Anyone Else Use "Cheat Sheets"?

[Runner]

I keep a three-ring binder in my shop in which I have pages with commonly used information on the various vehicles/boats/tractors/engine-driven items that I have to care for.

I keep separate pages for cars, trucks, etc., and each one has things like, lug bolt size/torque, oil filter number, required oil viscosity, oil quantity, air filter number, oil drain bolt size, etc.

Also keep handy reference pages in there like how much oil it takes to get a 50:1/32:1/25:1 mixture for a one-gallon gas can.

Whenever I need to work on something that requires the use of a shop manual, I make copies of the required sheets and take them to the shop, rather than getting the original manual dirty and torn-up. Then, I three-hole punch those pages and keep them in the notebook for future use.

I find it really saves time/effort to keep all this stuff in one place rather than having to find a separate book to look it up each time I need to change oil or whatever.

 

[ToadHill]

I have all my manual pages inside clear plastic sheets then punched and in three ring binders.

 

[vic4news]

The greasy fingerprints in my manuals help me remember what I've worked on before.

I have started writing down some of the wrench sizes on the appropriate pages.

Vic

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I've got a toolbox on every tractor. I like the boxes John Deere started selling back in the 1970's. I've adapted the mounts to fit every tractor I own. I then type out all the essential information and laminate a copy. That laminated sheet is then attached to the under-side of the lid to the toolbox. It's never very far from where I need it.

 

[JC-jetro]

I could not live without my "cheat sheets" in college and even more so after college. I scan or convert all text in PDF format and keep it on my computer or thumb drive. I study it first and only print the pages I need, mark it up with all "notes to self" and then go to work. When The job is done my cheat sheet is all oily and messy and I just pitch it till next time.

Jc,

 

[emmy71]

I keep an old laptop with an Excel spreadsheet of my maintenance records for each vehicle and also throw service bulletins such as get posted on this site on it.

Terry

 

[zionview]

I made copies of the service page from one of my vehicle manuals to use on the "offroad" stuff-just list hours instead of miles. I also tear off the boxtop when I take a new filter out of the box, and mark what it's for(BX2200 OIL, for example) and throw the boxtop into a box in the fluids cabinet for reference when I pick up new filters. We keep a "trip sheet" in one of our trucks for tax purposes, and mark the service dates on it for a quick reference of the next service date. I don't have any of my old PC's. My future son-in-law fixes them for people that otherwise couldn't afford one.

 

[Gravdigr]

Wow I wish I could be that organized. I tried and I can't do it for whatever reason, too busy, too lazy, etc... I generally remember what needs done when on a time schedule. Luckily for me most of the equipment is stored every winter so everything has a routine throughout the spring and summer at certail times. I also more or less know which wrenches I'll need for which piece of equipment though metric is the devil and nore and more it fudges up my system of carrying 4 wrenches in my pocket (7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8) "Oh that's 1/2"....wait too small? 12mm,,,, 4#@*!! metric!"

 

[dbdartman]

The only records I keep any more are filter numbers, & then it's just rip the top off the box, mark it's application & nail it to the wall. I really should make up cheat sheets for the old cars though. They all have, at the very least, later model disc brakes. Some have very few "stock" parts on them.

With the proliferation of metric fasteners today, I have a separate metric tool box. I also keep a set of combination wrenches (both metric & SAE) in easy-carry Harbor Freight holders so all I need to do is grab & go. Most sockets are on cheapy metal spring strips (6-point, 12-point, deep, in 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 drives, SAE & metric, again Harbor Freight pieces). It's nice not having to go back & forth to the boxes looking for tools!

 

[tommu56]

I have what my kids call my Brain its a palm pilot with most of the info in phone numbers to model and serial nimbers of my equipment. and I dont leave home with out it.

tommu

 

[EddieWalker]

I tear off the labels of filters and such from what I buy and tape them onto the back of my shop door. I then write on them what they are for and try to keep each machine in it's own area of the door. Then I just look at the door and know the part number for a hydraulic, fuel, or air filter. Same thing for just about any part that I've ever bought. I also write on the door, next to the label things that I might need to know. Things like spark plug gap for my dump truck, or fuel mixture for my chain saw.

Having it on the door makes it easy to find and read.

Eddie

 

[canoetrpr]

Boy are you guys ever organised!. I suppose once I have spent enough time maintaining equipment, replacing shear bolts etc. I'll have to get organised to.

Broke a shear bolt on the bush hog today..... whats the size of that thing again?? better go look at the manual

 

[ragkar]

I create my cheat sheets by keeping a topic oriented diary using word for windows. I enter things that I've learned, write procedures for things like mounting the backhoe and have tables of oils, gas and spark plug part numbers for the various small engines.

 

[Barneyhunts]

I keep my manuals in old boot boxes in my garage - Tractors, lawn equip., cars, etc. I mark fuel/oil mixtures on my two cycle equipment with a marker so that the proper mixture is in front of me when I'm "gassing up". I mark tire inflation pressures on the rims of my tractors. I do need some type of reminder, though, to remind me to fold the ROP B4 trying to drive the tractor into the garage.

 

[wushaw]

The only cheet sheet I use is for tire rotation/wheel torque tacked to a spot on a wall, my filters I always buy a couple when I get down to the last one so I always have a spare or just use the filter # on the filter that is on the equipment if it's a once a year change or longer.
Fuel mixtures, Sthil and Echo are the same.

 

[KevPH1]

I bought a clear plastic single sheet display frame at one of the office supply stores. Any stored information ,from the computer, is printed when inserted into the clear frame. I've used the display frame attached from one of my garage storage cabinets and unattached, as needed, to the work area.

The frame will display two pages of information. one front, one from the back side. Simply turn the clear frame around.

 

[davitk]

...I am going to have to stop reading this thread, it is making me feel so small...

 

[Runner]

People saying they save the boxtops and labels reminded me, I do that too. Sometimes I tape them to a piece of notebook paper and keep them in the binder that way, and sometimes I just throw them in one of those clear plastic notebook sleeves that has three holes and that goes in the binder.

Taping the stuff to the paper is especially handy for things like gasket bags and so forth, that may not be easy to determine what they went to. Then, I just write notes on what it goes to on the paper.

I also use those sleeves to hold smaller manuals for stuff like tools, sprayer, etc., i.e., anything small enough that it won't stand up on the book shelf. These go in a separate binder just for equipment instructions.

I'm not really that organized, but if I don't do this, I can't find any of this stuff.

 

[Farwell]

I scan the documents then print and laminate them to keep them in good cleanable condition

 

[dtd24]

I thought I was the only freak of organization. My tractor info is all filed in a plastic file box in my garage. I also tack the filter covers to the studs, as well as copies of various check lists!!!

Cool I'm not a nerd!!