Top 5 Tools for Easy Austin Healey Maintenance

Your Healey doesn’t want roses. It wants the basics set properly, so it starts cleanly, idles nicely, and stops when you ask it to. We’ve pulled together the best-case beginner toolkit below. Consider it a small act of affection with a much lower calorie count.

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Austin Healey owner using a spanner in a 1950s-style home garage

Fix the basics first, before the car writes its own agenda

If you’re new to Austin Healeys (or Sprite/Midget ownership), here’s the bit nobody tells you loudly enough: most “classic car problems” start as small adjustments that were never set quite right in the first place.

The best-case beginner tool kit isn’t about rebuilding engines. It’s about getting reliable baselines (ignition and carbs), keeping hydraulics healthy (brakes and clutch), and using the right imperial tools so you don’t round fasteners and spend Sunday evening learning new words.

Top 5 Tools for Easy Austin Healey Maintenance (Plus One Bonus)
Part Number	Product Name	Type	Key Benefits	Ideal For
TOL157	AF 9 Piece Socket Set (3/8" Drive)	Imperial hand tools	Correct AF sizing reduces rounded fasteners and frustration	Day-to-day maintenance jobs
TOL202	Imperial 8pc Combination Spanner Set	Imperial spanners	Access where sockets won’t fit, better control on original fasteners	Linkages, clamps, awkward access points
TOL104	Gunson Timing Light (Advance Feature)	Ignition diagnostic	Accurate timing setup improves starting, idle, and drivability	Setting a reliable ignition baseline
TOL103	Gunson Carbalancer	Carburettor tuning	Even airflow gives smoother idle and cleaner pickup	Twin or triple carburettor setups
TOL125	Gunson Eezibleed Kit	Brake & clutch bleeding	One-person bleeding with steady flow and cleaner results	Routine hydraulic maintenance

TOL157 AF 9 piece socket set 3/8 inch drive for Austin Healey maintenance

1) AF 9 Piece Socket Set – 3/8" drive

Part Number: TOL157

This is the tool you’ll use most often, and it quietly prevents a lot of beginner pain.

A good AF socket set means you stop “making do” with near-enough sizes. On a classic, that’s the difference between a tidy job and a chewed-up nut that now needs extra attention (and extra time).

Why I’d buy it first

Solid everyday coverage for typical maintenance jobs
Proper AF fit reduces rounded fasteners
3/8-Inch drive is a great all-rounder for engine bay and chassis tasks

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2) Imperial 8-Piece Combination Spanner Set

Part Number: TOL202

Sockets are brilliant until they’re not. You’ll still need spanners for hose clamps, carb linkages, awkward angles, and anywhere a socket simply won’t sit square.

This set covers eight popular imperial sizes and comes in a roll, which is handy when you’re working out of a modest garage (or a heroic driveway).

Why it earns its place

Covers the “can’t get a socket on it” moments
Proper imperial sizing keeps things neat and controlled
Easy to keep organised in the supplied roll

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TOL104 Gunson timing light with advance feature for setting Austin Healey ignition timing

3) Gunson Timing Light – Advance Feature

Part Number: TOL104

If a Healey runs rough, the carburettors get blamed first. That’s understandable but not always right.

A timing light lets you set ignition timing accurately, which helps starting, idle quality and overall drivability. This one uses an inductive pick-up, so you’re not disconnecting plug leads to use it.

Why beginners should care

Timing is your baseline for everything else
Stops you adjusting carbs to disguise an ignition issue
Helps you diagnose “it feels a bit off” without guessing

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TOL103 Gunson Carbalancer tool for balancing SU carburettors on Austin Healey

4) Gunson Carbalancer

Part Number: TOL103

Balancing twin or triple carbs is one of those jobs that sounds mystical until you’ve done it once with the right tool. The Carbalancer makes airflow balance visible, so you can set carbs to pull evenly.

The payoff is a smoother idle, cleaner pickup, and an engine that feels less grumpy in traffic.

Why it’s ideal early on

Removes the “by ear” guesswork
Helps you get a smooth idle without endless tinkering
Especially useful on multi-carb setups

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TOL125 Gunson Eezibleed kit for bleeding Austin Healey brakes and clutch

4) Gunson Eezibleed Kit

Part Number: TOL125

Brake and clutch fluid maintenance is basic ownership, and it’s worth doing properly. The Eezibleed uses low air pressure from a spare wheel to push fluid through with a steady, one-way flow, helping prevent air being drawn back into the system.

It also makes bleeding a one-person job, which is excellent news if your “assistant” keeps answering texts mid-pedal-pump.

Why it’s a smart beginner tool

More consistent bleeding with less mess
Avoids repeated pedal pumping (and the wear that can bring)
Makes routine fluid changes far less of a faff

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One simple rule that saves hours

Order of operations matters:

Set timing (TOL104)
Balance carbs (TOL103)
Only then fine-tune anything else

Do it the other way round and you can easily “tune around” the real issue, which is how small problems become recurring hobbies.

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Final Tips for Your Healey Toolkit

Keep it organised

A tidy kit saves time and prevents rounded fasteners from “close enough” tools. A tool roll or tool bag keeps everything in one place and is ideal for storing in the car for those just-in-case moments.

Keep a manual close

A good workshop manual for your Big Healey or Sprite & Midget gives you the specs, torque figures, and correct adjustment order, so you’re not relying on guesswork or internet folklore when something feels off.

Build confidence on the basics

Use your tools on routine jobs first: timing checks, carb balance, fluid changes, and simple inspections. Small wins stack up fast, and your Healey will feelbetter for it.

FAQs

Are these tools suitable for Sprite & Midget owners too?

Yes. The same fundamentals apply: correct timing, balanced carbs (where fitted), tidy hydraulics, and the right imperial hand tools.

Do I need to touch the carbs first if it’s running poorly?

Not usually. Set ignition timing first, then balance the carbs. Carbs are often blamed for issues caused by timing being out.

Will the timing light work on a 12V car with electronic ignition?

It’s designed for 12V ignition systems and uses an inductive pick-up, so it typically works well with electronic ignition setups too.

Is the Carbalancer only for SU carburettors?

It measures airflow, so it’s useful on most multi-carb setups where you want the throttles drawing evenly. SU carbs are simply a common application.

What’s the biggest mistake people make with Eezibleed?

Using too much pressure or rushing the process. The goal is a controlled, steady flow. Keep it low-pressure, work methodically, and protect paintwork from brake fluid.

Why AF sockets and imperial spanners? I’ve already got a metric kit.

Many original fasteners are imperial. Using near-miss metric sizes is a great way to round nuts and bolts. The right sizes make the work cleaner and quicker.

Top 5 Tools for Easy Austin Healey Maintenance

Valentine’s Day is for loving care (and good timing)

Fix the basics first, before the car writes its own agenda

1) AF 9 Piece Socket Set – 3/8" drive

Part Number: TOL157

Why I’d buy it first

2) Imperial 8-Piece Combination Spanner Set

Part Number: TOL202

Why it earns its place

3) Gunson Timing Light – Advance Feature

Part Number: TOL104

Why beginners should care

4) Gunson Carbalancer

Part Number: TOL103

Why it’s ideal early on

4) Gunson Eezibleed Kit

Part Number: TOL125

Why it’s a smart beginner tool

One simple rule that saves hours

Order of operations matters:

Final Tips for Your Healey Toolkit

Keep it organised

Keep a manual close

Build confidence on the basics

FAQs

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