I have the Astro Pneumatic ADN38 as well. Another item I do not use a lot alot, but never had an issue with it.Mike you’re not the only one who’s fought the larger inserts. I dreaded my marson setup for 1/4” unless it was aluminum too. Then a couple years back I bought both of versions of Astro pneumatics units that eased the pain.
A couple months back I had to do a bunch of 3/8 inserts only to discover neither of those kits had a 3/8 mandrel. I did look for just that part but wasn’t able to confirm it’d work with either of these kits so I gave in and order this one.
Bud, that right there is the ****! Well worth the C note it cost.
ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0
- Thread starter zmotorsports
- Start date
T, was this recently and if so where’d you find them at? Thanks, Cam
I don't remember where I purchased them. I'll try to remember to look when when I am back in front of my computer.
Obviously this was a while back. I appreciate the offer but don’t bother, my searches yesterday resulted in “good luck dimwit”.
Hey Mike, I know you’ll get a kick out of this. I still have my very first trick nut kit I bought 45yrs ago. I even remember paying $19.98 for it. Not much most might think but back then minimum wage was $3.65hr. Basically had to work a full 8hr shift just to pay for it
ntsqd
Well-known member
I've fangled something like Mike's tool in the heat of the moment, but never something so nicely made. Two things that I've come to prefer doing: Use a SHCS with a nut on it for the pull-stud (Hold the SHCS and turn the nut to install the riv-nut), and when possible put a brass washer between the nut and the die. Some EP grease smeared in the threads of the SHCS and on the bottom of the nut goes a long ways.
Look at @rattle_snake's thread for how he made the flushing 'dimple die' to set the flange of the riv-nut at or below flush. I posted in his thread how someone w/o a lathe might be able to make one.
Look at @rattle_snake's thread for how he made the flushing 'dimple die' to set the flange of the riv-nut at or below flush. I posted in his thread how someone w/o a lathe might be able to make one.
LX, I bought them July of 2024 from Zoro. They now show as out of stock.Obviously this was a while back. I appreciate the offer but don’t bother, my searches yesterday resulted in “good luck dimwit”.
Hey Mike, I know you’ll get a kick out of this. I still have my very first trick nut kit I bought 45yrs ago. I even remember paying $19.98 for it. Not much most might think but back then minimum wage was $3.65hr. Basically had to work a full 8hr shift just to pay for it
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yeah, that's a little outside my budget at this time Alex.
While I do use Thread Serts/Rivnuts (whatever you wish to call them) quite a bit, I don't think I use them enough to warrant that tool. Thanks for the suggestion though.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Okay, I just pulled the trigger on the Astro ADN38. I had a few Summit Bucks left over from when I bought my tires back in September that expire 12/31 so I ordered one and will give it a try next time it's needed. That looks too cool to pass up for the price, and it seems to get high praises by a few here so I'm sold.
Obviously this was a while back. I appreciate the offer but don’t bother, my searches yesterday resulted in “good luck dimwit”.
Hey Mike, I know you’ll get a kick out of this. I still have my very first trick nut kit I bought 45yrs ago. I even remember paying $19.98 for it. Not much most might think but back then minimum wage was $3.65hr. Basically had to work a full 8hr shift just to pay for it
That's got some age on it alright Cam. But it surprises me it is the same basic design as what I made last night. I also didn't realize that the Rivnuts or Thread Serts had been out quite that long. I was under the impression that they were relatively new to the scene back in the early 90's when I first saw them and bought my first assortment and tool. I wore out my first MAC installation tool back when I was building race cars and street rods throughout the 90's and bought the Marson small handheld one around 2000 when I was building a 1936 Ford coupe for a client, then the larger two-handed Marson 325-RN about 10 years ago. I'm looking forward to trying out the Astro one next time it's needed. Thanks for the recommendation.
Back then they were fresh to the market. I was doing a fair amount of minitruck custom interiors back then and these were awesome for bed kits, stereos and what nots. I used that kit here n there until the mid 2000’s when I started building cars again then the marson kit. Heck it still comes out every once in a while now for areas the other tools don’t fit in.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The Marson tools have been my "go-to's" for several decades now, but the larger ones are getting too difficult so thank you for suggesting the Astro tool. I'm excited to give it a try, just not sure when that will be.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Hope everyone had a nice weekend.
I didn't get as much accomplished as I wanted to, but got to spend some time with my son and Grandson at breakfast on Saturday morning and then again with my son and his family walking around the city lights last night.
Friday night upon arriving home from work, I got a few small items tackled in the shop before wrapping up the week.
I started by drilling a couple small holes in the structural supports at the bulkhead of the coach where I am mounting the supplemental braking air reservoir and brake relay mounting bracket. I drilled two small holes and used Tek screws to hold the bracket in place while I drilled the remaining 5 pilot holes.
Then after removing the bracket, I drilled the holes out to accommodate the Riv nuts and moved over to work on the bracket itself. Starting by running a DA over it and prepping it for primer.....
but first I welded a couple of bolts from the backside which will hold the brake relay.
Wiped down and ready for primer.
A couple coats of primer to each side of the mounting bracket.
With the primer drying and knowing I would paint the bracket on Saturday morning, I prepped the battery hold down hardware from the Wheel Horse in order to prime and paint them as well. May as well clean them up a bit before installing the new battery, even if it's just for a little bit until I tear the entire tractor down.
Ready to bead blast.
Media blasted and ready to wipe down and prime.
Just before closing up the shop Friday night I dumped about a half-gallon of vinegar into the fuel tank to begin the rust cleansing process. Then throughout the weekend, I turned it from side to side to keep the cleansing process continuing on as much of the tank's internals as possible.
Stay tuned for more.
I didn't get as much accomplished as I wanted to, but got to spend some time with my son and Grandson at breakfast on Saturday morning and then again with my son and his family walking around the city lights last night.
Friday night upon arriving home from work, I got a few small items tackled in the shop before wrapping up the week.
I started by drilling a couple small holes in the structural supports at the bulkhead of the coach where I am mounting the supplemental braking air reservoir and brake relay mounting bracket. I drilled two small holes and used Tek screws to hold the bracket in place while I drilled the remaining 5 pilot holes.
Then after removing the bracket, I drilled the holes out to accommodate the Riv nuts and moved over to work on the bracket itself. Starting by running a DA over it and prepping it for primer.....
but first I welded a couple of bolts from the backside which will hold the brake relay.
Wiped down and ready for primer.
A couple coats of primer to each side of the mounting bracket.
With the primer drying and knowing I would paint the bracket on Saturday morning, I prepped the battery hold down hardware from the Wheel Horse in order to prime and paint them as well. May as well clean them up a bit before installing the new battery, even if it's just for a little bit until I tear the entire tractor down.
Ready to bead blast.
Media blasted and ready to wipe down and prime.
Just before closing up the shop Friday night I dumped about a half-gallon of vinegar into the fuel tank to begin the rust cleansing process. Then throughout the weekend, I turned it from side to side to keep the cleansing process continuing on as much of the tank's internals as possible.
Stay tuned for more.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Saturday morning after breaking bread with my son and grandson, I ran out to the shop to splash a couple coats of paint on the mounting bracket and battery hold down hardware for the tractor.
Thanks for looking.
Thanks for looking.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The plow I sold was an implement plow that mounted to the 3-point hitch for cultivating soil. I kept the "dozer blade" as Wheel Horse calls it that mounts to the front of the tractor. I will use that for snow pushing, however good it will do anyways.
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Mike, are you using regular vinegar or the 30% stuff to clean out the tractor fuel tank? I tried the 30% stuff to clean galvanize off of the fasteners for my loft railings before I painted them, took it off quickly!
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I just dumped some straight white vinegar in it and it is working amazingly well. The inside of the tank looks fantastic.
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
To add to any confusion...I've heard many TX farmers refer to ANYTHING tillage that engages the ground behind the tractor a plow
One guy kept pointing at a disk and calling it a plow...my confusion was definitely showing on my face!
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
To add to any confusion...I've heard many TX farmers refer to ANYTHING tillage that engages the ground behind the tractor a plow
One guy kept pointing at a disk and calling it a plow...my confusion was definitely showing on my face!
Yeah, from my farm days a plow and disc were pulled implements used for turning and prepping soil. A loader was a front mounted attachment and a blade could be either front or rear, depending on attachment configuration. We had a front mounted blade for one of our tractors but it didn't work for **** and I didn't like using it. My dad fabbed together a rear mounted blade that connected to the 3-point hitch and could spin around to either pull or flip it around and push in reverse. That combined with the front end loader for snow removal was the best configuration and the one I preferred using. Push snow in reverse with the blade turned around and then when necessary, you could use the front mounted bucket to pick the snow up and dump it over where you just pushed.
ntsqd
Well-known member
I'm finding Evaporust to be nearly as good as white vinegar on rust ( a little bit slower, but ultimately just as effective), and totally lacking in smell. To qualify that, my sniffer does not work too good. I've no idea what skunk smells like and there are lots of other smells that I can't smell. But I can smell vinegar and it's not a particularly pleasant smell. Ranks right up there with the long gone carb cleaner dip pail and 90wt that's been used long past it's due date.
I have yet to try Evaporust on removing plating for welding.
I have yet to try Evaporust on removing plating for welding.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have used Evaporust on some things and have had mixed results. However, the couple times I have used distilled white vinegar I have been impressed so I dumped the half-gallon I had left into the tank and have been turning it and rotating the tank for several days now. It's about ready to call done and flush and then fill with fuel once I can get back to the tractor project. I really need to get it put back together as I don't think this nice weather is going to hold out for much longer and I'd like to give it a try before tearing it down for a complete restoration in the spring.
WoodsTruck
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2013
- Messages
- 1,028
So the tank will be getting a vinegar soak, then rinse before refilling with fuel?
Any concern about having "exposed" steel quickly corrode again? Or will you coat the inside when you do a tear down?
Any concern about having "exposed" steel quickly corrode again? Or will you coat the inside when you do a tear down?
ntsqd
Well-known member
Any thoughts of lining the tank, either now or during the restoration? With the vinegar in there I expect any galv or cad plating that may have been on the steel is now gone.
Woods Truck beat me to it!
Woods Truck beat me to it!
BigMike782
Well-known member
It can get confusing. I have always called a trailing tool to turn dirt a mold board plow even though any "plow" has a mold board.
madison069
Well-known member
Hey I am offended!To add to any confusion...I've heard many TX farmers refer to ANYTHING tillage that engages the ground behind the tractor a plow
One guy kept pointing at a disk and calling it a plow...my confusion was definitely showing on my face!
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Not sure at this point. I have used two different fuel tank lining fluids on multiple motorcycle tanks over the years, POR-15 and KBS and if I'm being honest, I wasn't all that impressed by either.
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
If it’s not leaking all that stuff does is add expense to the project. In my experience a tank that is kept full of clean petroleum based products doesn’t rust. From what I have seen of Mike’s maintenance program for his motorized equipment, they all think that they have died and gone to heaven! A 35 year old lawnmower that is better than new?! Case closed!
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thank you Sterling.
ntsqd
Well-known member
Feller over on ADV who does a lot of M/C resto work swears by the Caswell tank lining product. No experience myself.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That is one of the ones I have read favorable reviews about on some of the motorcycle forums. I may give it a try. Thanks Thom. On the Wheel Horse forums there is one called Red-Kote that is quite popular, but I've read mixed reviews from other sources. POR-15 also gets a lot of positive reviews on the Wheel Horse forums, but I have been less than impressed.
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Mike I've used Red-Kote with success. I think the people who struggle with it do a poor job of prep and cleaning before using the product.
rd65
Well-known member
Yamaha used to make a nice kit, those fellers over in CA killed that though. Along with their good carb cleaning dip. Typically results with that type of thing is directly related to preparation, you shouldn't be seeing any failures.
madison069
Well-known member
Red-Kote is what’s used on most of the YouTube channels who actually owns a lawnmower repair shop. So it’s backed up with experience by those folks.
OP
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks guys. I wasn't planning on doing anything at this point, but I'm rethinking that now while it's clean.
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and can take the time to give your loved ones a squeeze and cherish your blessings.
God bless and please have a safe holiday.
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and can take the time to give your loved ones a squeeze and cherish your blessings.
God bless and please have a safe holiday.
gearhead1960
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Merry Christmas Mike!
signcrafter
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 9, 2012
- Messages
- 12,524
Merry Christmas Mike and family!
Johnno
Well-known member
Merry Christmas Mike and family. Thanks for always sharing your adventures and how to knowledge.