Left over parts

Cliff_Johns · Mar 30, 2005

A post in another forum got me wondering. Many folks here take their tractors, and I guess other vehicles like cars and unimogs, completely apart, then slowly put them back together over a sometimes long period of time. This would require that you still know how to put everything back together perhaps months later and not have any parts left over when you finish.

So my question is, what sort of organization or documentation do you use so you can get it all back together and have it still work? Do you separate parts and bin and label them? Take pictures of the machine as it comes apart so you have a reference? Number things so they go back together in the same order they came apart?

I just imagine myself having taken apart some complex piece of machinery, cleaned it, painted it, repaired it, put it back together over a period of months, then sitting there on the concrete floor crying in my Mountain Dew and holding some important looking part and having no idea where it went or what it does.

Cliff

notamustang · Mar 30, 2005

I have never done anything like a mog but after you fix it enough times it becomes 2nd nature. The rule for left over parts is you obviously didnt need em thats why they are extra /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I try to keep things in the same general area drive train, interior, body/fender. The worst are trim screws, thank goodness for silicone.

Glenn9643 · Mar 30, 2005

That would be a problem for me too Cliff. I've never tackled a job just as you describe, but have had problems in the past trying to figure out "what holds this?" or "where does this bolt go?". I've gotten into a habit of replacing the fasteners (bolts, screws) in their original hole after disassembly and try to keep related parts grouped and that's helped me.

EddieWalker · Mar 30, 2005

I don't do enough work on the same vehicle to know what I'm doing. It's always a new adventure.

Since I've had my digital camera, I really like to take a bunch of photos before I get started, then more as I go along.

I label hoses and wires with masking tape and a marker. I label it and/or do a letter to letter matchup.

I save all my coffee cans and will label one can for one part. My last project was on my dozer. I put all the nuts for the pump in one coffee can. I do that with each part, even if it only has a couple of pieces.

Even with all that, I still had to go back to the manuel for some additional information. But that's just me, I'm a scatter brain and must rely on keeping it simple.

Banjo · Mar 30, 2005

I only got a digital camera last summer, but I've used it a few times to record "before" pictures and it sure helps.

Your question is too good a setup to resist adding one of my favorites ...

"The definition of an Engineer is someone who can take something apart, put it back together so it works just as well, and convince you that the parts left over are all in the interests of economy".

The corollary to this is that if you take something apart and put it back together often enough, you'll end up with two of them!

FWIW. A.

DaMadman · Mar 30, 2005

Extra parts get thrown over the left should with eyes closed and a prayer. Kinda like whne you spill salt. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

TheKid · Mar 30, 2005

If you got left over parts and everything works the way it's supposed to, they weren't left over, they were spares.

Von · Mar 30, 2005

Cliff,
I just throw all those "extra" parts into a box and give it to the new owner when I sell the car or truck!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Really I guess I'm just lucky, if I took it apart I seem to always remember how to put it back together. And after awile if doing the same type of car, I can put them back together without the shop book! There is not a part on an early Porsche 911 that I can't tell you where it goes. After restoring over 50 of them I think I can do it in my sleep!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Von

GuglioLS · Mar 30, 2005

I usually video tape the disassembly than play it backwards in slow mo later. If I still have parts left over then at least I got to see them go back in. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Those left over parts are usually only shipping screws.

Seriously though if you take your time when putting stuff back together you'll usually find where everything goes. Take a break every now and then if you get frustrated. Walk away and do something else to take your mind off it. Then all of a sudden viola - you remember where that thingamabob was and where it went - usually you will have to remove a few things then put in the missing item you just remembered.
Murphy's law is always in FULL EFFECT at all times.

PineRidge · Mar 30, 2005

Guys I don't need any digital pictures, magic markers, or numbered tags as I have a photographic memory. That means that I get it all back together just like it came apart.

Then I sell all the leftover parts at eBay before anyone else here notices them. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MMM · Mar 30, 2005

Cliff, throw them in the fuel tank and they're supposed to get back where they belong sooner or later.

Cliff_Johns · Mar 30, 2005

( "The definition of an Engineer is someone who can take something apart, put it back together so it works just as well, and convince you that the parts left over are all in the interests of economy".

The corollary to this is that if you take something apart and put it back together often enough, you'll end up with two of them! )

Well, there have been some really wonderful responses here, remarkably few useful ones, but I must say I've laughed out loud. I like the corollary quoted here the best. It sounds like Pennsylvania Dutch humor to me although in that case, this concept would fall into place after about a fifteen minute disertation that sounded educational until you suddenly realise your being streatched like gumby.

Actually, the idea of creating a video of the tractor going back together by watching it being taken apart in reverse is a real gem too.

Thanks everyone, you guys are clever.
Cliff

Soundguy · Apr 4, 2005

I use baggies with a note card for small parts. And for wires and hoses, tape with dots on tem to match them up. A picture, or diagram helps also. Sometimes I'll put tape tabs on complex parts and tape tabs on bolt on parts so i know what came out of what hole.. etc.

Soundguy

Cliff_Johns · Apr 4, 2005

Masking tape and baggies. That makes a lot of sense. I guess you just need a standard way to mark the hole and the bolt so it's unique. I'll remember that one. Thanks.

Cliff

notamustang · Apr 4, 2005

One way for specific parts is to use either paint pens or your wifes fingernail polish. You could color code upon removal then take a pic so you can clean up paint etc. Then you have a pic and the color coded fastener to reinstall

GerardC · Apr 4, 2005

So my question is, what sort of organization or documentation do you use so you can get it all back together and have it still work? Do you separate parts and bin and label them? Take pictures of the machine as it comes apart so you have a reference? Number things so they go back together in the same order they came apart? 

Depending on what it is, all the above apply.

Cliff_Johns · Apr 6, 2005

( One way for specific parts is to use either paint pens or your wifes fingernail polish. )

You know, I honestly don't think using my wife's finger nail polish would be a good idea.

Cliff

Soundguy · Apr 6, 2005

( You know, I honestly don't think using my wife's finger nail polish would be a good idea.

Cliff )

That sounds about right. I can remember when my wife came home while i was working on my 8n. I had the front grill inthe dishwasher 'degreasing' it, and had a few small parts inthe sink scrubbing them. Had a pot of water heating up with some leather orings soaking in it, in preperation to putting them on the hyd piston i was washing in the sink...

Remembering the look on her face, you would have thought I was taking a sledge hammer to her china, cheating on her with the neighbor, and doing a load of whites and colors in the laundry all at the same time! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Needless to say.. that has never happened again.... ( I no longer wash parts inside unless i know she is going to be gone a while!!! ).

Soundguy

RobS · Apr 6, 2005

...my wife's finger nail polish... 

I haven't done this but you can get paint pens in a wide variety of colors these days. Auto parts store? MSC carries them for sure.

I worked in a body shop in high school/college and we'd have cars torn down for months waiting for parts. Each car had a parts tub (usually a gallon paint thinner can opened up on the side). All the small parts went in there and the larger parts that weren't scrap got tossed in the trunk (if it was there).

Can't remember ever leaving off an important part but I'm sure there were many spare minor parts. Back then it was pretty common to find brand new spare parts under the carpet and inside the door panels /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bird · Apr 6, 2005

( Back then it was pretty common to find brand new spare parts under the carpet and inside the door panels. )

Are you among those, like me, who are old enough to remember when new cars delivered to the dealer had to go to their "make ready" folks before going on the showroom floor or out for potential buyers to see? In '57-'59, there was a small Plymouth/Dodge dealership across the street from my Dad's service station and I usually did the "make ready" on new vehicles for them; clean them up, check for missing or loose nuts and bolts, etc. and I always gathered up lots of spare nuts, bolts, and screws from the floorboards and trunk.

I used to just marvel at mechanics disassembling vehicles and throwing all the parts together to be cleaned and still be able to remember which ones went where to put them back together. And when I first started working on air tools, I tried to take them apart carefully to remember what order they went together, but it wasn't long before I was just completely disassembling them and throwing everything into one basket to go into the parts washer. And I loved it when mechanics took their air tools apart, couldn't figure out how to fix them, and sent them to me as "basket cases" because that just saved me the time of disassembling them.