Repair/mechanic tricks and or tips?

[BTDT]

I have always heard you are supposed to disconnect battery before doing any welding on vehicles/equipment. I never do/did. But most of my serious welding was done prior to the electronic gadgetry found on todays newer vehicles. So that may be something to consider nowadays, as vehicle electronics can be pretty pricey. Back then, the concern was sticking bearings, etc.

 

[GATOR445]

I may have been the last to figure this out but last month I was replacing the clutch in my truck and I couldn't get the pilot bearing out. I broke the $1.99 China Town (HF-see cheap tools) pilot bearing puller and was about to throw a fit when a buddy told me to pack the insides with grease and make a dowel that just fits the hole/inside diameter of the bearing. I did this and tapped the bearing out with a hammer in about two seconds with no effort. Wish I had thought of it myself.

if you want a cleaner way to do the same job, get some papertowel wet and pack it in the center of the bearing take a punch or dowel drive it in keep adding papertowel until it comes out. then take a screwdriver pluck out the papertowel. no grease to clean up.

 

[DieselPower]

I have always heard you are supposed to disconnect battery before doing any welding on vehicles/equipment. I never do/did. But most of my serious welding was done prior to the electronic gadgetry found on todays newer vehicles. So that may be something to consider nowadays, as vehicle electronics can be pretty pricey. Back then, the concern was sticking bearings, etc.

Yes, alway's disconnect the battery when welding on any vehicle or equipment that has anything electronic on it. Having worked on heavy trucks for years I have seen more than my fair share of vehicles towed in because someone welded on their dump truck, trailer or tractor and nuked their ECM.

 

[bx23barry]

not a bad idea to unplug the computers too. Always put the ground as close to the weld as possible.

 

[weldingisfun]

I'm surprised I didn't see this one. I learned how to do it when I was a kid, 45+ years ago. Magnetize a screwdriver by wrapping insulated wire around the blade 8 -10 wraps and quickly touch the bare ends to the positive and negative posts of a battery. Now you can hold screws on the tip and it can even be used as a retrieval tool for dropped screws, nuts and bolts.

If you can't clean your paint brush right away or if you are going to stop painting for a few hours and will come back to it again, put your brush in a can of clear water. Be sure the bristles are completely under water. Keeping air from the paint prevents it from drying. When you are ready to start painting again shake the water off and wipe the brush on a paper towel and start painting. If you are using latex paint, wrap your brush in aluminum foil and put it in the freezer.

To keep from splitting the wood, if you must drive a nail near the end of a board, dull the point of the nail with your hammer before you drive in the nail.

Hands covered with grit and grime. Rub them with a little detergent motor oil. WD-40 works too.

This one probably won't be used much anymore, with the new ignition systems. But, if you have a moisture problem in a distributor cap, spray the inside with WD-40, then wipe it out. The WD-40 displaces the water.

 

[FULLPULL]

After using your good wood chisel to seperate or mangle metal parts sharpen it with a belt sander becarefull not to let it get caught in the belt lay it to sharpen away from the point not into the point. When you have a bunch of hydralic lines say in a backhoe boom or under the backhoe controll box .Ive found out when the lines have a 1 1/4 fitting there is hardly enough room to get a wrench in there.We use a 10 to 12 inch long punch then we sharpen the end to a point with a hammer get the point on the fitting hit it and cut a groove in the nut on the fitting hit it steady and the right way and inch the line off . replace the hydralic hose and the install is the same. It always seems to work and it loosens some tight fittings . No leaks and you dont have to dismantle the bachoe for one busted hose.Worked for me many times.

 

[BTDT]

I just posted this torch striker clip idea on another forum thread, and thought some might be interested. You can also make a laminated card, poke a hole in it, and use clip to fasten it to steering wheel, key, etc. when working on something to let others know it is out of service. Kind of a home made lockout/tagout. Make several clips, come in handy for hanging keeping keys together, etc.

 

[SPYDERLK]

To demagnetize an item use your AC welder. Loop some large [12gauge or larger/lower] wire multiple times into a loop large enuf to fit item thru. Connect the looped wire to your welder leads. Set the welder on a low current setting and flip it on. Insert the item into the loop and withdraw it gradually to a distance of a few inches, then pull it it further away before turning welder OFF.
More current or more turns will be needed for bigger stuff. You will want to get used to how fast the loop heats and thus when you may need to wear protective gloves.
Larry

 

[mjarrels]

I have several lengths of chain (easier to use short lengths for most jobs). When I do need a long chain, I use master padlocks and lock the chains together to make a long chain. When finished, just unlock. Not for real heavy jobs.

Also, I keep tubes of junk (JB weld, sealers, etc) in air tight jars once they have been opened. Keep much longer between jobs.

mark

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have several lengths of chain (easier to use short lengths for most jobs). When I do need a long chain, I use master padlocks and lock the chains together to make a long chain. When finished, just unlock. Not for real heavy jobs.

Also, I keep tubes of junk (JB weld, sealers, etc) in air tight jars once they have been opened. Keep much longer between jobs.

mark

I just use a Gr5 bolt w nyloc nut