What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[2turboss]

Water pump on the wife's trailblazer started leaking. I needed to get the clutch type fan off. It would be near impossible without the tool and I didn't feel like driving to the auto parts store.

Clutch type fan.


A pos HF groove pliers and two stainless countersink bolts.


Clamp.


TIG.


Now TIG the bottom.


Fits perfectly.


Slide a pipe on the tool and one on a large adjustable wrench.


And success.




Basically its just an adjustable pin wrench that I get to add to my collection. And the ACdelco parts for her car on their way from rockauto.

I'm so glad to have the space and tools to do this kind of stuff at my leisure.

My dad showed me a trick to doing those clutch fans. If you take a air hammer and put it on one of the points of the nut and littly hit it and they will spin off.

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

My dad showed me a trick to doing those clutch fans. If you take a air hammer and put it on one of the points of the nut and littly hit it and they will spin off.

The easy trick i use is to use a hammer on the clutch wrench. have the wrench pointing directly up and hit it on the end in a downward motion and keep light pressure on the wrench in the direction of the threads, the shock will break it loose and you can hand spin the fan off. Works everytime.

 

[Hencini]

The easy trick i use is to use a hammer on the clutch wrench. have the wrench pointing directly up and hit it on the end in a downward motion and keep light pressure on the wrench in the direction of the threads, the shock will break it loose and you can hand spin the fan off. Works everytime.

I see you're a BMW tech (I was guessing you were something BMW related based on your name). Is this how you would do it in the shop? I just did a cooling system refresh the other day on my E36 M3 and the worst part of that kind of job is *always* getting the fan off. I made a tool to hold the pulley, but it still requires removing and reinstalling two pulley bolts. Total pain. I was actually wondering how techs did it while I was in the middle of the job.

I like the theory behind your way of doing it, but I would be worried that the blow from the hammer could damage the water pump bearings.

 

[vankaye]

This may be controversial but this is how I have done it on my 7.3L diesel. Air chisel to the nut. Only takes a little blip. If you are changing the water pump no harm in hitting it with the air hammer. My waterpumps seem to go about 75k each. Leaving the belt in place hold the pulley tight enough for the fast acting chisel action. I just completed my 3rd one at 225k. I am not suggestion you do this on an M3 but just showing how one might save some time and aggravation on their own vehicle.

BTW I just did my waterpump last Saturday so this qualifies for this thread!

 

[polexican23]

signed a title in it. Woohoo finally got ride of the protege.

 

[Beaumont67]

Changed the engine oil and front diff oil in my FJ and installed new front brake pads.

View media item 38594

Hi Tripp2012 - WHEN do you want to sell your well maintained Toyota FJ ??
(just PM &/or PHONE me)
We need to replace the family 2002 Volvo V70, 278,000Km & still mint here, running strong.
^^ BTW - love the 4x4's color !!

I will travel & import - your FJ looks very nice...what year ??
- anyone else reading this post with a similar SUV, please contact me directly

Regards, Larry
(519...631...9443)
email: [email protected]
St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada

 

[bazzateer]

Chopped out the old exhaust system on my DD VW Passat veggiewagon and fitted a new one in it's place.

 

[irregardless]

Got my oldest son's 4 wheeler ready to rock and roll... Reset the beads on all 4 tires (probably the funnest part), cleaned the carb, drained the gas, changed the oil, and lubed everything up all nice. She fired on the first crank.

it's an old, beat-up, chinese POS, but he loves it.

Now I just need to do the other 3 for friends and his younger brother.

 

[CudaChick1968]

Packed up last night's run of Slant 6 parts ...

View attachment 325667

From this View attachment 325677

to this View attachment 325669

View attachment 325673

... and polished some more on another pair of valve covers. When they wore me out it was time for some preliminary spring cleaning in the shop -- it's been a long winter and there's **** everywhere, I swear. Thankfully most of it is Billy's. He got a little painting done on the flip-in-progress, a '76 Astre. His buddy BeauKoo is supervising here ...

View attachment 325676

 

[Ragged Earl]

I built a lumber rack in the barn yesterday.
Today I moved all the spare lumber from my garage to the barn.
Then I sat a chair where the wood used to be and drank a beer.

 

[CudaChick1968]

What're you going to do with all the wood Earl?

 

[toddacimer]

Added a few flush mount tie downs to my F150s tailgate. With a 5.5' box it seems like I am always looking for a tie down on my tailgate. These were originally in the rear of a Ford Explorer and look like they will work very well.

 

[56vette461]

Built a rolling engine stand for my 327 Chevy engine. Moveable motor mount uprights will slip over the side rails and tighten with set screws.


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[Ragged Earl]

What're you going to do with all the wood Earl?

It's not a bunch. Just left over stuff from the house build and my gun room.
I basically built two 12' long x 18". Treated and Non.

I used part of an old bunk bed to support the 16' pieces of mdf

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

I see you're a BMW tech (I was guessing you were something BMW related based on your name). Is this how you would do it in the shop? I just did a cooling system refresh the other day on my E36 M3 and the worst part of that kind of job is *always* getting the fan off. I made a tool to hold the pulley, but it still requires removing and reinstalling two pulley bolts. Total pain. I was actually wondering how techs did it while I was in the middle of the job.

I like the theory behind your way of doing it, but I would be worried that the blow from the hammer could damage the water pump bearings.

Yes i use this technique at work. Just dont wail on it really hard. If it doesnt come loose with some hard/firm taps, then break out the air hammer. If you dont have an air hammer, get a prybar and stick it down behind the upper hose and wedge it against the water pump pulley. That will keep it in place while you are pulling on the fan clutch. The pulley might break if its old enough, theyre plastic like every other damn thing nowadays.

Also when you put the fan back on, dont tighten it. just spin it on until it barely stops. You will save time and effort the next time you have to take it off.

 

[Hencini]

Yes i use this technique at work. Just dont wail on it really hard. If it doesnt come loose with some hard/firm taps, then break out the air hammer. If you dont have an air hammer, get a prybar and stick it down behind the upper hose and wedge it against the water pump pulley. That will keep it in place while you are pulling on the fan clutch. The pulley might break if its old enough, theyre plastic like every other damn thing nowadays.

Also when you put the fan back on, dont tighten it. just spin it on until it barely stops. You will save time and effort the next time you have to take it off.

Cool, thanks!!

And yeah, when I tighten it, I usually just get it snug. I'll try this for fun next time I'm under the hood. This could be a game-changer. :thumbup

 

[GCncsuHD]

Added a few flush mount tie downs to my F150s tailgate. With a 5.5' box it seems like I am always looking for a tie down on my tailgate. These were originally in the rear of a Ford Explorer and look like they will work very well.

I like that! Would work very well with something like some long lumber that hangs out past the gate, or similar for an extra tie down. My wife's Infiniti/Nissan Pathfinder has some similar tie downs in the cargo area, except more D shaped. I may "borrow" that idea. Even though I have an 8 foot bed, it's often got 10-12' lumber hanging off of it, an extra tie down that far back could be beneficial. Not to mention, maybe placing 3 on the tailgate, with one in the center, would be great for running a short tie down to keep something like a gas can in place against the tailgate.

 

[Bricen18]

Got my oldest son's 4 wheeler ready to rock and roll... Reset the beads on all 4 tires (probably the funnest part),/QUOTE]


Why reset the beads?


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[Lippyp]

Finished up my quick ebay garden roller repair, bolted it all back together, greased up the bearings, took it outside, filled it with water, no leaks, hooked it up to the back of the mower and rolled all of the grass. Then I washed her car outside the garage.

 

[irregardless]

Why reset the beads?

I like playing with fire?


It sat outside all winter and all but one were no longer on the rims.

Cheap tires + cheaper (possibly bent) wheels... it's a small price to pay.

We bought them all non-running for next to nothing, so I don't mind the work. He missed out on playing with fire for obvious reasons, but he usually enjoys helping me tinker around on them. Still beats jacking around with batteries on their power wheels. (Upgrading his jeep is my next project)

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[Shoebox Driver]

Changed the oil in the van, swept the floor, and got more phone calls in that time than I did all day.

 

[turnpikecrusier]

Mounted a winch on my buddy's trailer

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[darwyn]

Cleaned the carburetor on my snow blower. It was pretty gummed up from sitting at Ex's house for the last few years.

Runs like a champ now.

 

[Ragged Earl]

Most of this project was "in", and not "to":

I took the motion sensor off of a cheapo double flood light and added it to an extra porch light we had. I built a mounting spot for it so it would shine 270 degrees and light up the whole garage.

Now I don't have to actually turn a light on when I go out to the beer fridge.

 

[Olinrj]

Finally resumed cleaning out the ****. Installed a shelf above the overhead door for auto and cycle parts storage and began boxing that stuff. Set up three bins and sorted the piles of everything from the last 6 months of projects that were hastily completed. One bin is for hand tools, a second is for materials and hardware other than fasteners and the third was the garbage can. Made decent progress but my two hours were up faster than I would like. Need to sleep now as the 5 am feeding for our 4 month old doesn't wait.

 

[Guster]

Cyclone Lusi is in town. I opened the garage door to load my kiting gear into my truck and go for a kitesurf in 40-50 knots. Afterwards I stopped by my local h/w store to pick up some new welding magnets on the way home. Had lunch and welded the afternoon away while the storm raged outside!

 

[sparksftball69]

tried not to kill my daughter for thinking my magnet tipped screwdrivers were chisels for concrete...at least she has an interest in the garage with me though...LOL

 

[Gunga68]

Went out to tidy up the shed, discovered 3x dead mice behind the fridge, emptied the fridge (had a can (of JD) and moved it out, cleaned behind it, (had a can) put all my fishing gear back in the corner next to where the fridge goes, fridge went back (had a can), rebaited the shed again, continued tidying and throwing out stuff I've hoarded for years (had a can, thirsty work), making room for new projects.

 

[Krokodil]

Replaced the diesel filter in my wife VW Polo using my new Knipex hose clamp plier.

 

[raskal]

tried not to kill my daughter for thinking my magnet tipped screwdrivers were chisels for concrete...at least she has an interest in the garage with me though...LOL

my dear, sweet, slightly senile father took one of my very expensive wood chisel and cut the head of a screw with it. He was very impressed how easily it cut.

It took and hour for me to put the edge back on it.

 

[ahab]

Listed 5 things on craigslist.

Moving to a better garage soon, don't want clutter in it.

 

[ambenz]

Helping a friend on a Brake job before the big 50th anniversary cruise and show....

 

[taumac]

Doing new seal and bearings in my front load washing machine.View attachment 326041



Have a good one, Gerard

Florida GJers ( FGJ)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

The 5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[CudaChick1968]

tried not to kill my daughter for thinking my magnet tipped screwdrivers were chisels for concrete...at least she has an interest in the garage with me though...LOL

my dear, sweet, slightly senile father took one of my very expensive wood chisel and cut the head of a screw with it. He was very impressed how easily it cut.

It took and hour for me to put the edge back on it.

Moved in to a new house and it had an old nasty rabbit hutch out back. When my "Mini Me" daughter Mallory was about 7, she overheard her dad tell somebody he wanted it torn down. She and her friend Zac were discovered secretly dismantling it with a crowbar ... and my brand new Snap On 1/2" drive torque wrench. I was not amused. (I kept the story to myself when I turned it in on the warranty though, and thankfully the tool man didn't ask because I'm a crappy liar.)

 

[Hustler388]

playing around making bracket templet

 

[CudaChick1968]

playing around making bracket templet

For your alternator? That looks great!

 

[Scud67]

Just finished a front brake job and oil change on my neighbors 2010 Corolla - strange to be working on a Toyota again (after 13 years of being "out of the business").

 

[garboui]

Replaced rear uca/camber links on the element with adjustable ones.

Cleaned up and made space for the old/new atlas lathe that should be showing up real soon.

 

[48fordnut]

Admiring the alt mount, and bought a set of brake pads for the wifes daily.

 

[glider]

Fought rust!