ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0

[ntsqd]

Looked up that petcock socket. Snap-On's page says currently out of stock, but should be re-stocked by 25/09/14 After having battled a few of those I'm very tempted to buy one now and wait.

Fundamental and very common misunderstanding about Lucas. Look at the electronics used on Rolls-Royce, some F1 cars, and some aircraft as well as other military hardware. It is Lucas. And it works well. The problem is that as a mfg you come to Lucas saying that you need an internally regulated alternator (for instance), and you need it to come in at X dollars/Euros/Pounds per unit and that you plan to buy 1x10^x units.
Lucas can and will do that. If you set the price low, you get what you paid for. If you set the price high, you get what you paid for.

 

[zmotorsports]

Looked up that petcock socket. Snap-On's page says currently out of stock, but should be re-stocked by 25/09/14 After having battled a few of those I'm very tempted to buy one now and wait.

Thom, I purchased the petcock socket specifically for the 6.0 Powerstroke, but it works well in many other applications as well.

 

[WoodsTruck]

I like the fact that the petcock socket accepts the use of a combination wrench if need be.
Or heaven for bid, the old metric adjustable hammer!

 

[zmotorsports]

I like the fact that the petcock socket accepts the use of a combination wrench if need be.
Or heaven for bid, the old metric adjustable hammer!

Good point and one I forgot to mention. I had one instance where the ratchet wouldn't fit between the socket and the lower core support. Installing the socket on the petcock then reaching up with the open end of a combination wrench worked perfectly to break the petcock loose.

 

[bigdave_185]

As always a good read to follow along with @zmotorsports

 

[zmotorsports]

As always a good read to follow along with @zmotorsports

Thanks Dave, and thank you for continuing to follow along.

 

[signcrafter]

I've had one of those sockets on the list for a while now Mike. I also bought this kit that has worked good for me so far, https://www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-1320-8-Pc-Drain/dp/B086383HR9/?tag=atomicindus08-20. Also have an older thexton set that I got 20 years ago that works good for flat or single blade petcocks but not for the x pattern ones.

 

[ntsqd]

Thom, I purchased the petcock socket specifically for the 6.0 Powerstroke, but it works well in many other applications as well.

I'll be darned, something those 6.0 PSDs are good for!

 

[ScepterToad]

Nice work as always Mike! And I gotta get me one of those sockets!!

Oh, and add the lift review to the watch list.

 

[aka Larry]

I didn't know that socket existed, but I've seen times when I sure could have used one!

Of course on some newer cars I've worked on, some genius decided to eliminate the petcock altogether so I could make a huge mess by having to remove the lower radiator hose instead.

 

[rattle_snake]

So there is a tool for petcocks... Next time I know what to do, more tools.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Mike, I've done a bunch of timing belt/water pump tensioner bearings on 4 cylinder honda's. Are the V6 engine belt service etc more involved?

 

[joecon]

What I do if there is no petcock is use a vacuum cleaner to **** out the antifreeze. I have a 5-gallon jug set up to go between the vac and the coolant, so it doesn't get in the vac. I use a thin stiff plastic tube to slide down the inside the radiator and **** out the coolant I can also reuse it if necessary.

 

[Xti04]

I have done a million v6 timing belts on the Honda/ Acura v6s. I would much rather do one of those than a 4 cylinder. The v6 paid better and are an easy belt service to do.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, I've done a bunch of timing belt/water pump tensioner bearings on 4 cylinder honda's. Are the V6 engine belt service etc more involved?

The Honda/Acura V6 is quite an easy belt to replace and as @Xti04 said, I'd rather do a V6 than the inline 4. The inline 4 has more accessories that need to be moved out of the way just to gain access to the timing components as well as the fact that it has a balance shaft, so there are two belts rather than just the one on the V6.

 

[pancholasvegas]

Mike - I wanted to comment on your posts a bit earlier about wishing that you could connect with someone to "Bench Race."

I wanted to comment to let you know that I completely understand what you are looking for and what you had gained out of those sessions with your mentor. I wish that I was fortunate enough to have someone in my life who was smart and willing to share the information that they have stored in their heads as it pertains to our hobbies. There are many, many things that I've just had to wing or figure out on my own the best way to achieve, that being able to go through the motions and talk about it with someone who knows there stuff, would have made a tremendous difference.

In my neck of the woods, when it comes to the stuff we like, there is PLENTY of Gatekeeping. Most of the people that I know that are into cars, bikes, projects, etc. like myself, even acquaintances & friends, are VERY quick to tell you what you've done wrong, but will seldom, if ever offer their advice or share how they would have accomplished the same scenario. To paint a picture of this, last week I ran into a friend of mine who had recently done some custom work to their bike (Modified Front-End, 6+ Over Forks) and as I had done something very similar to the same bike several years ago, I asked how they accomplished the stretch of the forks - I was promptly told that they couldn't share that information with me and weren't telling. - Uhhh Okay? It's a chopper - Not a race car. Not to mention, I shared with the same person how I built my set of 6+ Over Forks as soon as I had them done because that person had thought it was neat and asked...

Some of this perspective I understand and can appreciate, as I know most of these guys from my motorsports days. Everyone knows you can't share race car secrets, but unfortunately it has now bled into the other hobby areas, and it seems most of these guys are just interested in keeping you out of the hobby so that they don't have to share their knowledge or risk another person "Stepping into the arena," so to speak.

It is very tiring and isolating - That is why I think this board is a good thing - It is one of the only places that I can "Bench Race" with people that are likeminded and willing to share information. I understand that posting opens yourself up to vulnerability and criticism - I am okay with that risk. I have to deal with it in real-life anyway, at least there is an Ignore button on here.

Don't beat yourself up too bad - Most of us want to be better and it is painful when we seem to falter.

 

[rd65]

My thought is if you are willing to ask a question, you should also be willing to answer that same question. I used to work in the powersports industry and got to Bench race and share information with other employees as well as customers. I did have one kid, lot kid that was starting to Service Write, tell me that "school cost money" when I asked him a question about his photography hobby. He got no more answers from me when he had questions about his Ski-Doo. I moved on in 2010 and very much miss those interactions. A good friend of mine and riding buddy moved halfway across the country a couple of years ago, I seldom ride anymore, maybe some street riding but haven't gone offroad in a couple of years. I miss it.

 

[Jgaz]

I knew when I retired and left work I was going to miss having access to the lathe, mill, shear, etc.
What I didn’t realize I would miss for a few months was the ability to bounce ideas off the mechanics I worked with.
Ten years later I miss the people the most.

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks for the comments guys.

In response to @pancholasvegas, one of the things I think I miss the most is something that I didn't realize at the time with my mentor, and that is how equally balanced we were or at least ended up. I always looked up to and admired him as one of the best couple of mechanics I personally knew and the fact that he was a friend just made it that much easier to ask questions. Over the years our "bench racing" sessions turned more into give and take vs. me being the one to always initiate the conversation or discussions.

I remember one conversation within the last year or so before he passed. We were in his home garage and were looking at the new to him Vette he had just purchased and was playing with. He had just finished his 1967 Chevelle build, and I had commended him on the fantastic job on the Chevelle and was inquiring what his plans were for the C6. He told me he couldn't have done the Chevelle without my help and I was flabbergasted. He said he had never done paint and body work before and was grateful I shared so much time and experience with him while replacing panels and prepping for paint work. He also thanked me for the few machining and welding jobs I did on the car over the couple of year build and when I said I learned from the best, he quickly insisted that I had far surpassed him. I didn't know what to say but took that as the greatest compliment I think I have ever heard because of how high I held and still hold him in his mechanical abilities and knowledge. I sure miss him and our conversations...

 

[Jarhead0408]

Mike, it's pretty enjoyable to hear the stories you have about you and your mentor. We've all been there to some degree or another.

And that timing job was great too. With the right car it's just about therapeutic! (Others will send you to therapy though!)

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, it's pretty enjoyable to hear the stories you have about you and your mentor. We've all been there to some degree or another.

And that timing job was great too. With the right car it's just about therapeutic! (Others will send you to therapy though!)

Thanks John. I appreciate the comments and for your continued support.

 

[PugetDude]

Mike, it's pretty enjoyable to hear the stories you have about you and your mentor. We've all been there to some degree or another.

And that timing job was great too. With the right car it's just about therapeutic! (Others will send you to therapy though!)

Thanks John. I appreciate the comments and for your continued support.

 

[mattthemuppet]

couple of quick Qs about the timing belt replacement - any issues getting the crank pulley off? I've heard that they need a sizeable impact and impact socket. Did you need to pin or time the camshaft pulleys when putting the belt back on? Thanks!

 

[zmotorsports]

couple of quick Qs about the timing belt replacement - any issues getting the crank pulley off? I've heard that they need a sizeable impact and impact socket. Did you need to pin or time the camshaft pulleys when putting the belt back on? Thanks!

There is a Honda/Acura specific socket the holds the center of the harmonic balancer that is hollow and allows a 19mm socket to be used through the middle on the crank bolt. I have the tool but really only use it for torquing the crank bolt back on as I have found using a heavy socket on an impact does a great job of more quickly removing the crank bolt. I found using a standard 19mm often times does not have enough mass to get the bolt broken free, however, if I use my 3/4" drive with a reducer to 1/2" then my IR 1/2" gun it breaks them free with little effort. I think that the more mass of the thicker wall of the 3/4" drive socket is the key in the equation, although on a few I have been able to use a standard 1/2" impact. Now just out of habit I just grab the 3/4" drive socket and zip the bolt out though and not waste my time trying the 1/2" drive.

As for the camshafts, no need to pin or secure them in this engine like on some of the others. Just align the timing marks on #1 TDC compression, then make sure they are aligned when the new belt goes back on. On occasion the front cam will need to be moved ever so slightly using a 17mm wrench to get the correct cog of the belt into the correct groove on the pulley, then rotate back into alignment with the mark on the head and it's all set. The rear cam usually isn't much of a problem getting the belt to align with the pulley as that is the side with the tensioner, so just make sure not to pull the pin until all marks are fully aligned.

Hope that answers your questions.

 

[zmotorsports]

Last night after completing a few small tasks that I had to finish up, I decided to clean the decks from the mowers, especially after last week's heavy rain and the fact that the lawn was so thick and still a little damp during the last two mows. Generally, I'll end up cleaning the decks a few times throughout the season, however, with the dry summer we've experienced this year, I have not had the need to clean the decks other than a shot of compressed air after each mow as I'm cleaning off the mowers.

The last two mows were very slow going so I figured I had better clean the decks and I'm glad I did as they were both packed with grass. I also don't like having the grass in the garbage can(s) more than overnight as they begin to stink something awful, so with Fridays being garbage day, I figured I would clean the decks and load up the garbage can with the debris.

Deck pulled from under the zero turn.


It was pretty compacted with grass and much of it was still damp from the mowing a few nights ago. I'm glad I didn't leave it under them much longer.


Grass cleaned up and deck returned under the mower so it could be parked back in the garage.


I then grabbed the walk-behind and performed the same task. It wasn't nearly as bad, but still was in desperate need of a good cleaning.


I also pulled the belt from the pulley under the blade and cleaned the groove using a cotter pin/hook tool. I have found that when mowing and I begin to notice the belt on the driven pulley really starting to dance around that there is a buildup of grass between the belt and the groove on the drive pulley under the deck. It was dancing pretty good a few nights ago, so I knew it needed to be cleaned out. Sure enough I pulled some packed grass from the pulley groove and the belt sat fully into the pulley again.


I gave the walk-behind a quick start to ensure everything was good and put it back in the garage as well, ready for use.

Thanks for looking.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Mike, with the new Spartan I've been running, it has really messed with my midseason service schedule. Normally I have to change the oil about halfway through Summer, and at that time I clean the deck and sharpen the blades. When I looked the other day, I only have about 25hrs on the current oil change. I'll have less than my usual 50hr service interval before this season is up! Our grass had gone dormant again over the last few weeks, but 2.60" worth of rain over Labor Day weekend had it looking green and overgrown in a couple of days.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, with the new Spartan I've been running, it has really messed with my midseason service schedule. Normally I have to change the oil about halfway through Summer, and at that time I clean the deck and sharpen the blades. When I looked the other day, I only have about 25hrs on the current oil change. I'll have less than my usual 50hr service interval before this season is up! Our grass had gone dormant again over the last few weeks, but 2.60" worth of rain over Labor Day weekend had it looking green and overgrown in a couple of days.

That's crazy you put those kind of hours on your machine to require a mid-season service Marc. My Toro FSM calls for oil changes every 100 hours but I only put around 40-45 hours a season so I just change the oil at the end of the season before putting it away for the winter. I like to have fresh oil in it while sitting so any deposits and that old acidic oil is not sitting in the crankcase all winter long. I usually end up pulling the deck 2-4 times per year to clean the deck, then just do the walk-behind at the same time, but this year has been so dry this is the first time cleaning the deck all season.

As for sharpening the blades, I generally only sharpen and balance at the end of the season, but while performing a deck cleaning I give them a thorough looking over and if I see any knicks or dings, they get pulled, sharpened and balanced at that time. I'm fortunate as I don't have rocks or things in my lawn that cause havoc to my blades, other than the occasional neighbor kid kicking a rock from my kidney onto my lawn, but I usually will catch those while trimming before I go to the mower.

 

[rd65]

I noticed the saw cuts in your floor, did you fill them with something? I have been thinking about cleaning mine out now that the slab has time to move around and settle.

 

[zmotorsports]

I noticed the saw cuts in your floor, did you fill them with something? I have been thinking about cleaning mine out now that the slab has time to move around and settle.

I haven't filled mine in.

My grandson loves playing with the shop vac. so I keep thinking maybe one day I will have him vacuum them out, then I will fill them with backer rod and caulk, but it's not a high enough priority to dedicate time to.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

My grandson loves playing with the shop vac. so I keep thinking maybe one day I will have him vacuum them out, then I will fill them with backer rod and caulk, but it's not a high enough priority to dedicate time to.

My advice is make time to have him vacuum out the cuts. If there are two things I picked up from being around my grandfather's shop was all hoses get rolled up and all spots on the driveway get cleaned. It's amazing what sticks with you......

 

[zmotorsports]

My advice is make time to have him vacuum out the cuts. If there are two things I picked up from being around my grandfather's shop was all hoses get rolled up and all spots on the driveway get cleaned. It's amazing what sticks with you......

Ryan, I know a lot of people put a ton of emphasis on filling shop floor cracks/cuts, but from my experience they are not as critical as people think. In my first shop, which was on my parent's farm the cracks were large enough to lose bolts and nuts in, so I filled them with some floor patching epoxy like we use at work on warehouse floors, then sanded down with a DA. They ended up cracking over time from the slab moving, but that was merely a pole building and a slab on grade pour about 4 or so inches thick is all.

In my last shop that I built myself, worked out of for 25+ years including running our speed shop out of, they were just like this shop and merely saw cuts. I never had the time to invest into filling them and they never bothered me, not even rolling a creeper over them for 20 of those years before acquiring my first 2-post lift.

I was going to fill the ones in my current shop shortly after they were cut while I was finishing up the yard and before the shop was completed and moved into, but it was suggested that I wait until the floor settles a bit before filling and by that time, it was way down on my priority list, still is. Maybe someday when I have nothing else to do they will rise to the top of the "to do" list.

As for hoses, cords, etc. and cleaning of floors, I like your grandfather already. Same rules at all of my shops, even work. No hoses or cords are left out when closing up and any trip hazards or things in the way get put away or at least moved to a lesser traveled area. As for floors, they get swept for certain after every job before starting the next and sometimes multiple times during a job, depending on what said job is and how dirty of a job or task it is. As for spots on the concrete, well, I clean up what I can when I can, but mine is a working shop and will get spill on them from time to time. Take my power steering job last week for example, the fluid did stain the concrete a bit as it soaked through a couple of absorbent pads, but by this week the areas are less noticeable as work has been being performed over the past week plus.

Not quite sure where I got the cleanliness and organization bug, my dad and brothers really didn't/don't have it, but it bit me hard.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Not quite sure where I got the cleanliness and organization bug, my dad and brothers really didn't/don't have it, but it bit me hard.

I'm getting more and more **** retentive. I had flashbacks of my grandfather the other day when I was showing my daughter how to "fold" the cleaning rag instead of "balling it up". I remember him explaining that to me like it was yesterday!

 

[zmotorsports]

I'm getting more and more **** retentive. I had flashbacks of my grandfather the other day when I was showing my daughter how to "fold" the cleaning rag instead of "balling it up". I remember him explaining that to me like it was yesterday!

I'm getting worse about many things as well Ryan. I remember watching a few of my uncles and cousins over time and they seemed to lighten up about certain things as they got older. I kind of thought that was merely the aging process and I would eventually do the same. Not so, I'm actually getting worse. Unfortunately, there seems to be a fine line between wanting something perfect vs. getting it to a point to enjoy it and use it as is. I'm trying to find that line within my own life.

 

[CGohring]

Im with you guys on this. And it is 'getting worse', but (maybe a bit naively) I'm attributing this to becoming wiser with age(?)... I.e. there is a reason for doing it the right way, and when I was younger, I just didn't care as much, but with age comes the realization that things last longer if you treat them right and you get hurt less if you move the tripping hazard, etc.

 

[zmotorsports]

Before I tore into the cleaning of the mowers, I had to remove a few bugs from the front of the Camaro. Last weekend the wife and I went for a drive and put about a hundred miles on the car, so I wanted to get the bugs off and get her parked back in the center of the shop and cover reinstalled.

 

[signcrafter]

If you do end up doing backer rod Mike this tool is amazing. First time I used one we were doing a ton of saw cuts on a big farm. We poured the pit and all the areas were the semis dumped the corn and beans into with the conveyors under them. They wanted them all caulked because of all the corn and bean and dust get into them. Makes the job go a million times faster and sets the backer at the perfect depth the whole way.

https://www.amazon.com/Albion-Engineering-Backer-Insertion-Tool/dp/B00UBQO3WO?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[zmotorsports]

If you do end up doing backer rod Mike this tool is amazing. First time I used one we were doing a ton of saw cuts on a big farm. We poured the pit and all the areas were the semis dumped the corn and beans into with the conveyors under them. They wanted them all caulked because of all the corn and bean and dust get into them. Makes the job go a million times faster and sets the backer at the perfect depth the whole way.

https://www.amazon.com/Albion-Engineering-Backer-Insertion-Tool/dp/B00UBQO3WO?tag=atomicindus08-20

That looks very similar to the one I used at work years ago. Ours was supplied by a vendor but it has two wheels that ride on either side of the sawcut, then an assortment of wheel thicknesses for the backer rod and can also be set to a certain and predetermined depth that it pushes it into the seam.

 

[ntsqd]

Thoughts on sealing concrete? Not epoxy floor covering or similar, but simply sealed. My limited experience is that not only is it easier to sweep a sealed floor, it also doesn't dust as bad. One garage that I worked in had concrete that dusted badly. Could NOT keep that floor clean.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Thoughts on sealing concrete? Not epoxy floor covering or similar, but simply sealed. My limited experience is that not only is it easier to sweep a sealed floor, it also doesn't dust as bad. One garage that I worked in had concrete that dusted badly. Could NOT keep that floor clean.

I used a densifier and Ghostshield in my shop. Can't imagine it any other way. Sweeps up clean and I generally hose it out with a squeegee a couple times a year do to being in the country...dust...always dust.

 

[bigdave_185]

Ryan, I know a lot of people put a ton of emphasis on filling shop floor cracks/cuts, but from my experience they are not as critical as people think. In my first shop, which was on my parent's farm the cracks were large enough to lose bolts and nuts in, so I filled them with some floor patching epoxy like we use at work on warehouse floors, then sanded down with a DA. They ended up cracking over time from the slab moving, but that was merely a pole building and a slab on grade pour about 4 or so inches thick is all.

In my last shop that I built myself, worked out of for 25+ years including running our speed shop out of, they were just like this shop and merely saw cuts. I never had the time to invest into filling them and they never bothered me, not even rolling a creeper over them for 20 of those years before acquiring my first 2-post lift.

I was going to fill the ones in my current shop shortly after they were cut while I was finishing up the yard and before the shop was completed and moved into, but it was suggested that I wait until the floor settles a bit before filling and by that time, it was way down on my priority list, still is. Maybe someday when I have nothing else to do they will rise to the top of the "to do" list.

As for hoses, cords, etc. and cleaning of floors, I like your grandfather already. Same rules at all of my shops, even work. No hoses or cords are left out when closing up and any trip hazards or things in the way get put away or at least moved to a lesser traveled area. As for floors, they get swept for certain after every job before starting the next and sometimes multiple times during a job, depending on what said job is and how dirty of a job or task it is. As for spots on the concrete, well, I clean up what I can when I can, but mine is a working shop and will get spill on them from time to time. Take my power steering job last week for example, the fluid did stain the concrete a bit as it soaked through a couple of absorbent pads, but by this week the areas are less noticeable as work has been being performed over the past week plus.

Not quite sure where I got the cleanliness and organization bug, my dad and brothers really didn't/don't have it, but it bit me hard.

That’s funny usually end up sweeping three or four times a job, usually for a different reasons. Clumsy Leff hands that can’t hold anything lol looking for dropped things