The Tips and Tricks thread

[jeffro ra28]

Wouldnt the heat from the engine/oil melt the soap??

I guess you could always jam another bar in there... but im sure you would run out of oil.. or soap...

well soap in a steamy hot shower doesnt melt, nor does it melt when its been sitting on a hot black tarp in the sun. I dont think soap melts to easily!

[Soarer]

On a side note, try putting a bar of soap through a microwave for a couple of minutes... results are interesting.

[Rinmax]

hehe another mythbuster fan, for your safety and that of the microwave only do it in an old microwave.

[Viper]

well soap in a steamy hot shower doesnt melt, nor does it melt when its been sitting on a hot black tarp in the sun. I dont think soap melts to easily!

No, but stick a bar of soap in a bowl of hot water (ie 100 deg), and it will go all soft and goo'ey.


Now, oil say, will get to about 120 maybe, and there also is a flow, which means that it will probably start to pull apart the soap when soft too.


But yeah, soap into a microwave = funny results, and a probably distroyed microwave

[nihilism]

It has been tested by a freind in a ra60 celica which developed a hole in the sump half way between adeilade and perth, car made it back to perth after installation of soap and refill of oil without any aditional oil added on the trip. So it's better than nothing and worth a try if you're stuck out in the sticks.

[BradW]

that cross-fusing is really dangerous as it over kills the purpose of fuse. The best way is using a multimeter and try to set it on resistance indicator and see for different resistances and find out the faulty ones.

But in a desperate situation where you don't care, yeah for sure connect the damn thing direct to the battery

I am not saying to bridge the fuse with a complete piece of wire, just with one strand from a piece of wire. As you probably know, automotive wire is multistrand wire and the strands themselves are very thin and don't take much current to burn out on their own. If you use a single strand you get a weak link for the circuit (ie a fuse) which still gives the protection of the fuse but is reuseable.
You can then work through the circuit isolating sections until you locate and repair the short. Each time you isolate a section you can check if the short is still present using the wire "fuse".
Obviously if you put a complete piece of wire (not just a strand) across the fuse you are going to burn out something and maybe even cause a fire.

I would prefer using my multimeter and decent wiring diagram tho... Not wery safe trick on newer cars with ECUs for everything

I use this method (in all types of vehicles) whenever chasing a short and have never damaged anything in the process. You still have the protection of a fuse you are just not wasting heaps of them.

[Viper]

It has been tested by a freind in a ra60 celica which developed a hole in the sump half way between adeilade and perth, car made it back to perth after installation of soap and refill of oil without any aditional oil added on the trip. So it's better than nothing and worth a try if you're stuck out in the sticks.

wow, that suprising. but hey, if it works and gets you out of trouble, then im all for it.

(Adds bar of soap to toolbox )

[smt_007]

But yeah, soap into a microwave = funny results, and a probably distroyed microwave

Please explain?, i dont think il try it.

[Soarer]

Plenty of things to put into the microwave safely... I've tried a few of these without ill affects. Just clean it out thoroughly when you're done. I haven't killed anyone yet

http://margo.student.utwente.nl/el/microwave/

[Silly Rabbit]

...as an addition to the previous tip of getting spark plugs out of hard to reach areas (i.e twin cam valleys, 2T engines etc)........just undo the spark plug and then just push the spark plug lead down onto the end of the plug........fits like a glove and retrieves it no probs....better than fiddling around with pliers and spark plug sockets to pull it out

[wraith]

Just to keep this going a bit-

If you have something rusty, ie a brake rotor, engine block or genuine Toyota toolkit, get a plastic tub and mix molassas around 1:4 with water. Stick your rusty object in aformentioned mixture, cover (I leave the unit sealed out in the sun) and come back after a week or so, depending on the rust. The molassas will also remove grease and oil eventually, but doesn't have the ability to eat into the metal. Might be an idea to thrash your items around occasionally though.

cheers

Ash

[Wiggles]

When you're changing rubber brake/clutch pedal pads, leave the new ones in the hot sun for half an hour so they get soft and strechy.
They'll slip straight on, and save much swearing.

[MOOKIE]

fuckit !
Double post

[MOOKIE]

same goes for cable ties


This only works with epoxy resin. Polyester resin will eat polystyrene foam. For polyester use PUR foam (the finer blue or green stuff)


Buy a $5 box of 100 latex gloves at the supermarket/Bunnings. They are not affected by epoxy or polyester resins. Get the powdered ones as they are much more easier to put on!

About these gloves: if you have a 5 minute job that will create 15 minutes of work to get your hands clean: also use those gloves. Only do this when you are working by yourself, anyone who sees it may think you are a poof.

Try and find the textured gloves they are the best, things stick to them like shit to a blanket.

[Sam_Q]

whats molassas? I looked it up and its some kind of sugar sirup, whats it looks like and where do I get it? is it sugar soap?