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elba

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2014
Messages
89
Re: Tips & Tricks

PVC glue hard after you have stored it on the shelf ? Store it up-side down with the cap on the shelf. Works good for contact cement too --- just make sure the lids are tight !
 
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btdobie

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
611
Location
Southern Minnesota
Re: Tips & Tricks

I used to have trouble getting alloy wheels off(salt belt) and it usually involved a sledgehammer or a torch. Now, I rub a thin layer of grease on the back of alloy rims before I put them on. Since I started doing that, I haven't had a single one need more than a swift kick to pop off.
 

Kent_B

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
1,406
Location
MI
Re: Tips & Tricks

In a pinch we've cracked lug nuts just slightly loose then driven fwd/bkwd and braked. (not very much, nor very far)

That will loosen those alloy wheels, then a little bit of grease or anti-seize on the wheel. Salt belt here, too.
 

jubilee

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
633
Location
Colorado
Re: Tips & Tricks

If you change drive shaft "U" joints in your vise, these will help.

29pukg5.jpg


This third hand helper will hold up the other end.

2r5xgkz.jpg

Gave me the great idea of welding one 1/2 drive square to one angle iron and one 3/8 drive square to the other angle iron. That way I can use different size sockets for different size u-joints.
 

lilredex

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 29, 2006
Messages
5,948
Location
Toronto
Re: Tips & Tricks

Gave me the great idea of welding one 1/2 drive square to one angle iron and one 3/8 drive square to the other angle iron. That way I can use different size sockets for different size u-joints.

Another good one! Mine were made like shown, because I only ever change one size of U-joint.
 

Fixnfly

Banned
Joined
Jan 26, 2013
Messages
784
Location
S.W. PA
Re: Tips & Tricks

Anyone have a good idea on how to plug brake lines to prevent draining a master cylinder while changing lines?? Besides being quick ?
 

pancho400cid

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
4,508
Location
Austin, TX
Re: Tips & Tricks

Anyone have a good idea on how to plug brake lines to prevent draining a master cylinder while changing lines?

Depends on the vehicle. If the brake lines are inverted flare, then you can:

1 - Buy plugs from Dorman and other/similar - most parts store have at least a small selection.

or

2 - Buy a very short (3", 6" etc.) piece of straight steel brake line, cut it in half and then hammer the line flat to make a plug.

The down side is you hve to know the brake line fitting size, which is not that easy to figure out... but you can use the new master cyl to size the fittings if you have it
 

Milton Shaw

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2011
Messages
4,835
Re: Tips & Tricks

The banjo fittings like on front calipers an old tire valve stem usually will do them. Others I have used a piece of fuel line and then a awe (thick ice pick) to expand it to seal fitting.
 

Fixnfly

Banned
Joined
Jan 26, 2013
Messages
784
Location
S.W. PA
Re: Tips & Tricks

A cone shaped rubber plug to shove into the line would be perfect but I have no idea where to find something like that.
 

58Yeoman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
8,999
Location
Central IL
Re: Tips & Tricks

The two entrance doors on my garage have the knob in the center that you twist to lock/unlock the door. I painted a white stripe on the center knob so at a glance, I can tell if the door is locked or not.

I hang my tape measures on the drawers on my Gorilla work benches to always be handy when I need them. You can get free tape measures at HF.

I use empty egg cartons for packing items that I sell on ebay. Sturdy and give a nice cushion when crammed into a box.
 

Chief919

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 9, 2016
Messages
226
Location
Waynesville NC
Re: Tips & Tricks

For all posting to keep tampons or other feminine hygiene products in medical kits or to use on wounds- don't. That is an old myth that just won't seem to go away.

Tampons are not designed to stop bleeding, but rather soak up bleeding. That is the exact opposite of what you want, the intent of dressing a wound is to stop the bleeding by promoting clotting, not to just keep soaking up as much blood as possible. The blood won't be running out of the wound but sucked up in the tampon it isn't helping the body.

Many pads are even worse because they can be treated with an agent that intentionally inhibits clotting because they want the blood to soak in and not clot. That not only doesn't promote clotting but acts in the exact wrong way.

On top of that none of those products are sterile.

People report "good results" but in reality they likely used it on a wound far less serious than they thought and even on a serious wound they probably inhibited clotting and made things worse than a proper dressing would have.

A proper pressure dressing is is under 10 bucks and it will be one that is designed to do the job properly and is sterile.
 

Scotland

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 16, 2015
Messages
88
Location
Greenville, SC
Re: Tips & Tricks

I read that Acetone and ATF make a great rust penetrant. Anybody ever try it?
:lol_hitti Acetone has a low vapor point. One spark and you're a crispy critter. It's also a great solvent...but should only be used in highly ventilated areas. Worked at a plant where someone had the bright idea to use acetone to clean some oil off of some equipment. A few feet away someone struck a torch up to do some welding. 2 dead people later from sever burns and acetone was banned from the plant.
 

Farmall 1066

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
1,805
Location
Suburban Rockford, NE
Re: Tips & Tricks

I've epoxied old speaker magnets to bottoms of oil cans. Keeps them from getting knocked over. Some I have just stuck neodymium magnets inside the can.

20ga shotshell hull over grease gun tip keeps tip clean, and grease off everything else.
 

sctattooer

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2007
Messages
466
Location
Myrtle Beach, SC
Re: Tips & Tricks

I went to Petsmart and bought a couple dog kennel trays to keep in the garage. they work great to catch any drips under the car, and wipe clean easy. The large ones will catch anything under both motor and transmission. They store easily behind the workbench.
 

Nexussian

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
639
Location
Alaska
Re: Tips & Tricks

Anyone have a good idea on how to plug brake lines to prevent draining a master cylinder while changing lines?? Besides being quick ?

If you are planning to cap the metal line while you change the flex hose, I've found vacuum caps work in a pinch.

Use one that's hard to shove over the flare and they tend to stay on, against gravity.

Of course the first time someone steps on the pedal, they'll come right off. :willy_nil

I tend not to throw caps or plugs away (got a peanut butter jar full ;) ).
 

bubinga

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2014
Messages
12,744
Location
Bridgeport Ohio. (Across River From Wheeling WV)
Re: Tips & Tricks

If you are planning to cap the metal line while you change the flex hose, I've found vacuum caps work in a pinch.

Use one that's hard to shove over the flare and they tend to stay on, against gravity.

Of course the first time someone steps on the pedal, they'll come right off. :willy_nil

I tend not to throw caps or plugs away (got a peanut butter jar full ;) ).
put a big pry-bar on the brake peddle, about 1/2 way down.
It covers this port in the master and it won't drain.
 
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jeff lary

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 12, 2014
Messages
1,608
Location
Hartland Maine
Re: Tips & Tricks

A section of Fire Hose cut to length make a pretty good Chainsaw bar cover. I cut mine a couple inches long so when the hose slides over the bar the tip is inside a little bit.
 

Nexussian

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2014
Messages
639
Location
Alaska
Re: Tips & Tricks

put a big pry-bar on the brake peddle, about 1/2 way down.
It covers this port in the master and it won't drain.

That's true, but the pry bar trick won't keep **** out of the flare and line in the interim, if he gets interrupted.

6 of one, 1/2 Dozen of the other, point being there are tons of options if he doesn't want to buy the "proper" tool. ;)
 

Bunchgrass

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
236
Location
North Idaho
Re: Tips & Tricks

When disassembling small stuff, I put the parts in ice cube trays and fill from left to right so I remember what order things go back together in (getting old *****, I am getting more forgetful!).
I haven't tried it but I saw someone used a magnetic whiteboard laid flat on the bench to put small parts on and used the dry erase marker to name/identify what each thing/group was.
 

Bunchgrass

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
236
Location
North Idaho
Re: Tips & Tricks



This combined with a digital camera (for taking pictures, not sitting in the closet..) and an area on your work bench for the large parts and you should be good to go.

Cheers
Heck --- a mechanic friend says that's what they do when pulling the dashboard in cars to replace things like the heater core. They use their phone cameras I think.
 

Bunchgrass

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
236
Location
North Idaho
Re: Tips & Tricks

It didn't take me long to realize that one of the bonds shared by all of us is our passion for stuff and collecting things that we might need one day! If you are at all like me, the really good stuff gets put away in a safe place to ensure that we have it when that magical day arrives (truth be told it never happens). The special place is so good that it's exact location is unknown to everyone including ourselves.

Part of my New Years resolution is to reorganize "my spaces" and in so doing I have found some of that great stuff which is exactly where I left it, God knows when. To ensure that I will be able to efficiently retrieve it, I am taking pictures using my Smartphone of the location (shop, office, shed etc) and the container/bin that it might live in. My tip also encourages us to take pictures of the contents of Rubbermaid storage bins or boxes which might be in less accessible areas (shelves, crawl spaces etc) to determine their contents without the agony of actually opening them up.

Hope this helps and Happy New Year to you all!!! 2013 has been a great year here, I have learned so much from all of you, Thank You!!
Use those pics for insurance claims if you ever have a fire. Ask me how I know.
 

RaisedByWolves

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 4, 2023
Messages
3,629
Location
SE PA.
Re: Tips & Tricks

someone also told me that valve lapping compound can be applied to a serpentine belt that is squealing, it is suppose to help clean the belt and pulleys, and make the belt mesh with the pulleys better.....never tried it myself (Ive always felt that a belt is squealing because of pulleys, belt, or tensioner problem....), I just remembered it when valve lapping compound was mentioned....
I use bar soap.
 

jayemm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 18, 2018
Messages
1,507
Location
up high down low
Re: Tips & Tricks

Anyone have a good idea on how to plug brake lines to prevent draining a master cylinder while changing lines?? Besides being quick ?
get a short section of rubber hose (like automotive fuel or vacuum hose- used to buy it by the foot) that fits snugly (requires a little stretching) on the end of the metal line. Plug the other end of the hose with a screw or small bolt that fits tightly.
 

cpttuna

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Messages
13,161
Location
napoleon ohio
Re: Tips & Tricks

Simple
epoxy mixing at last. Stick a 2" piece of masking tape to your bench mix epoxy on it and peel tape off and dispose after the job is done.No more using a piece of cardboard or whatever.You can even stick it on the job to be done if space requires.

T
I mix epoxy with used popsicle sticks.
 
Last edited:

cpttuna

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Messages
13,161
Location
napoleon ohio
Re: Tips & Tricks

It didn't take me long to realize that one of the bonds shared by all of us is our passion for stuff and collecting things that we might need one day! If you are at all like me, the really good stuff gets put away in a safe place to ensure that we have it when that magical day arrives (truth be told it never happens). The special place is so good that it's exact location is unknown to everyone including ourselves.

Part of my New Years resolution is to reorganize "my spaces" and in so doing I have found some of that great stuff which is exactly where I left it, God knows when. To ensure that I will be able to efficiently retrieve it, I am taking pictures using my Smartphone of the location (shop, office, shed etc) and the container/bin that it might live in. My tip also encourages us to take pictures of the contents of Rubbermaid storage bins or boxes which might be in less accessible areas (shelves, crawl spaces etc) to determine their contents without the agony of actually opening them up.

Hope this helps and Happy New Year to you all!!! 2013 has been a great year here, I have learned so much from all of you, Thank You!!
I have tagged a lot of things(especially spare jeep parts) so that if I pass tomorrow, those that have to clean out the garage know what a lot of the different items are and what they go to.
 

KEH

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
5,142
Hack saw blade fastened to bench leg of shelving leg with washers under screw head holding blade away from support. Slip piece of sandpaper behind blade to cut off pieces to put on pad sander, etc on the teeth of the blade.

KEH
 
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