Recent content by spanimal

The earlier egg shaped ratchets are easier to switch directions with a heavy glove. I believe the reason they moved away from the first 'frankenstein' switch style was to reduce accidental tripping of the switch. The opposite side of the selected direction would stick out quite a fair bit...

I do night shift mechanical repair at times and have a lot to say about lighting. I do have the Milwaukee neck light. I prefer it over a head light. I do wish the battery life would last a bit longer thought. I should probably look at buying the Snap On unit. Neck lights are very...

Here is a 3/8 Aussie made Sidchrome ratchet that I rescued a few months ago. They're so hard to find period, whereas the 1/2 inch are a dime a dozen. I put it to work everyday after cleaning the guts. The plastic handle was broken, so I took it off and wrapped silicone tape as a handle for...

I don't have any Gedore spanners, but what I have been doing the past few week is shooting out various 10mm combination spanners at work. I have comprehensively used and assed the following for professional proficiency. Snap On flank drive plus Hazet 600n Sidchrome - Australian Made...

Nice. I scored a new 87.2 (a rare original 87 with a CAT rating) a few months ago. I want to get a mint 87.3 to round up the 87 collection...I am also on the lookout for a mint 88 original model. That particular series of meters works so well. Although I can't say if they are worth it for a...

I wish to add a scope meter to my mobile setup also, I was looking at the Owon handheld scope but unsure which speed to get. I want to see the Can bits and PWM signals. Is 40mhz enough or just go all out for the 200mhz units...or stay away from these meters all together? WRT customers....I...

I went through a phase not too long ago to find the perfect multimeter for mobile mechanic professional use. Bought a load of used Flukes, some Brymens and a couple others. My conclusion? For professional use in view of customer, there is only Fluke and nothing else. I simply sold more work...

So for best results, I should swallow the sockets and it will come out my **** fully restored. Got it, thanks! * I know, I know. I couldn't help myself. - I just purchased some vintage Australian made sockets and have been researching the best way to restore them to former glory...

I don't get it...was it because it was just convenient at the time...was your tool box too far away at the time and you had these exact 3 piece tool on hand when you somehow came across an unexpected crank pulley you needed to remove? I always worked on a hoist with my toolbox a few feet away...

Great post. I don't see the point of trying to undo the biggest bolt with the smallest ratchet possible. It's the other way around. Fit the biggest drive size you can to avoid uncontrolled energy explosions. When undoing something, a person should be in full control of their balance and...

I never had a serpentine belt tool. I always just used an 18inch 1/2 inch breaker bar with a twelve point socket for clearance and reach for untensioning belt tensioners. 13mm is as high as I would go on a 1/4 drive. 15mm was generally half inch territory for me. A standard 3/8 inch ratchet...

Yup... I can't even remember if my old mentor had a 3/8 set. It was always the Aussie made 1/2 inch sidchrome... Or the Snap On 1/4 for small stuff. And I agree...it's better to have a 1/4 and 1/2 set to comprehensively cover sizes and foregoing the 3/8 than to try get the 3/8 to do...

Great points being made. I guess being in a workshop with a hoist did grant me advantages not available to everyday people. Absolutely a stethoscope would be invaluable in the situations described 😃.

I had to undo them with a flat blade screwdriver because apparently apprentice me didn't have the grip strength to snip them off with sidecutters like the other mechanics. Until I bought a pair of knipex 10 inch sidecutters...then I was able to snip them off with the extra leverage provided...

Sorry... wrong thread Edit... while I am here might as well give a protip: any screwdriver can be used as effectively as a stethoscope. Point the tip as you would the tip of the scope and stick your ear to the end of the handle...never buy a stethoscope again.