BodieZoffa wrote:Must be some TINY space in that case...

Not at all. With both side covers & the top cover off it's wide open with easy access to all fittings. The 2020-on models were redesigned inside & have even more free space between fittings then the older ones like mine.

Knipex plier-wrenches, with or without the soft jaws, are expensive, but a joy to work with.

Well-fitting screwdrivers, such as PBSwiss, Wiha, or Wera (PBSwiss are, unfortunately, even more expensive than Wiha and Wera).

For cramped spaces a ratcheting 1/4 bit driver. I happen to have a Felo, there are several brands out there. The "ultimate" for close quarters is the Engineer DR-54 (https://www.tme.com/us/en-us/details/fu ... eer/dr-54/ or various eBay sellers)

From TME.eu:



I also picked up KNP.8111250 which looks like it will come in handy for something. (Like stubborn piston-mounting caps in a VAM.)

From TME.eu

I got some bitties I can recommend not counting the stuff already mentioned (the Knipex especially)

My little magnetic tumbler. I use it on every project, and it will clean up just about anything that is non ferrous (although I have cleaned up a few small pieces), and it will keep the plating in the process. My Vevor KT185 will not clean off stubborn gasket material but besides that I am very pleased with it. I use pins and cleaning powder from Guntap.




I like to use the tumbler and my sonic cleaner together (The Vevor I currently have is the one on the right. The left one is the Harbor Freight cleaner I broke before purchasing the Vevor). The latter preps the pieces for the former. I have a 6 liter size, and it fits most pieces I clean it with, although perhaps in the future I will also get a bigger and smaller size too.


My bearing separator from Harbor Freight was a good purchase to remove bearings from lever forks. It is also one of my first specialty tools I bought


For pistons with pin holes on the face I use an OTC 6613 pin spanner wrench, normally used on car brakes I believe.



Electrical wiring I have a Doyle wire clippers, a now no longer available ratcheting crimping tool, and a Klein Tools wire stripper. The 14AWG TGGT wiring itself is high temp, as are the AMP PIDG terminal connectors I use. For toggle switches I use the NKK brand, also highly recommended.


When I need pipes made I use Cupalloys 2mm diameter low temp silver solder and a MAP Pro torch. The fittings I purchase from a Nuova Ricambi distributor, and they are really good for making sure I am getting the right fitting size for the pipe and thread. I use a Rigid pipe cutter and a random chamfer/deburr tool for cutting and cleaning the copper pipe. I use a no-name pipe bender and it works fine for soft metals.



In terms of cool factor I think my factory Gaggia Espanola 80mm spanner wrench is up there. I wonder who used it last before me

An amazing and wonderfully informative post Ryan.
Thanks for sharing so much of what you do.

Giampiero wrote:This one it fix everything image

A roll of duct tape, vice grips, this. What more would you need?

I agree with others- there's life before knipex pliers, and life after.

Indeed a cool post Ryan.

I'm familiar with what a sonic cleaner does (have been on the fence purchasing one for a while now to clean chains, cassettes and other greasy items), but what is the difference with a magnetic tumbler? Haven't heard of that before, but those shiny parts make me curious.

The tumbler spins little pins that clean the surfaces of the dirty parts you want to work on. Water and cleaning detergent are added for enhanced cleaning

Can't forget Evaporust, for older machine repair.