5 Time-Saving Motion Pro Products for the Shop
Regular maintenance on your ride is important to keep your machine running and give you, the rider, peace of mind before your next adventure. Prioritizing time to inspect and perform maintenance tasks on your machine can quickly become a hurdle that may take time from the passion. In this article, we’re going to explore popular Motion Pro specialty tools that help save time in the shop or home garage:
1. Hose Removal Tool
The Motion Pro Hose Removal Tool provides a secure and time-saving method for removal of stubborn cooling system hoses and deteriorating plumbing lines on many engines. Engine hoses and lines can bond to fittings over time and after many heat cycles, making hose removal nearly impossible. With no common tool for this task, brute force and aggressive pulling is usually the first attempt at removal. Depending on the working clearances you’re dealing with, this method can be difficult, frustrating, and lead to damaged knuckles or components. The Motion Pro Hose Removal Tool was designed with these factors in mind. We cover the fine points of the dual-tips found on the Hose Removal Tool below:
Break the bond: The barb end of the tool provides a method to help break the bond between the hose and component. This step is critical to free the hose. First, insert the barb end, between the hose and component. Then move the tool around the circumference of the component to break the bond free.
Hose Removal: Once the bond between the hose and component has been broken, flip the tool around and utilize the blunt hook end of the tool. This feature is used for pulling hoses from barbs and water necks, the blunt tip and knurled tool handle provide a secure method and additional leverage when pulling the hose free. Next, pull from several points around the hose to easily back it off and free it from the barb/connection.
Job complete! The hose removal tool can be very useful to many mechanics and customers when repairing or restoring motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs. See your local dealer today to check out the Motion Pro Hose Removal Tool
2. Gasket Scraper
The Motion Pro Gasket Scraper is another must-have-tool we’ve grown to love! This handy tool will safely remove paper and stubborn gasket materials from aluminum engine cases and precision mating components.
When performing common motor work and engine maintenance, engine parts are removed and reinstalled. In most scenarios, new gaskets or bonding agents are suggested for reassembly. This is where the Gasket Scraper saves time! Removing old gasket material or bonding agents can be painful and take valuable time when using found items in the garage. Grabbing ‘The right tools’ for the job is more important than ever for this process due to the precision mating surfaces between engine components. These components are often aluminum and can be easily scored or damaged if the tool blade material is much harder than the engine component, damaging precision surfaces can lead to leaks or blown gaskets.
The Gasket Scraper is equipped with a brass and steel blade for removing gasket material. The additional blade can be stored conveniently in the body of the tool handle and swapped, when necessary, using a 2 mm hex key. Both blades feature a narrow, angled blade to provide a low working angle for precision surfaces. Additionally, the billet aluminum ergonomic handle is an important feature of this tool; the shape provides users a proper grip and finger placement during use.
The Gasket Scraper is a great shop solution for removing material from mating surfaces when working with engine components.
3. Bead Buddy® II
Changing your tires regularly? Have you heard of the Motion Pro Bead Buddy® II by now? When you replace your tires at home or at the track, a Bead Buddy® II can help save valuable time and energy for this common task we all love to hate.
Simply put, the Bead Buddy® II provides an extra hand during the final tire installation process of spooning the remaining tire bead onto the rim. This portion of the tire change can be most difficult and require more leverage than necessary if not done so properly. The Bead Buddy® assists in this step, by holding the bead down when you need it most. Slip the bead buddy between the tire rim and hook the upper channeled portion onto a spoke, this holds the bead buddy in place.
Now take your common steps with Motion Pro tire spoons to complete the tire changing process. Applying downward pressure on the tire opposite of the bead buddy allows the tire bead to drop into the center of the rim, this helps reduce the amount of stress on the bead and the force needed to spoon the bead on. The Motion Pro Bead Buddy® II, provides a helpful hand in the tire changing process! And helps you save valuable time, energy, and frustration when performing tire changes. See our tire/wheel tool section here for additional Motion Pro products we recommend for motorcyclists.
4. Pro Funnel™
Changing your motorcycle’s fluids? We recommend our innovative Pro Funnel™. Why the Pro Funnel™? Save time by adding, measuring, and dispensing your oil, all with this product. Reach difficult-to-reach fill points with the pivoting ball spout and easily dispense fluids in a controlled manner with integrated shutoff valve.
The Pro Funnel™ gives you flexibility in the shop when working on multiple types of powersport vehicles and motorcycles. Total volume capacity is 1000 cc (34oz). Molded graduated markings on the funnel body provide clear measurement points when adding fluids. Current volume measurements include; fluid ounces, cubic centimeters, and premix ratio.
Storing or setting the Pro Funnel™ aside is easy, thanks to the provided magnet on the backside of the funnel and the top lid cover, which helps keeps dust and debris out when not in use. Store the Pro Funnel™ on a metal toolbox or other metal shop box to allow hands-free management of the funnel during use.
5. Cable Luber V3
Often overlooked maintenance tasks for motorcycle/powersport maintenance is control cable lubrication. Does your clutch or throttle cable feel rough, unsmooth, or sound creaky when pulled? If so, we recommend a thorough inspection. Consistent cable lubrication is recommended for cable operated controls, performing this task regularly will ultimately extend cable life and provide a consistent feel each time you ride. When cables see periods of extended use, storage, and washing, moisture easily creeps in to the cable housing and reaches the inner wire causing a gritty or harsh pull. If left unchecked, you risk potential cable failure.
Getting started: If you have experience with this task previously, it can become really messy and require a lot of shop towels if the lubrication is not making it into the interior of the cable housing. The Motion Pro Cable Luber V3 is our recommended specialty tool for this task and is the latest generation of our popular Cable Luber. The patented design provides an enclosed assembly for cable lubrication, the innovative plunger and tool body help apply the pressure exerted from the aerosol cable lube can directly into the cable housing. This unique feature is what we feel makes the Cable Luber V3 a time-saver when lubing control cables. Thorough lubrication is quick and easily visible when performing this task due to the excess pressure from the lube process being blown out the opposite end of the cable. This results is an audible and visible sign of proper lubrication throughout the cable housing. Our proprietary Motion Pro Cable Lube (p/n 15-0002) lube is recommended for lubricating the inner-housing of control cables to maintain consistent feedback in your controls when riding.
1. Install Cable Luber V3 lower body component.
2. Install rubber gromet, proper orientation is critical, so there is no cable lube leakage from the tool. The gromet’s large end should be face down and seal the bottom of the cable luber housing as shown.
3. Next, fasten the top portion of the Cable Luber V3 onto the bottom portion. Pull the blue anodized plunger out to allow room for the cable, you will depress the plunger once lubrication has been added. If the cable is equipped with a mid-adjuster, we recommend taking a shop towel and wrapping this portion of the cable. Cable lube can easily escape the mid-adjuster area and leak during lubrication.
4. To start with lubricating the cable, first, insert the straw into the plunger hole. Make sure the straw is inserted at least 1-2 mm into the plunger. Now, in small spurts, spray the cable lube into the Cable Luber V3. Upon several sprays, you will hear the cable lube and pressure working through the housing, next push the blue anodized plunger down to push any excess pressure and lube into the cable housing. Eventually lubrication will reach the end point of the cable.
5. Thorough lubrication is audible and visible at the opposite cable end. Job complete! Unfasten the Cable Luber V3 housing to remove, it may be necessary to do this over a rag or trash can. Residual cable lube may still be present when removed.
Further inspection: Upon lubricating your cable, inspect the cable housing, inner wire, and cable end barrels for wear holes, kinks, or inner-wire that may be splitting, rusted and worn near the cable end. If your cable presents any of these issues; replacement is recommended.
Will the Cable Luber V3 work with my cable?
Not all cable types may be compatible with the Cable Luber V3. It is noted, the Cable Luber V3 is designed to work with cable housing diameters a minimum of 4-5 mm and maximum size of 8 mm. Review the cables fittings for proper fitment with the Cable Luber V3, the end fittings of the cable must be able to fit within the cable luber body. Cables ends containing elbows, are not compatible. Straight adjuster fittings exceeding 33 mm in length, are not compatible and will not fit within the Cable Luber V3 Body. Reference images below show critical points to review for proper fitment. Note: For non-compatible cables that do not work with the Cable Luber V3, we recommend our original Motion Pro Cable Luber, here: Cable Luber p/n 08-0182
Inspect both cable ends to determine which end is best suited for cable lubing with the Cable Luber V3. If the lubrication point is best suited at the clutch (engine side) or throttle body/carb end, we recommend removing the cable from the motorcycle and lubricate. Note: For throttle cables, it’s always recommended to remove the carb/throttle body end of the cable, then lubricate, this is recommended so no cable lube ends up in your carburetor or around the throttle body bell-crank assembly. Additionally, when replacing or reinstalling control cables, we always recommend adding grease to the barrel end of cables and pivot points.