What tools to buy?

Hello all,

I am currently bidding on an M109A3 I hope to win in the next few days. In the meantime, I am trying to prepare my tool collection to work on her. I have your average collection of tools a guy in his 30s who is not a mechanic might collect over the years. I worked on my own motorcycles in my 20s, so I have some kit, but most of it is old and hodgepodge.

I am selling a ton of my possessions to raise capital to buy the M109A3, as well as buy the tools necessary to work on her, as well as refit her as an RV. What I am lacking is the actual experience in knowing what are the correct size of tools and the "you gotta have em" essentials.

I am planning on buying a decent 25 to 30 gallon air compressor, so I was thinking some air tools might be decent, such as an impact wrench. Is 3/4" a good size for the Deuce?

Any suggestions on what to buy to kit myself up to do repair, maintenance, and refit would be greatly appreciated.

I am reading the TMs ahead of time as well, trying to gain some book learning before I get the beast.

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions guys. Much appreciated!

Heck, most of a deuce can be taken apart with a 9/16 and 1/2 wrench! Plenty of threads on this. I will let someone that knows of one post a link.

Id say get you a good torque wrench with a decent range of about 25-250 pound feet, A hub socket ( 3") and one of them geared lug wrenches. Other then that, Ive found so far that most things can be fixed with a decent craftsmen type tool kit. Small wire feed welder might come in handy once in a while too. Aircompressors and impact tools are ALWAYS a plus lol....hope this helps a little.


Hey, nice mug-shot Gimpy lol

Yep , I will second the air compressor and impact tools. Rusty old fine threaded bolts with locknuts on them are awfully long winded with 2 wrenches

6 point sockets so you dont round off all the bolts with high torques

Awesome, great replies!

So, it sounds like if I get an air compressor my life would be nice, impact wrench is definitely the way to go (especially if you want to swap the hubs and put on super singles, like I want to), and I should make sure I get a 6 point socket set.

Don't know what a geared lug wrench is, so I'll go ask Google. *grin*

3/4" overkill?

3/4" drive socket set? great to have. No amount of tool variety is overkill. Or as I have seen it put by a poster one time "overkill is just right"

3/4 is great, just need the cfm on the air compressor to handle it.

A good quality 10 ton or heavier extendable bottle jack , 1 1/2" lug socket and 3/4" square socket for cone nut on inside dual.

yarry23 said:

Don't know what a geared lug wrench is, so I'll go ask Google. *grin*

3/4" overkill?

Click to expand...

Look for a "torque multiplier"

3/4" is not overkill if you are doing hub and wheel work.

Definitely heavy jack stands and a jack, though a bottle jack and assortment of 4x4 lumber will work in a pinch.

A press may be used occasionally, but you may be able to get by with a socket collection and a stout C clamp.

An axle nut/bearing nut socket is a must. I think 319 has them in the classifieds:
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/tools-misc-sale/77899-socket-axle-nut.html

3/4 inch breaker bar. No need to damage your ratchet with ridiculous pipe extensions.

Murphy says: if the bolt does not budge, force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.

A TM manual WD40 And yes 6 pt sockets. Fine threads are a reener.

Lots of WD40!!! I know a place locally that sells it by the gallon!!!! Lol, most tools you need are just standard nothing special socket set, plus the 3/4 set.

yarry23 said:

Don't know what a geared lug wrench is, so I'll go ask Google. *grin*

Click to expand...

One of these: http://www.steelsoldiers.com/tools-misc-sale/77688-geared-lug-wrench.html


(shameless plug)

wrench'n

Let's see. You're gonna need a; shop trailer, a M-816 to lift it with, and an instructor.....





... some baling wire, duct tape, vise grip, etc.

Most of the time tinkering on mine is with some open end wrenches like; 1/2", 9/16" and a 3/8" craftsman socket set. sockets small and deep, sizes 7/16" to 3/4". This has come up before, and you will be surprised how most of the work is with little or regular stuff.

2 10ton jacks and jack stands.

Might want to go by HF and pick up a 1" Impact with the socket set. Along with that get you hoses to go from your compressor to a 12 gallon air tank and 1/2 hose and fittings from there to the gun...that should give you enough reserve air and volume (1/2") to run the impact. you can also pick up a gladhand from napa and run it off your trucks air supply...

Oh, and when you say 3/4 wrench, pick up one or two good ones, with REALLY thin sides so you can get to the u-joint bolts and not strip the heads...don't ask me how I know...

Or maybe just a robo impact, run it from the slave port on the truck?

4x4 Forever said:

2 10ton jacks and jack stands.

Might want to go by HF and pick up a 1" Impact with the socket set. Along with that get you hoses to go from your compressor to a 12 gallon air tank and 1/2 hose and fittings from there to the gun...that should give you enough reserve air and volume (1/2") to run the impact. you can also pick up a gladhand from napa and run it off your trucks air supply...

Oh, and when you say 3/4 wrench, pick up one or two good ones, with REALLY thin sides so you can get to the u-joint bolts and not strip the heads...don't ask me how I know...

Click to expand...

A 1" impact wrench takes a badazz air supply. What you suggested might work, I dunno, But those monsters are air hogs