need tips on what tools I should be collecting (and where to get them) for rebuilding a 72 Combat. I have already ordered some Whitworth wrenches, but that is an obvious noob purchase. What's a good source for tools that won't drain me dry in shipping? Any standard automotive tools I can repurpose without resorting to the 'British motorcycle tax'? eBay auctions come up but I'm always out-bid by some crazy amount. Maybe the reality is that the prices are astronomical and I need to deal with that. What's the one tool you would hunt for first (not in a standard sae/metric auto toolbox)?
 
 
Thanks for that. I'm a fairly confident mechanic so wrenches and sockets, and even that clutch tool, are a no-brainer for me. I'll pick up those Koken sockets. I guess I was wondering if there were any specialty tools I should be searching for. I'll chime in that other thread and close this one.
 
I suggest you only buy a few basic Whitworth tools for now.
 
I have made some specialty tools by modifying others. For example, the tool to remove the left hand nut that drives the Speedo gearbox is easily made by welding some key stock onto an old worn out or cheap socket of the right outside diameter. Same technique applies to the clutch actuator in the outer gearbox.

Modify gear pullers by grinding the jaws to suit the Norton's need.

One of the hardest nuts to remove on a Norton is the lower nut on a K2F magneto. To get a decent turn requires the open end spanner jaws to be ground away. Rather than grind on an expensive Whitworth spanner, I ground a worn out 7/16" open end, and opened up the jaw width by a few thousanths to fit the Whitworth nut.

Slick
 
This front brake outer cover removal tool is really handy:

The Andover Norton clutch tool, rocker spindle slide hammer, and crank gear puller are great. You will use them a lot. A good flashlight and a long skinny magnet pickup tool are essential. A good radio is nice. A heat gun for softening soft parts and heating parts is nice. Good luck.
 
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