I'd go along with most of what Smokey says. You can get a servicable made-in-China tool kit at Home Depot or Wal-Mart. Look for one that has 3/8" drive metric sockets, a bunch of combination wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. Sometimes you can find a set that also has 1/4" drive stuff. This stuff is amazingly cheap these days.

I'd keep away from WD-40. The stuff is messy. Once used, it stains everything. Rena is new enough that you should not be dealing with rust. I'm also not that keen on duct tape as a general repair item. I have a great fondness for a nice ball peen hammer, but I've got to admit that it doesn't get used very often on my car.

If you're going to change wheels, get a half inch drive socket the right size for the lug nuts, a short extension, a breaker bar (AKA flex handle) and a torque wrench. Torque wrench can be the cheap beam type. This stuff will set you back about as much as everything else put together (maybe even more), but lug nuts need to be tightened evenly and to the right torque.

If you can afford more than Wal-Mart, go tool shopping at Sears. Craftsman stuff is very good quality, and is guaranteed forever. IMHO, the first upgrade from Chinese Wal-Mart stuff should be a set of Craftsman screwdrivers. Second would be pliers. Keep an eye on sales: sets of each of those list for $20 to $30, but periodically go on sale for half or less.

Ken

TO change a bicycle tire?
 

:Eyecrazy:

I know you said your bike was in disrepair and needed an overhaul too, but dude, seriously, changing a flat on a a car a swapping an inner tube on a bicycle are just things a human male needs to know how to do. Look it up online, pull out the manual for your bike, but learn how to change your own bike tires, it will save you money and give you a sense of accomplishment, no matter how small.

I went to a car parts shop that sold many tools. Too many.

I will need some specifics on the tools you listed ken. I even showed the list to the attendant, and he was like..., O.o

Basically, he's wondering what kinda breaker bar you're talking about. There were so many there, I was just lost.

Auto parts store is not really the place to buy tools. Maybe special things like a piston ring compressor (like anyone here needs one of those!) but not regular tools.

Sears for good stuff. Wal-Mart or equivalent for cheap stuff.

For a general set, go to Wal-Mart and look for a mechanic's tool kit that comes with 3/8" drive stuff, etc.

For a flex handle, something like this:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...et+Accessories

Not sure if it's a local dialect or something, but what Sears calls a flex handle I've usually called a breaker bar. What I think a lot of people call a breaker bar is a Sacred Ceremonial Cheater Bar - a long pipe you slip over your flex handle. My favorite socket tool is my 3/4 in drive breaker bar. If the Earth ever stops spinning, I could turn it with that. Great for road rage incidents, too.

But I digress...

Torque wrench would be something like this:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...orque+Wrenches

Extension bar would be something like this:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...et+Accessories

which seems a bit overpriced. But you need something to space the torque wrench out so it clears the fender.

Make Wal-Mart your first stop. They may have some inexpensive half inch stuff for the wheels. IMHO, anything else you'd work on will only need 3/8 inch drive or 1/4 inch drive tools.

Sears has periodic sales, so unless you've got an emergency there's never a need to pay full price.

Ken

For once in a blue moon repairs, I would go with what's been said above. But for the more precise instruments (torque wrench and breaker bar) go with the higher quality stuff. You'll save yourself a headache in the long run.