Repair/mechanic tricks and or tips?

[SPYDERLK]

I slip my magnets in those disposable sandwhich baggies.. after enough dust and flakes/chips collect.. i roll the bag off and dispose of it, leaving a clean magnet.

Soundguy

Do you have compressed air. More convenient than baggies.
Larry

 

[Soundguy]

Yes I have air.. but it never gets the 'fuzz' of fthe magnets perfectly like a sealed baggie will.

Soundguy

 

[Tig]

Yes I have air.. but it never gets the 'fuzz' of fthe magnets perfectly like a sealed baggie will.

Soundguy

Duct tape will get the fuzz off. But the baggie idea sounds even better.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Always use two rolls of electrical tape. One almost empty and one almost new - and use them according to the space you have.

 

[3RRL]

You can turn small diameters on a milling machine by chucking up the workpiece in the quill or on a fixture and clamping a lathe bit in the milling vise.
Use the x-y tables to position and lock the cutter and use the quill feed or z table to cut it.

 

[Dennisfly]

When disasssembling something you aren't totally familiar with, take digital pictures. They will be very useful to assure you get it back together properly.

 

[goaliedad]

just heard this one from a small engine mechanic- if you need to repair a small fuel line, or any small diameter rubbe hose- use the copper tube from a thermocouple- it is the smallest tube you will ever find. simply cut the ends of the thermocouple and pull out the small wire inside.

 

[woodchuckie]

I saw this in an issue of Progressive Farmer at a doctors office. It explained how to get through those barbed wire fences without snagging this and that. You take two four foot lengths of pvc pipe and slit them along the length so it will fit over the strand of barbed wire. Take two two foot sections and use them to spread the wire apart and you can slide right through the fence. You can store the pvc in truck or leave it wherever you want.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Use compressed air for cleaning things

• 
  Parts - it readily blows off particles, not re contaminating the surface
  Bearings - after a dip in solvent
  Blow dust off before painting
  Blow dried mud off fabric
  Paint brushes and rollers - each solvent rinse is fully purged before the next -spin the roller with the air - - or water if using water base
  Small handheld air powered vacs suck hard and so can be extended with small tubing to get into tight spaces

Welding

• 
  Use needle scaler to strain relieve/peen the weld
  Flap discs are great for blending welds or smoothing edges
  A propane torch will give enuf preheat on big stuff to put marginal welder power over the hump

• Weed torches are good for starting reluctant trash pile fires
• A Prismatic "V" jaw vise grip is perhaps the most versatile single tool to have on a tractor
• Apply a patina of RTV silicone rubber to the inside of a radiator hose to aid later removal
• After use give moisture sensitive chemicals a quick uncovered soak in the freezer - then open the door and slap the cover on
• Old rusty chains are still good as compliant weights
• Take your favorite ratchet apart and clean it. Before reassembly, externally mark the point where the pawls are so that while using you can know when they are at the weak point in the head ring

Larry

 

[DirtHauler]

Read each and every tip and they are good ones. Here's my contrabution; when changing oil and "spin-on" type oil filters, punch a hole in the bottom/side of the filter and drian the filter first (wait till it stops dripping before removal)..... Alot less mess when you remove it! (no more oil running down your arms etc.)

"cheap" tools; I have my good set that I use and "cheap" wrenches, sockets, ratchets, screw drivers etc. that I keep around for the "barrowers", that way if they get broke or never find thier way home, I'm only out a few bucks!