The Repair/Mechanic tidbits and tricks of the trade

[Taco Loco]

Does anyone have any tidbits to share? Things you do to make your repairs easier, something you've added to a tool or shop resources more effective?

Let's make a useful list.....

example: Putting new tubes of grease in the freezer, until needed.

example: Putting light coat of vaseline jelly on the inside of rubber hoses; radiator, heater hoses, etc...

example: Cutting the end off one quart of oil and using it as a funnel.

example: Using a short length of fuel line hose slipped over end of spark plug to help get started, etc..

Don't bring up crap like using a cheater pipe or not working on your truck when your wife is around, etc.....

ROLL-UP

1. Write the miles/hours and date on oil and air filters with a Sharpie when you change it.
2. Old jars (plastic/glass) for nuts or bolts, screw the lids underneath a workbench or shelves
3. Placing grease tubes/gun in freezer until needed.
4. Using light coat of vaseline jelly on the inside of rubber hoses; radiator, heater hoses, etc..
5. Cutting the end off one quart of oil and using it as a funnel.
6. Using a short length of fuel line hose slipped over end of spark plug to help get started.
7. Taking an old screw driver and cut a notch, 3 inches from the end for brake springs.
8. Carb cleaner or gas for combustion to re-set tires on the rim.
9. Using old turkey baster for getting old brake fluid out of reservoir.
10. Rear main, cam and crank seals, see post 4 and 21.
11. Always use "fuel" stabilizer if your going to let that engine sit for 3 months(full tank is best).

 

[murphyz]

keep old peanut butter jars for nuts, bolts, etc.

old tupperware containers for on-trail medkits, or homemade "kits". i.e. dikes, black tape, and elect. signal tester for cut/ripped wires.

turkeybaster for getting old brake fuild out of res. without having to bleed the whole master out.

also found this awhile ago and had many cool tricks for toyotas
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/index.shtml#MODIFICATION$

sorry if that is not what you meant

 

[Taco Loco]

Your on track, think of the things that your Dad or Grandpa might of shown you.

Like taking an old screw driver and cut a notch, 3 inches from the end.
Next time you do rear brakes, makes it a lot easier to stretch the spring. Just turn the screw driver and the spring falls into place.

 

[Kruso]

1. Carefully use a wooden screw (very coarse thread) to screw into and literally pull out oil seals...ie rear main/ front main.

2. My favorite and a life saver is to use carb cleaner to seat tires on rims out on the trail (anywhere for that matter), I've tried it several times and it works great everytime! its in the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myi-MxNCI4o

Kruso

 

[TacoXpo]

1. Carefully use a wooden screw (very coarse thread) to screw into and literally pull out oil seals...ie rear main/ front main.

2. My favorite and a life saver is to use carb cleaner to seat tires on rims out on the trail (anywhere for that matter), I've tried it several times and it works great everytime! its in the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myi-MxNCI4o


Kruso

Carb Cleaner is for wussys!!! I learned in Mexico how real men do it - With a cup of gas!!!

Just remember to take the valve out - it makes it much easier!

[video=youtube;_M0GNLvPmAg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M0GNLvPmAg&feature=related[/video]

I'm trying to find the video of me doing it in mexico.

 

[Silverback]

I witnessed a couple guys blow a 42" Swamper clean off the rim with a little too much carb cleaner. But damn it was awesome!

 

[TacoXpo]

I witnessed a couple guys blow a 42" Swamper clean off the rim with a little too much carb cleaner. But damn it was awesome!

That is a good enough reason to HAVE TO HAVE A VID CAM!!!

 

[Silverback]

That is a good enough reason to HAVE TO HAVE A VID CAM!!!

Oh there was a guy who had a video camera and he was maybe 10 feet away.. in the direction the tire blew. I swear he didn't even flinch! I wish he would have posted that video. It sounded like a cannon on a WWII battleship. Echoed for a while.

This was the events leading up to the blast. One STUCK buggy. Solution, roll it out sideways.

The result was two blown beads. We used my Oasis to re-seat one. But the second was stuborn. No amount of compressed air or carb cleaner would seat it. Then once they blew it clean off the rim it was time for a trip back to camp.

 

[TacoXpo]

Very nice!!!

 

[TacoXpo]

You can see how much gas we were using right here. I was just following inspiration!

 

[TacoXpo]

Parton me if I posted this before and for the 'jack but I just love Zoom's sounds!!!

[video=youtube;UBvjeiwTN48]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBvjeiwTN48&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[Silverback]

Parton me if I posted this before and for the 'jack but I just love Zoom's sounds!!!

[video=youtube;UBvjeiwTN48]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBvjeiwTN48&feature=player_embedded[/video]

Ummmm... does she make those sounds often? Ay ya baby, you have to go fast... Are you moving? Whoa.. ugh ugh are we at a standstill or are you moving. Want me to stop. Do you have to go fast? Weee.

Awesome.. are you sure you didn't do a voiceover from something else?

 

[Silverback]

So where was that? What was following you?

 

[Silverback]

You can see how much gas we were using right here. I was just following inspiration!

We'll either blow it on the rim or we'll get a complete insurance write-off due to arson. Nobody post any pics ok?

 

[TacoXpo]

Ummmm... does she make those sounds often? Ay ya baby, you have to go fast... Are you moving? Whoa.. ugh ugh are we at a standstill or are you moving. Want me to stop. Do you have to go fast? Weee.

Awesome.. are you sure you didn't do a voiceover from something else?

Funny huh? I smile every time I listen to that!!! It reminds me how lucky I am to have someone that can enjoy herself when I bring her wheeling.

So where was that? What was following you?

Central Baja searching for a mission. That beast was following us!!!

We'll either blow it on the rim or we'll get a complete insurance write-off due to arson. Nobody post any pics ok?

Good one!!! This is the time before that one.

[video]http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc212/DavidKier/Santa%20Maria%202010/?action=view&current=510msm237.mp4[/video]

 

[TacoXpo]

As long as I'm 'jacking, I love this pic!

 

[texasislandboy]

wow is all i have to say to this i thought it was funny

[video=youtube;dwItiRI_iC0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwItiRI_iC0&feature=related[/video]

 

[TacoXpo]

wow is all i have to say to this i thought it was funny

[video=youtube;dwItiRI_iC0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwItiRI_iC0&feature=related[/video]

And I thought my new Husky was just for cutting wood!

 

[Silverback]

As long as I'm 'jacking, I love this pic!

You're going to need a snorkel. LOL

 

[Kruso]

Gasoline= No eye brows, long story. I picked up some carb cleaner from Autozone and it didn't do anything but the blue generic bottle from walmart rocks! Once around the rim did the trick.