Post a tip for other DIY shiters

[RustyNuts]

Howdi Gang!

 

It suddenly hit me while out in the garage that I've not seen many general purpose tips on this board since i joined and so thats the idea for this new thread! I figured that we've probably still got members here who are looking for tips when it comes to working on their cars and if we could all share some common bodges, then we might save some more shiters!

 

I'll get the ball rolling with one i saw on wheeler dealers:

 

If you have an open hole such as a radiator, ATF cooler etc and you need to plug it, just cut a finger off a disposable rubber / latex glove, fill it with tissue and then squeeze it into the hole. The tissue will re-expand from your squeezing and the rubber / latex will provide the seal needed to stop fluids etc leaking out. If it's a big pipe then just fill the entire glove and stuff that in.

 

Oh and if you're a bit prone to accidentally spilling fluids (like me) while under the car, a cement mixing tray is totally excellent at catching the large majority of fluids if you slide it in under the engine:

 

 

(and yes I did spill oil still... but i was removing a radiator panel with an ATF cooler rad that still had ATF fluid in it.. and a pipe etc.. didn't know about the glove finger trick then lol).

 

One more... If you're trying to undo a very tight wheel nut / bolt or axle nut, put the socket and breaker bar over it and then use your trolley jack to pump the handle upwards to undo it. There has only been one occassion where it actually lifted the car instead lol.

[Asimo]

Pressure washer makes a good job of getting rid of all the dust before starting work on drum brakes without making clouds of hazardous dust to avoid breathing in.

Don't get close in with the jet, you don't want to blast dust and water past cylinder seals or into the hub bearings.

[beko1987]

hammer a smaller socket over it.

 

if it won't budge, you need a larger hammer

[smellmycheese]

T-cut inside ashtrays. Removes all evidence of ciggies. Useful when selling a car, "never been smoked in, one careful owner, blah blah blah:

[beko1987]

Oooh, an actual tip, the outer sheathing of normal TV Co-Ax cable makes an excellent brake bleeding pipe! The diameter of the sheathing fits snugly on the brake bleeding nipple to get the end under fluid. Cut a longish piece and when the end gets chewed up just chop it down to a nice bit

[castros_bro]

If blocking a fluid orifice with a latex glove full of tissue paper make sure that the latex and fluid are compatible or the glove dissolves.

[rainagain]

1. When trying to loosen the nuts on track rod ends, get two hammers roughly the same size, with one in each hand smack the nut although you are trying to crush it between the hammers, the shock tends to free it

2. The other method I use is to put a spanner on the flats of the tie rod or the tie rod end then wedge this against part of the suspension or an axle stand, then put a spanner on the tie rod nut and put a bottle jack under this spanner, then jack up the spanner, as long as nothing slips this has never failed me

3. If you are struggling to remove a brake drum that has the wheel bolts threaded into the drum itself, e.g. Corsa B, remove the stub axle nut then bolt the wheel back onto the drum, then just twist the wheel and drum off the axle, the extra leverage of the wheel makes this easy

[AMC Rebel]

Stolen from elsewhere but you can use the vehicle's starter to free crankshaft nuts by putting a socket and breaker bar on the nut (braced against something auitable like the ground) and spinning the engine on the starter (disable ign)

[AMC Rebel]

One I saw demo'd on youthtube - balloon over the end of a compression tester pipe can show when that cylinder is on the compression stroke. (4 stroke pez only obvs)

[Rusty_Rocket]

If you're struggling to do up a track-rod end or other balljoint without it spinning, put a little grit/ dirt in the taper and push it in to position while doing up the nylock.

The dirt can be just enough to jam the taper so you can do the nut up 

[fordperv]

to ensure you dont get any leaks in inlet manifold gaskets, waterpump gaskets or thermostat housing gaskets, lightly smear each side of the gasket with grease when the engine warms up the grease bitumenises and seals

[fatharris]

The handle end of a sliding/extending tire iron slots over most 3/8" ratchet handle for an adjustable breaker bar

[Kiltox]

This will change your life when replacing brake shoes - those annoying retaining springs/washers are a breeze https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-2704-Brake-Spring-Washer/dp/B002V9BTOY 

[rainagain]

When changing a head gasket keep the old head bolts, chop the heads off them and cut a slot for a screwdriver. Screw them into the block and use them to align the head as you lower it down, then simply unscrew them and fit the new bolts once the head is in position

[BavarianRetro]

When changing a head gasket keep the old head bolts, chop the heads off them and cut a slot for a screwdriver. Screw them into the block and use them to align the head as you lower it down, then simply unscrew them and fit the new bolts once the head is in position

Never done it for heads, but I've three gearbox "studs" I use for alignment and screw out when done. Good tip.

[Dave_Q]

Magnet on a stick. 

 

Available from most £ shops and invaluable for fetching lost fasteners from tight places.

[fraser.innes.3]

Howdi Gang!

 

It suddenly hit me while out in the garage that I've not seen many general purpose tips on this board since i joined and so thats the idea for this new thread! I figured that we've probably still got members here who are looking for tips when it comes to working on their cars and if we could all share some common bodges, then we might save some more shiters!

 

I'll get the ball rolling with one i saw on wheeler dealers:

 

If you have an open hole such as a radiator, ATF cooler etc and you need to plug it, just cut a finger off a disposable rubber / latex glove, fill it with tissue and then squeeze it into the hole. The tissue will re-expand from your squeezing and the rubber / latex will provide the seal needed to stop fluids etc leaking out. If it's a big pipe then just fill the entire glove and stuff that in.

 

Oh and if you're a bit prone to accidentally spilling fluids (like me) while under the car, a cement mixing tray is totally excellent at catching the large majority of fluids if you slide it in under the engine:

 

 

(and yes I did spill oil still... but i was removing a radiator panel with an ATF cooler rad that still had ATF fluid in it.. and a pipe etc.. didn't know about the glove finger trick then lol).

 

One more... If you're trying to undo a very tight wheel nut / bolt or axle nut, put the socket and breaker bar over it and then use your trolley jack to pump the handle upwards to undo it. There has only been one occassion where it actually lifted the car instead lol.

An alternative to the concrete mixing tray is a grow bag tray. Longer and deeper, although not as wide.

 

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[Sigmund Fraud]

No toolbox should be without an impact driver and a full set of bolt grips - because all modern fasteners are shit !

[jon928se]

Stolen from elsewhere but you can use the vehicle's starter to free crankshaft nuts by putting a socket and breaker bar on the nut (braced against something auitable like the ground) and spinning the engine on the starter (disable ign)

 

Tie the breaker bar onto something solid so when/if it slips off when you crank the starter it doesn't get launched into space. BTDT broke next door but ones headlight with the breaker bar and narrowly missed mates head and the bonnet. 

[garbaldy]

/\ Just make sure you check your engine crank pulley is keyed or you will be in big trouble doing it.

[chodweaver]

+1 for magnet on a stick, but even more useful to me is a...

 

 

Mirror on a stick! (with or without a built in torch)

 

Added bonus is that on the right night, careful positioning of it means you can give someone else, the moon on a stick

 

 

Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2

[The Moog]

This will change your life when replacing brake shoes - those annoying retaining springs/washers are a breeze https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-2704-Brake-Spring-Washer/dp/B002V9BTOY

Linky doesn't work

[fordperv]

+1 for magnet on a stick, but even more useful to me is a...

 

uploadfromtaptalk1474905025532.jpg

 

Mirror on a stick! (with or without a built in torch)

 

Added bonus is that on the right night, careful positioning of it means you can give someone else, the moon on a stick

 

 

Sent from my GT-S5830i using Tapatalk 2

great for looking up skirts at nightclubs

[Guest Hooli]

to ensure you dont get any leaks in inlet manifold gaskets, waterpump gaskets or thermostat housing gaskets, lightly smear each side of the gasket with grease when the engine warms up the grease bitumenises and seals

I smear grease on every gasket I fit. It holds them in place and allows them to slide as clamped up so you don't get kinks that stop them sealing.

[chodweaver]

great for looking up skirts at nightclubs

 

^ I thought that was what selfie sticks were for...

[Bren]

A piece of rubber fuel pipe is good for locating spark plugs in the head - no chance of cross threading them. Just push the pipe over the end of the plug and start turning.

[Guest Hooli]

Sierra top strut mounts can be fixed with layers of sellotape if some idiot has fitted escort ones that are tapered & rattle. Worked for at least a week until I got the right part when I was a yoof.

 

PS. XR4i's with LSDs from 4x4s fitted go sideways forever, which is very important at 21ish.

[cobblers]

This one is something I'm quite passionate about - don't make the mistakes I have!

Latex gloves at a fiver a box might seem expensive, but that's 50 pairs so it's ten pence a use. cover them with some £1 a pair fabric gloves and they'll last all day.

It's probably cheaper than buying big fuckoff 5l tubs of swarfega to get the muck off them and you're much less likely to end up with totally shagged dried out hands and split and fall apart as soon as they see someone fold a calender over to October.

Lifting heavy engines on your own doesn't make you a big man, just ask for help, even if you're 18 and showing off.

 

On a lighter note, 2k filler primer is absolutely the only way you'll ever make a body repair look good. Although from my experience 2k paint doesn't make you immediately die (the bloke who painted my van has been painting with it without a mask for 30+ years out of a single garage behind his house) it's probably worse than oily hands.

[Jazoli]

+1 on the gloves, first thing I do when working on the bike or car, it also means you can make a brew halfway through a job without covering everything in the kitchen in oil.

[Guest Hooli]

+1 on the gloves, first thing I do when working on the bike or car, it also means you can make a brew halfway through a job without covering everything in the kitchen in oil.

 

I'm avoiding gloves by putting a log burner in the workshop & using a camping kettle.