Repair/mechanic tricks and or tips?

[patrick_g]

Those wheel kits help too.

Soundguy

The ground is often too uneven or sloping for the wheels to help although they can be dandy when the ground is even enough.

The hinge shown in the picture is a good gate hanger.

Another way to take the weight off the gate is to put a "striker plate" under it so when closed the weight is on the ground not the gate. You can put one at the open side too if you leave the gate open for long periods.

Pat

 

[tnau664]

Oil your air tools after you use them, they'll always be ready for next time.

Disconnect your air tools from the supply line unless you are totally draining the system. You'll save washers and diaphragms.

Plumb a 1/4 inch line to the under side of your compressor to make draining easier. The easier it is the more likely you'll do it.

 

[tnau664]

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.

NEVER EVER USE THIS SCREW DRIVER ON YOUR COMPUTER!

Terry

 

[tnau664]

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.

Now Chuckie, is "unshapeir" a real word?

 

[cityfarma]

NEVER EVER USE THIS SCREW DRIVER ON YOUR COMPUTER!

Terry

During the week, I am a tech and work on computers regularly and have been doing so for many years. I disagree with this warning. A magnetised screwdriver will not have enough to damage the computer.

I have used magnets so strong that you need two hands to remove them to try and erase data on hard drives and floppy disks (not recommended unless you don't care if something goes wrong ) I was not successful. The magnets were from within old hard drives. The magnets make great fridge magnets but can be hard to remove

The screwdriver is great for retreiving lost screws. I would be completely lost without mine.

A hint for saving turps from cleaning your paint brushes: collect the used turps in a tin and allow it to settle. It then can be reused over and over for initial cleaning and the new turps only for the final rinse.

Cityfarma

 

[patrick_g]

A hint for saving turps from cleaning your paint brushes: collect the used turps in a tin and allow it to settle. It then can be reused over and over for initial cleaning and the new turps only for the final rinse.

Cityfarma

I use screw top jars for used solvents. I keep about three "grades" of each solvent. The worst (dirtiest) is used for prelim cleaning and is tossed out when it gets too dirty to be of much help. Intermediate grade is demoted to lowest grade as it gets dirty with use. Top grade is used as final rinse before brush or spray nozzle or whatever is considered clean. This top grade is soon demoted to mid-grade with use.

Although I use glass, I am careful and have so far not broken one. If I wasn't so cheap I'd buy Nalgene or such.

Like cityfarma, I "decant" the clear stuff to eliminate the sediment.

Pat

 

[jimmer2880]

During the week, I am a tech and work on computers regularly and have been doing so for many years. I disagree with this warning. A magnetised screwdriver will not have enough to damage the computer.

I have used magnets so strong that you need two hands to remove them to try and erase data on hard drives and floppy disks (not recommended unless you don't care if something goes wrong ) I was not successful. The magnets were from within old hard drives. The magnets make great fridge magnets but can be hard to remove

The screwdriver is great for retreiving lost screws. I would be completely lost without mine.

......

Cityfarma

I totally agree... Been a computer engineer for ~20 years now. The old magnetic screwdriver thing is just an old wives tale.

 

[Bret4207]

Each of my tractors, 9 at last count, has a small tool storage box on it containing at least one each Walmart crescent wrench, Walmart vise grips and a screwdriver also from Walmart. If something gets dropped or lost, no big deal. The important thing is I have SOMETHING to work with other than my Leatherman and a rock.

Here's a link to my "home" website and a similar thread.

Shop tips - Cast Boolits

 

[patrick_g]

Bret, Thanks so much for the tip. I have been trying to get by with just my Leatherman but thanks to your suggestion I will be putting a rock in the tractor. Any size recommendations or other rock selection tips?

Pat

 

[tnau664]

Every time you buy a gate, but an extra gate post hinge or two. Use one to latch the gate open and one to latch it shut. They make simple, cheap, easy to use latches and also keep your gate posts from sagging, especially when kids stand on the gates.

I really like that one. Simple, but effective.

Terry