This also comes in handy when trying to make a copper plumbing repair near the slab. Way cheaper on MAP gas than trying to boil out the residual water.
Tool tips
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thrashingcows
Senior Member
I've used a chunk of cheap white bread stuffed in the line to hold the water back while getting the fittings soldered, once done the white bread just disintegrates in the water line and all is well. ;)
I've had mixed results with that trick. You're more likely to find a shop vac in my house than a loaf white bread though.
I started this job today... I want to change the rear axle bearings and was looking for a good way to protect the seal areas on the axle while I take a cut off disk to the bearing and retainer. .
I came up with this... 2 hose clamps.
I came up with this... 2 hose clamps.
I started using a needle scaler a while back. This is one of those tools that I've only ever seen one other guy use, and that was on a cruise ship. One of the crew was repairing a railing and using the scaler to clean up the area.
These aren't made for use on sheet metal, but it works great on things like this rear end. It knocks the heavy scale off and generally cleans up the area. Using a wire wheel does the same, but there's no flying wire bits or a big cloud of dust. I knock all the scale off with the scaler and then finish it with a cup wire wheel in my angle grinder. It's probably the same amount of time, maybe a little less to do it this way. It does save the mess though.
They have a couple different models at Harbor Freight.
Compact Air Needle Scaler
I didn't get a good pic, but you get the idea... The big hunks of scale and rust are chipped off and ready for a few minutes with the wire wheel.
These aren't made for use on sheet metal, but it works great on things like this rear end. It knocks the heavy scale off and generally cleans up the area. Using a wire wheel does the same, but there's no flying wire bits or a big cloud of dust. I knock all the scale off with the scaler and then finish it with a cup wire wheel in my angle grinder. It's probably the same amount of time, maybe a little less to do it this way. It does save the mess though.
They have a couple different models at Harbor Freight.
Compact Air Needle Scaler
I didn't get a good pic, but you get the idea... The big hunks of scale and rust are chipped off and ready for a few minutes with the wire wheel.
In the ongoing axle project, I decided that given a little bit of junk I found in the housing, that I would clean it out. My "go to" products are brake cleaner, cheap oven spray and a pressure washer. The oven spray works well for nasty oil stained parts, so I figured it would work well with this. Problem is with the oven cleaner, it comes out in a fan spray and I couldn't get it to spray down the axle tubes. I was tossing an empty can of CRC brake spray in the trash and the idea hit me to swap the nozzle with the tube onto the oven cleaner. This worked even better than I hoped and I could direct the spray all the way down the axle tube easily.
CRC and whoever makes the oven cleaner for Walmart use the same spray can! I wouldn't be surprised if they came out of the same factory.
CRC and whoever makes the oven cleaner for Walmart use the same spray can! I wouldn't be surprised if they came out of the same factory.
thrashingcows
Senior Member
Was working on my son-in-laws 1st gen cummins truck with him a week or so ago and we were trying to get the front 4wd manual locking hubs off, there are 6 small allen head bolts counter sunk to be flush with the surface used to secure them, I got 5 of them out and of course the last one fought me. Lots of heat, tapping with a small punch and still would not move, eventually the head stripped and I was not sure how to get it out, thats when he mentioned to me to use a torx bit. I had never heard of this but was more than willing to give it a try, so we found a #27 Torx bit was just a hair larger than the stripped allen head so we tapped it in with a hammer and used a 1/4" drive ratchet and socket on the bit and wouldn't you know it spun out no problem!
See even an old dog and learn something new from a young pup!
See even an old dog and learn something new from a young pup!
This was something I read while checking on what I needed to do to change the pinion bearings in my 8 3/4 center section. The front bearing race comes out easy enough, there's a couple notches to get a punch into. Putting the new race in was a little more problematic. I didn't have a socket or anything I could use to push the race down the bore. I read that by cutting a slit in the old race, it would fit down into the bore and push the new one in, and then be able to get it out easily. I cut the slit with my angle grinder with a cut off disc.
It worked great... A piece of steel across the new race (I should have taken pics) until it's flush with the end of the housing, then put the old race in place with the steel across it. When done, I just knocked the old one out really easy.
The bore with a new race.
The old race with a slot cut in it.
It worked great... A piece of steel across the new race (I should have taken pics) until it's flush with the end of the housing, then put the old race in place with the steel across it. When done, I just knocked the old one out really easy.
The bore with a new race.
The old race with a slot cut in it.
3175375
Senior Member
I just received this FLIR camera that works with iPhones or Android models.
FLIR One Pro LT iOS Pro-Grade Thermal Camera for Smartphones https://a.co/d/1DzmDNS
I snapped a couple of pictures with it while watching the Chefs game last night.
I will be using it for cooling system diagnostic purposes as well as just curiosity.
FLIR One Pro LT iOS Pro-Grade Thermal Camera for Smartphones https://a.co/d/1DzmDNS
I snapped a couple of pictures with it while watching the Chefs game last night.
I will be using it for cooling system diagnostic purposes as well as just curiosity.
3175375
Senior Member
There is another reason to use white bread though...it's far less messy than using grease to push out a pilot bearing, and a lot cheaper than a slide hammer too
not for eating though. for that, wholemeal or multigrain is best.
3175375
Senior Member
I didn’t and don’t go to Ulta, but I did lift this from Facebook.
We all have drip pans but this water heater drain pan is really big..unfortunately can catch multiple different fluids at the same time. Also good for oil catch pan on a low car or a water catch pan under a drain that doesnt allow a high edge pan but still needs some volume. Plastic - Water Heater Pans - The Home Depot
and kind of related if you need not too expensive sheet metal and all you can easily get is flimsy HD stuff you can try restaurant supply cookie sheet pans. Especially if you need aluminum and would like an edge to keep its shape. 18x26 aluminum for $6. Even after shipping still better than HD. Other cake, loaf and form/molds pans can be used as project boxes or just source of pre-bent aluminum, stainless steel or even silicone. Sheet Pans
And they make for a cheap fan shroud mount.
and kind of related if you need not too expensive sheet metal and all you can easily get is flimsy HD stuff you can try restaurant supply cookie sheet pans. Especially if you need aluminum and would like an edge to keep its shape. 18x26 aluminum for $6. Even after shipping still better than HD. Other cake, loaf and form/molds pans can be used as project boxes or just source of pre-bent aluminum, stainless steel or even silicone. Sheet Pans
And they make for a cheap fan shroud mount.
live4theking
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Those are some interesting and resourceful repurposing of everyday items. I've used old galvanized gutter to patch the rocker panel on cars, it's really close shapewise.
Vaanth
Member
For removing or installing the roll pin from the steering column coupler, without distortion of the pin or tool slippage, I modified an old #3 Philips screwdriver. I ground down a section to be slightly smaller than the pin outer diameter with a step further ground down on the end. The end step allows the tool to fit in the pin without slipping. The other step is big enough to fit the pin diameter, but small enough to slide into the pin hole without sticking.
The screwdriver is an old inexpensive Buffalo Tools brand with a wooden handle, but with the full metal shank continued inside and a metal knob on the upper end, so it can handle being hammered. I've taped up the handle for a better grip and the wood was beginning to split from age.
The screwdriver is an old inexpensive Buffalo Tools brand with a wooden handle, but with the full metal shank continued inside and a metal knob on the upper end, so it can handle being hammered. I've taped up the handle for a better grip and the wood was beginning to split from age.
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Vaanth
Member
I used a broken attachment to add a seal removal tool to my slide hammer. I use it for the inner seals in 8-3/4" and Dana 60 axles, but it might be used for some others. The axle seals can often be popped out with an axle shaft, but if stubborn, or just for better handling, I use this. I cut down a large washer, shaped it, drilled it, and mounted it with a bolt as a pivot on the threaded attachment. The swivel and relieved areas allow it to pivot enough to slide into the seal opening, then when pulled back against the other side of the seal, the washer "wings" seat and grab the seal body.
Vaanth
Member
I use this old can/bottle opener, with some tape added as a cushion, to aid in removal of snap-on roof drip rail molding.
Vaanth
Member
I made these out of sheet stock, according to the service manuals, to align and hold the levers on an Inland 4-speed and 3 speed shifters.
Vaanth
Member
A scrap 8-3/4" "489" differential crush sleeve makes a good driver for seating front hub grease caps into the hub recess.
It fits 3580894 caps on 1973 and later cars perfectly.
It also fits the earlier 1613416 caps, but with some play, so a little more care in centering is needed.
It doesn't fit the small caps used on 9" brakes, nor the larger caps used on trucks, etc.
Left=small, middle=3580894, right=large:
It fits 3580894 caps on 1973 and later cars perfectly.
It also fits the earlier 1613416 caps, but with some play, so a little more care in centering is needed.
It doesn't fit the small caps used on 9" brakes, nor the larger caps used on trucks, etc.
Left=small, middle=3580894, right=large:
Vaanth
Member
I made this for compressing the clutch piston spring retainer plate for snap ring removal/install for the direct drum in Torqueflite 727 transmissions. It is part of an old aftermarket long spring shackle with two bolts welded to it and two nuts with offset washers welded on to form eccentrics . The washers adjust for best fit and press on the retainer. I use my shop press for but it can be used with a long bolt or threaded rod and nut to compress it as well.
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