Repair/mechanic tricks and or tips?

[DavidPerry]

I use big syringe to bleed hydraulic brake lines - it makes it one man job - sucking the fluid from the bleeding bolt and filling up the MC after every syringe full.

Try a coke bottle with a hole in the screw on cap the size of a rubber line that fits over the bleed screw. The hose should go to the bottom of the bottle. Pump the brakes, when the bubbles quit and the level starts to rise, do the next wheel.

 

[workinallthetime]

well im not reading all 140 post but here is a few things that have worked for me;
spend the money and buy some "gear wrenches" the adjustable head type they will do things you never thought possible without removing half the engine to get a bolt out

i use "strip caulk" to retain a nut in a socket in a hard to reach place

i use a 1/4" universal socket (1/4 on both ends) to remove screws in tight places with strip caulk holding the bit in place (d-max valve cover bolts for example)

run out of fuel in your diesel, open air bleed at filter and use compressed air to force the fuel through the system. shop towel around fuel filler and pressure up the fuel tank careful not to much pressure or you might blow the tank out if its old

fluid leaks kent makes a product called trace powder any car dealership should have it clean the area then spray it on start engine and look for the wet spot (kind of like roll her in flower joke) i keep cans at home and work

gm makes a product called "heat riser penatrate" this is by far the best penitrating oil i have ever used and ive used them all i think

magnet on a stick and mirror on a stick used every day

clear hoses for diesel fuel lines to find air problems ohh ya !!!

learn how to use a test light and multi meter its not that hard and will save you lots of time

if your truck does not have seperate fuses for your trailer wires install them so at least you can see to get home

heat shrink but connectors are the only way to go scotch locks are for morons and thats it!!!!

build a step to work on so you dont scratch your truck up dragging yourself over the body to work on it and are not always on your toes

buy a role of pig mat so when you make a mess clean up is quick and easy

use brake clean to fire off your diesel not starting fluid spray in general direction of ait intake source (air cleaner) short burst and as soon as it starts stop spraying. the first d-max engine i put it was due to starting fluid it sat in the shop for a month befor getting torn down and i could still smell the starting fluid in the engine when i tore it down the actual piston was in 1000 pieces throughout the engine ive used brake clean and had no problems but i know when and how much to use

dont forget the return side of the fuel system a plugged check valve on the return will slow rpms down and can even kill the fuel all together

if one shop says you voided your warranty then pay for their time on your rig out of your pocket and take it to another dealer and change your story. find out if they have called the manufacturer and if they have not tell them you will be happy to pay for the tear down and reasemble but you cant aford the parts right now, this way you can take it somewhere else and get it fixed. ive seen this many times. you could even take this farther and after the other shop has fixed the problem take your warranty bill back to the 1st shop and get your money back. its ugly but it works

any of you d-max guys have any questions feel free to contact me ive been involved with that engine for years and know some of the gm corp guys by name

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Always check the nuts you buy against the bolts you buy while you're still in the hardware store. I can't remember how many times I've made it home from the hardware store with fine thread bolts and coarse thread nuts or visa versa.

 

[scagwildcat]

my tip of the day, when your laying on your back and need to loosen a nut with a wrench, make sure that your face is not under the wrench, i had a wrench slip and hit me right above my eye, broke my head open....

 

[woodchuckie]

I didn't want to start a new thread and it sort of fits here anyway.

The air leaked out of the front tire of my L2800 and it sat there getting unshapeir and unshapeir. Yesterday after a couple of weeks I decided to air it back up. Of course it wouldn't hold air. So I tried everything I've ever tried or heard about except I was too nervous about the fire thing. But I did try the rachet strap around it and lubracate the bead and laying it in the sun to make it softer. It was cool yeaterday. I took the tire off the rim and cleaned the rim with a buffer and also the bead of the tire. put it back on and it still wouldn't hold air. I happened to notice a spray can of that glue you spray to replace headliner. Well I sprayed it all around the bead and low and behold I now have air in my tire and not a bubble of a leak.

 

[Soundguy]

my tip of the day, when your laying on your back and need to loosen a nut with a wrench, make sure that your face is not under the wrench, i had a wrench slip and hit me right above my eye, broke my head open....

And you will get rust in your eye ( or grease.. if it's one of my tractors.. -grin- )

Soundguy

 

[schmism]

misplace the "key" to your locking lug nuts?

a slightly undersized socket driven over the (round lug nut) will remove said "locking" lug nut.

 

[R W]

Keep a supply of high tensile bolts to attach pullers, and to use in the construction of a suitable puller when the need arises.

 

[BigBrother44]

Put a piece of folded emery paper or crocus cloth between the oil filter and the oil filter strap wrench to remove a tight oil filter when the wrench starts to slip. Coarse side out..
Dusty

If you don't have this fancy whatever paper around, grab an old bicycle tube. With a bike tube, you might not even need the wrench...just wrap the tube around it a couple of times and twist it off!

 

[BTDT]

While repairing my compressor, I needed a way to keep reed valves in place while bolting head back on. Dipped one end of valve in grease and stuck it into it's location. Grease holds in place long enough for you to get part back together without it dropping out onto ground. When compressor comes on and head warms up, grease will melt away.