Tools that allow you to beat book time (or work faster)

[Goinlow]

I figured since there are quite a few mechanics on here this would be a good place to share tips about which tools help you work faster on a certain job. Also if you'd care to share which tools are needed for a certain job that others may not have ran into yet.

One example I have is on a 2005 quad cab f150 taking off the cab mounts to pull the cab to swap the engine out . To get the back seat out a universal stubby t40 allows you to take the seat out to get to the back 2 cab bolts.

Of course I am drawing a blank right now but I'm sure I can think of others in an hour or so.

 

[bonneyman]

Gearwrench ratcheting boxers and the Easydriver ratcheting screwball both save me scads of time on roofs.

 

[littlekillertoad]

I'm not a pro by any means but for me, cable operated hose clamp pliers. I was swapping the turbo on my Jetta tdi. Took me hours of frustration to get through all the hoses and manifolds to pull the turbo out of my jetta - and there was at least 1 hose clamp that I almost couldn't get to. Bought the hose clamp pliers and putting it all back together was fun (except for the exhaust downpipe).

 

[mrholeshot]

Knowledge is your greatest tool. To beat book time or slaughter it it not about what tool make the job faster but learning the thing you don't have to remove to get the job done. Thst the key to killing flat rate. It's not about what you do but more about what not to do.

 

[Goinlow]

Remembered another. On a 2000 vw bug with the 2.0 engine I was flushing the a/c after putting in a new compressor a lot of the lines were attached by 5mm or 6mm hex. Having 1/4 drive 5+6mm socket drivers allowed me to get where 3/8 drive was way too big.

I agree about knowing what not to take off so if you want to chime in with that I'm sure it'd be appreciated also.

 

[Fedwrench]

Experience and repetition and the two biggest aids to beating warranty time. Of couse, using cordless or pneumatic tools and eliminating wated movement also help. having two carts (one with tools, one for parts) close to the vehicle helps to cut down on steps. Just simply walking to a bench or your main tool box eats up a lot of time and don't even think about drinking a coke, bullshiting with your bud, or using cell phone/texting.

 

[bcjames]

Multiple ratchets, each set up with a different socket size you are using. I even do this at home to make things easier.

 

[Goinlow]

Experience and repetition and the two biggest aids to beating warranty time. Of couse, using cordless or pneumatic tools and eliminating wated movement also help. having two carts (one with tools, one for parts) close to the vehicle helps to cut down on steps. Just simply walking to a bench or your main tool box eats up a lot of time and don't even think about drinking a coke, bullshiting with your bud, or using cell phone/texting.

Yeah I always use a cart to put parts on and make trips to my box minimal (some I can't cut down on). I leave my phone at my box at all times and never use it until I'm done.

I agree using air/cordless tools helps but in most all cases I prefer to break a bolt loose by hand. I've broken a few bolts by being an animal with the cordless impacts.

 

[Chris_R/T]

Knowledge is your greatest tool. To beat book time or slaughter it it not about what tool make the job faster but learning the thing you don't have to remove to get the job done. Thst the key to killing flat rate. It's not about what you do but more about what not to do.

I'd agree with this.

The latest one I can recall is an alternator on an Acura MDX. The book said something along the lines of unbolting one engine mount and lifting that side up x amount of inches. Well, after looking at it for a minute or two, we discovered that taking one side of the alternator bracket off (1 bolt) and pushing the PS reservoir over to the side gave just enough space to get it out. It was a tight squeeze, but it easily saved 30+ minutes of extra work.

Ratcheting wrenches and air tools are probably the only tools that save time on a regular basis for me.

 

[mrholeshot]

Experience and repetition and the two biggest aids to beating warranty time. Of couse, using cordless or pneumatic tools and eliminating wated movement also help. having two carts (one with tools, one for parts) close to the vehicle helps to cut down on steps. Just simply walking to a bench or your main tool box eats up a lot of time and don't even think about drinking a coke, bullshiting with your bud, or using cell phone/texting.

There ya go! I can tell the guys who have worked flat rate. Every step you don't have to take in more money in your pocket. Keeping a couple of magnetic trays in the engine bay or where you are working to keep bolts seperated and in place can save huge amout of time. Searching 20 minutes for that special bolt that rolled away can get costly. Stay organized. digging for wrenches can also cost you. keep a central location for the tools you are using and have them within arms reach. Lots of tricks to the trade and most of them don't cost a dime

 

[King Bojack]

Knowledge is your greatest tool. To beat book time or slaughter it it not about what tool make the job faster but learning the thing you don't have to remove to get the job done. Thst the key to killing flat rate. It's not about what you do but more about what not to do.

This and probably avoiding comebacks. When interning I always worried that I was working too slow but the techs at the shop told me it's more important to not **** anything up than to haul ***.

Preferably yes, you want to beat your times but it's much better to spend that extra .2 or .3 hrs than to wreck ****.

This being said, basic pneumatic tools are your best friend(s). Oh and the "proper" tool for the job saves heaps of time too.

 

[mrholeshot]

This and probably avoiding comebacks. When interning I always worried that I was working too slow but the techs at the shop told me it's more important to not **** anything up than to haul ***.

Preferably yes, you want to beat your times but it's much better to spend that extra .2 or .3 hrs than to wreck ****.

This being said, basic pneumatic tools are your best friend(s). Oh and the "proper" tool for the job saves heaps of time too.

Speed comes with experiance, better to focus on accuracy first. Nobody likes to see one of their jobs come back on the hook. and while it burns up a few minutes alway test drive your work. better to take a drive and find a small problem and take care of it than to spend 20 minutes listening to customer explain to you how he saw a drop of coolant in his driveway. Anytime I did anything to a cooling system I always pressure tested the system before starting the car.

 

[american lockpicker]

Cordless 18v drill is quicker than a breast drill...

 

[lipadj46]

methamphetamine?

 

[johnnybentwrench]

Knowledge is your greatest tool. To beat book time or slaughter it it not about what tool make the job faster but learning the thing you don't have to remove to get the job done. Thst the key to killing flat rate. It's not about what you do but more about what not to do.

I am with you on that

 

[otis66]

Knowledge is your greatest tool. To beat book time or slaughter it it not about what tool make the job faster but learning the thing you don't have to remove to get the job done. Thst the key to killing flat rate. It's not about what you do but more about what not to do.

"It's not about what you do but more about what not to do".
Yes sensei

 

[Goinlow]

Any tips you guys can think of off hand that haven't been stated?

 

[ozzy214]

2.3 or its sister the 2.4 dohc gm. Absolute garbage engines, but a tip on a water pump change. Just pull the exhaust manifold. Then you can reach right down and pull the nuts on timing cover to slide the whole assembly of the cover. No need to take the chain off or anything like that. Much easier than trying to fight from the bottom even on a lift.

Another trick. Or maybe common sense. Certain vehicles, its much easier to pull the cab i.e. ford....or even entire body like Chevy cargo vans like the express or even a trailblazer, envoy to do any major engine work like head gaskets, engine jobs, etc.

Lets see...**** I have ton's, but not coming to me. Oh last tip. It may seem silly to some, but if you have a lift, then by all means pull the trans on rwd or 4wd trucks, if pulling the engine. Sometimes its a helluva lot easier to pull the trans first, then pull, then engine, then reverse.

This way your not fighting from top to line up the bell. This is especially useful on like s10s, blazers, or even a KIA sportage that I did recently, where there is minimal floor clearance to pull the bell bolts.

The best tip of all is study for like 5-10 minutes whatever your doing. Look at every bolt, wire, etc. Run pictures through your mind of it coming apart and you will be able to figure out what is necessary and not necessary to touch.

And last tip is do whatever is comfortable or easiest for you. Speed will come with time and experience. There are probably hundreds of ways to do one job, but everyone has a way they like that is comfortable and allows us to hammer through.

Oh and last advise. Definitely test drive and then re hoist check anything major done. Study every last bolt and any leaks to ensure no comebacks. Comebacks can be a life altering experience as in the case of someone that did some jail time I knew. He forgot to tighten the 4 corner bolts on the subframe of a gm and lets say the customer almost died when the motor/trans went a different way than she was turning.

 

[Simz144]

Unbolting front differential on a 1998 f-150 with a 4.6 engine for changing oil pan. Easier than lifting the engine

 

[Mustangmike]

All great ideas..In this day of being digital, I take an overview picture, and then some detailed pics while taking something out/apart for the first time, that way there is a visual record of what you are doing..Also helps incase there is a "he broke such and such.." afterwards.

 

[mrholeshot]

All great ideas..In this day of being digital, I take an overview picture, and then some detailed pics while taking something out/apart for the first time, that way there is a visual record of what you are doing..Also helps incase there is a "he broke such and such.." afterwards.

I use to keep a Poliroid handy before the age of digital. Good advice

 

[jay50]

Two cups of black coffee and two red bulls before 10am; I can beat the book all day long....

And yeah, I keep a piss jug nearby....

 

[Goinlow]

All great ideas..In this day of being digital, I take an overview picture, and then some detailed pics while taking something out/apart for the first time, that way there is a visual record of what you are doing..Also helps incase there is a "he broke such and such.." afterwards.

Wow that's a great idea. I've never thought if that for some reason. I might get a cheap digital camera for things like this.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

All great ideas..In this day of being digital, I take an overview picture, and then some detailed pics while taking something out/apart for the first time, that way there is a visual record of what you are doing..Also helps incase there is a "he broke such and such.." afterwards.

That's pretty much the only thing i use the camera on my phone for. Great for things like stupid complex drum brake setups and stuff like that.

 

[reptilezs]

roto ratchet, love it. also undersized tools can help sometimes. like 1/4 drive instead of 3/8

 

[Dust]

Take five minutes before starting to make a mental or written list of all the tools you need. If you do a job often enough, you'll know what bolts need what wrenches and whatnot.

If a task seems really hard and cumbersome, think of what other ways it could be done. Case in point, spark plugs on a Hemi Aspen/Durango. They are ***** and a half to do from the top of the engine, but if you rack the car and pull the front wheels and wheel splash shields, you can go in from the sides and save a LOT of aggravation. It's worth the extra effort and plastic rivets because it usually saves between fifteen and twenty minutes per cylinder bank. Also, just take the EGR tube out of the way, since you'll never get the front two spark plugs on the right bank otherwise.

Ear plugs/muffs are great not just for protecting your ears from noisy impacts or seating tire beads, they're also great for ignoring distracting coworkers.

Most of the time it's easier and faster just to remove the part that's in the way instead of trying to go around it. You'll eat that time anyway when you drop a bolt or tool behind that part and can't fish it out.

 

[copterdoctor]

total organization is the key for me.. I shadow my boxes, and it drives me nuts when working with other mechanics that don't keep things organized. it's amazing watching someone who "cant find the tool or bolt".... makes me wanna jab a pointy object in my retina...

 

[MrMark]

I use to keep a Poliroid handy before the age of digital. Good advice

Your Avatar!

 

[yellowbox]

total organization is the key for me.. I shadow my boxes, and it drives me nuts when working with other mechanics that don't keep things organized. it's amazing watching someone who "cant find the tool or bolt".... makes me wanna jab a pointy object in my retina...

agreed... i work with someone who never ever can find the right size tool/wrench he needs hunts forever trying to find stuff
i study for a few minutes what i am working on to plan the easiest way to go about it .....pics come in handy also
one thing i have learned .....do not ask too much advise from co workers on how to fix stuff, most of them will give bad advise and make it harder to fix with good intensions of course ....

 

[mrshaun]

sres30a dog bone 15/16 for HumVee (military) upper ball joint. Saves two hours per service

 

[littlekillertoad]

roto ratchet, love it. also undersized tools can help sometimes. like 1/4 drive instead of 3/8

+1 on the roto ratchet. I love those things.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I bought one of these T-bar ratchets in 1/4" for $20 at HF and it has saved my **** several times. If I cant get a good angle on a burried bolt, I reach for this thing and it is so adjustable that I always seem to find an angle that works.

Chris

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I use to keep a Poliroid handy before the age of digital. Good advice

That's funny, I finaly chucked the old polaroid camera when I got my new tool box....

Its goten to the point that even my non-digital self had to go get a digital camare to keep at work for all that stuff.

As for speeding up the work I'll add another vote to the idea that knowledge is the best tool.....work smarter and you'll be faster. Repetition does help - you do the same particular repair so many times that when it comes up, you just grab the shop cart, load on the specific tools needed and go get it done with out multiple trips back an forth around the shop. Overall experience is the next thing - once you doing it a while, good practices just spread out to all the work - you begin to just "know" the best way to handle a given situation.
I don't have many specific time saver tools - the ones I do are very specifc jobs that not many would ever see - special pump or alignment tools specific to the machine.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

work late , work through lunch , work through coffee break , work saturdays
yep , fun job

 

[scofo]

An " airlift" or something similar for refilling cooling systems saves a lot of time.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

my brain...

unfortunately, the older i'm getting, the slower i'm getting... it seems i plateaued about 5 years ago... even simple jobs, i've done 1000 times are taking more time than they used to... i don't really have to think to do them, but the whole automatic pilot thing has some glitches as of late.

 

[4x4gearhead]

Some of my biggest time savers are ratcheting stubbies and my set of metric snap-on open end ratcheting wrenches though i wish i had the 18mm and 19mm to the set seeing how they dont make them anymore, Also I work on a lot of hydraulics so i found that having both the say 2" wrench and the little 2" stubby hydraulic martin wrench together makes it easier to get the hoses off faster break them with the full size, and run it off with the smaller hydraulic wrench yay for spud wrenches!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Take five minutes before starting to make a mental or written list of all the tools you need. If you do a job often enough, you'll know what bolts need what wrenches and whatnot.

I tend to grab whatever i may need. So i might chuck a bunch of wrenches in my tote that don't get used on a job but it saves me walking back and forth from the box if i do need them.

Most of the time it's easier and faster just to remove the part that's in the way instead of trying to go around it. You'll eat that time anyway when you drop a bolt or tool behind that part and can't fish it out.

Very true. Changing the air filter on a BMW X5 diesel comes to mind, i was told by someone what i needed to remove in order to swap it out and it seemed like a lot of stuff just to change the filter. I spent more time looking for a way to do it without pulling lots of stuff than it would've taken to just do it the way i was told. As it turned out i did have to pull all that ****, so i wasted a lot of time and effort looking for a simpler way.

Live and learn.

One thing i have learned .....do not ask too much advise from co workers on how to fix stuff, most of them will give bad advise and make it harder to fix with good intensions of course ....

Also true. A lot of the time it's best to learn on your own. I did so because i never had anyone else to teach me, but it sure helped me a lot. In many cases you need to do it yourself, screw up and learn from your mistakes. I did that a few times too!

sres30a dog bone 15/16 for HumVee (military) upper ball joint. Saves two hours per service

I assume it only saves any time if you're actually torquing it to spec? Or it not possilbe to get anything else on there without pulling the hub?

Do you think this would work?

work late , work through lunch , work through coffee break , work saturdays
yep , fun job

I used to wonder why all your postes were so miserable and depressing, but now i understand. Call it empathy..

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Also I work on a lot of hydraulics so i found that having both the say 2" wrench and the little 2" stubby hydraulic martin wrench together makes it easier to get the hoses off faster break them with the full size, and run it off with the smaller hydraulic wrench

Yeah, I forgot those - I bought cheap sets of wrenches jut to cut up for that type thing -- the stuff that just too snug to spin by hand, but a PITA to keep using a full length wrench on and they don't make a stubby 1 1/2" or 2" (even if they did - prolly too expensive).

 

[mrholeshot]

Learning how to pace yourself is a good way to make better time. If you get in a super big hurry things tend to get disoragnized. Start the job and keep it at a managable pace. Some of my guys wondered how I looked like I was moving slower and could knock out the job faster than they could. If you take your time and don't drop things, put things back together in the same order as they come apart, don't stop to get something to drink or shoot the breeze (sometimes hands stop moving when mouths open) as this can cause distration and mistakes. Finish at the same pace you start. Clean up and put tools away and get ready for the next job. Working smart is your best asset. I wouldn't even answer the phone in a job that took two hours or less when I was in the shop. Another thing is don't be afraid to ask for assistance or advice. Two techs working side by side that arn't afraid to lend the other a hand can make more money than two so hard headed and egotistical that they are a 100% one man show. You have to be willing to help out as well as receive help. When I had my shop, I wrote my own paycheck based of 50% of the labor I turned that week in my own shop. The same as my other two master technicians. Even running my business my check was nearly as much as theirs and sometimes more. Experiance helps a lot. back when I worked for a dealership I tuned about 70-80 hours a week. Nobody else wanted to do TSB's but I didn't mind. You do 2-3 of the same repair and the other 100 or so go by really fast. My Service writer use to hand me a stack of TSBs for things like a Bad brake light switch, Cruise clip ,TVS and I would take the tickets, go to parts with a box and bill out 20 parts, grab the Tools I needed and headed out to the parking lot. not having to pull the car in and out and being able to do the same job over and over. I once has a recall for a cruise control clip that was recalled for throttle sticking on 83(?) oldsmobiles.Nothing gets people in faster than a throttle sticking and the only fix was replce the clip holding the cruise linkage to the carb. Nobody else want them because they only paid .3 hours each. I grabbed a box of 100 of the clips and and as people were lined up around the block I would have the owners stay in there car and pop the hood. I would remove the air cleaner Just enough to get to the clip and replace the clip, put the recall tag on and shut the hood. Took all of about 2 minutes per car. I did them all day long for 3 days and turned about 160 hours in 5 days.

Each one of my Techs had a lift bay and a Flat bay with a drive over brake lift. I had my own as well. I would work on 4-5 cars at the same time. While waiting on parts for one go to another. When doing front brakes I had a system. I would pull the wheel , caliper and rotor on one side. I would put the rotor on the lathe on fast cut. I would run over and pull the wheel, caliper and rotor off the other side. take the second rotor and lay it at the lathe and put the lathe on finish cut. As that rotor cut I would grab my 2 caliper presses, lock one side and compress the other then load that caliper lube the slides then move over and load the other. By that time the first caliper was finished. I put my second rotor on the lathe and went back and wire brushed the hubs and put a ittle anti seize on the hubs and lug studs. I would go set the lathe for final cut and then assemble one side, install the wheel check over everything and move tools to the other side. Grab my torque wrench, set the torque and get my second rotor off the lathe, Install caliper, wheel and then lowered the car torqued the wheels and test drove the car. Total time about 20 minutes on a a hubless rotor car. Some of my guys would stand around while the rotors cut and it took them about 45 minutes.

Make every step count.