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Posted by mannyc [173.77.209.14] on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 23:16:32 :
if you are someone who likes to learn, watch an old guy, lazy guy or a smart guy. they teach you things as they go about their day. maybe listing them here will save some work on our trucks or just make you go wow. i'll start.
from bob stahl (smart & getting old - sorry bob!)
1. fill the input shaft hole in a flyweel / crank assembly with grease and then drive a snug fitting dowel into hole. grease pushes out pilot bearing every time!
2. hard to pound out race - stick weld a series of dashes around the inside (go from side to side) - the welds shrink an pull the bearing in smaller. it will fall out
3. heat is your friend - heat rusty fasteners to avoid breakage. use only an electric impact wrench. air tools break stuff. if your electric wont budge it, you need more heat.
3a. from paul in ny -- use candle wax on heated parts using bob's method above. do not heat to point that wax smokes.
4. drag link socket. buy a drag link socket. grind it to perfectly fit your drum brake screws. keep in your toolbox in a cigar box with your other specialized, customized tools.
5. use antiseeze on everything. its messy but it works and your grandkids will thank you.
6. develop jigs for jobs. bob can rebuild a third member in his sleep. has the right fixtures to get it done right every time.
7. take old rims / tires to a truck shop. drink cold beer, pickup rims, preserve the mystery on how it got done.
from a marine mechanic:
a chunk of brass roughly the size of a coke can, drilled in the center for your prop shaft will remove any propeller, you screw the brass on snug, hit brass with a hammer and the harmonics make the propeller jump off the taper. i tried it and was blown away.
from our family mechanic friend:
learn to use a torch properly.
if you can wield it correctly you can:
cut u joint crosses out of driveshafts. once the crosses are out, you can easily knock out the cups.
cut a outer exhaust pipe from an inner without hurting the inner
cut strut springs with a torch and eliminate caging
from another family mechanic - every new vehicle has loose fasteners and factory defects ---- accordingly every new truck spends a week in the shop before it hits the road.
from gordon maney:
dodge brake drum / hub assemblies are married for life. as in actual marriage swappers run into trouble!!!
from me:
find and patronize retired machinists and tradesmen that are older than you. bring them projects. make projects out of things that could benefit from proper machining or an old set of eyes. befriend the oldest parts guy at the shop - bring your truck by his shop - show him what you are working on. find the last local hot rod shop in your neighborhood that does not believe in, stock parts for, or understand the japanese tuner movement! buy your parts from local suppliers when possible & bring a picture of your truck. a cold 6 pack delivered on a friday night goes a long long way.... listen, listen, listen and you will learn. who's next?
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