What tools do you keep in the plane?

[sleeper-319]

Hey everyone… relatively new J owner here, about 4 months in. I’m wondering what you all keep in the plane for when things need attention away from home base. I have a small bag with some cleaning supplies and screwdrivers, but is there any other must have tools, kit, or spares you always bring along? Thanks. 

[carusoam]

search for Tool Box… many MSers have one for WnB purposes…

Some include spare parts like extra sump drain, and spark plug…

 

My favorite tools to carry…
 

Amex

visa

mastercard

discover card

Phone number to my local MSC

ApplePay 

PayPal

Phone number of my local MSers

Phone with MS access…

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic…

Best regards,

-a-

[A64Pilot]

I used to carry a short I believe 3/8 wrench and 1/4 drive deep well socket and ratchet and a can of carburetor (one with the straw) cleaner to remove and clean out a clogged injector as I went through a couple of instances of that.

‘If you use the carb cleaner, be darn sure none of it gets into your eyes, not even a drop.

Carry an extra tire valve cap, and make sure all your tubes have the yellow metal cap with the O-ring in it,  I landed with a completely flat nose wheel  once because I didn’t. 

Tools to remove a plug may be helpful.

Not all of us fly to places where there are services, I often don’t.

Oh, and a good tie down kit, just in case you have to leave it. Mine I think is called “the claw” not sure how good it really is though, but better than nothing 

Several mechanic rags and hand cleaner

Edited October 11, 2021 by A64Pilot

[N201MKTurbo]

About 20 years ago a friend gave me a total POS cheap ass tool kit. He said it was for my plane. I would be embarrassed to even own those tools.

Well, I threw that POS tool kit on the hat rack.

That POS tool kit has saved my bacon more times than I can count...

[Hank]

This is my toolkit, unpacked on a blanket for visibility. 

Beside it is the Rubbermaid container that it all lives in. It fits in the baggage area of my C, with a quart of oil. Very little impact on W&B or useful.load. The gray box is a standard socket set, there ain't nothing metric on my Mooney!

I also have a Swiss Army knife in my pocket all the time, with a useful Phillips driver instead of a corkscrew that I will never use.

P.S.--I have tie downs I bought from EAA at Sun n Fun, travel chocks and tie down ropes that live in the hat rack with first aid kit and umbrella, too.

[Rwsavory]

Clear Gorilla Duct Tape, Leatherman, multiple credit cards. 

[ArtVandelay]

I carry a set of basic clothes: golf shirt, underwear, socks and a toothbrush just in case I unexpectedly get stuck overnight.

[ArtVandelay]

This is my toolkit, unpacked on a blanket for visibility. 

Beside it is the Rubbermaid container that it all lives in. It fits in the baggage area of my C, with a quart of oil. Very little impact on W&B or useful.load. The gray box is a standard socket set, there ain't nothing metric on my Mooney!
I also have a Swiss Army knife in my pocket all the time, with a useful Phillips driver instead of a corkscrew that I will never use.
P.S.--I have tie downs I bought from EAA at Sun n Fun, travel chocks and tie down ropes that live in the hat rack with first aid kit and umbrella, too.

And a official Mooney blanket!

[Hank]

56 minutes ago, ArtVandelay said:

And a official Mooney blanket!

[Brandt]

Depending on the services available where I am flying, I sometimes take a Dewalt cordless inflator, in addition to pliers, screwdriver, etc.

[Shadrach]

I carry a soft bag with the following:

Stubby Ratcheting Screw Driver

!edium Ratcheting Screw Driver

Small Safety Wire Pliers

Needle Nose Pliers

Small Dykes

Flush Side Cutter

Channel Locks

SAE Flare Nut Wrenches

Small Box End Wrenches

Hex Keys

1/2” drive Breaker Bar with 10” handle

Spark Plug Socket

Spare Fuel Sump

A few feet of .032 Safety Wire

Assorted Zip Ties

A few feet of Duct Tape

Electrical Tape

small divided box with common hardware

Cigar Sized Flashlight 

Disposable LED lamps with adhesive backing  

I keep serviceable tubes for main and nose gear in the hat rack

 

All of the above probably seems like a lot but it only weighs ~20lbs and takes up little space. I rarely encounter maintenance issues in the field but once had to change out a wheel on a Sunday afternoon.  
 

It’s cheap insurance and I can always leave it behind if we’re nearing gross (unlikely with my plane’s UL).

 

 

 

 

[GeeBee]

I keep everything I need for an oil change (but the oil) or pull a spark plug.

 

[pkellercfii]

Two spare spark plugs & all the tools I need to pull the engine cowl & install one or both.

—Paul K

 

[sleeper-319]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Super helpful! 

[PT20J]

Gee, whenever I work on the airplane in the hangar, I seem to use darn near every tool in the roll around. I could never figure out a set of tools to carry that would be sufficient to do much of anything. All I carry is oil and a multi-tip screwdriver.

[Ragsf15e]

18 minutes ago, PT20J said:

Gee, whenever I work on the airplane in the hangar, I seem to use darn near every tool in the roll around. I could never figure out a set of tools to carry that would be sufficient to do much of anything. All I carry is oil and a multi-tip screwdriver.

That’s exactly what I carry!  I’m a much better pilot than mechanic, so I couldn’t make use out of more anyway.  I carry the screwdriver and a set of pliers for that annoying bolt/nut on the front top cowl.  I want to be able to remove the cowling to look for leaks and to be able to tighten any loose exterior screws/fasteners.  More than that and I’m going to need a real mechanic for help.