The Tips and Tricks thread

[greywolf]

Read the whole thread, great tips in here !

Going to one up everyone on the cleaning the hands though (bar the poster who said use authentic hand cleaner ) !!

Get some dishwasher liquid that is easy on your hands, and sugar ! The sugar granules are coarse enough to rip through the grease, and yet they won't burn your hands like laundry powder.

Got the tip from 'How Clean is Your House', best one I've heard of.

["Z" UTE]

Here's one for the car body rebuilders. If you have a flat surface or one with a single curve that you are filling with body filler. When the bog has been sanded, you can drag a piece of right angle alloy across the surface. The alloy leaves a grey smear on the high spots, a lot quicker than waiting for guide coat paint to dry. Being right angle the alloy will stay relative true and square, you can use it over and over again. Perfect for rear quarters, and doors.

Another quick one, before assembling a freshly painted car, run a tap through all the bolt holes, to clear out excess paint. Makes assembly so much easier.

cheers Chuck.

[mike1980ra40]

One tip for making it easier to put on under body sealent (the bitumen stuff)

put the sealant tin in a bucket and pour in hot water (at least 60 degrees). let it sit for
a while and when the water has cooled down replace the hot water. that'll make the stuff
a lot easier to work with and go on, also easier to get in the corners.

cheers.

[bmxer54]

One i have been meaning to put up for a while...

When having difficulty getting a gearbox on tie a piece of 8 or 10mm OD rope (telecom rope works a treat) through a bolt hole, preferably one that goes through the block.
Then through the bell housing hole which aligns, Tie it in a loop and pull on the loop while shaking the box from side to side.
It will eventually slide on, attach all your bolts and wires and go for a spin!

Cheers, Peter.

[VA61DETT]

Light bulb attached to croc clips, best fuse / short testing device.
A mains bulb is also very handy for repairing SMPS / TV’s etc, put it in place of the fuse.
(stops shit blowing up immediately if something is still faulty)

Gearbox’s valve spring compressor is a champion idea, been using it for years.
Its worth gong 1 step further & welding the tube to the G clamp.
A good G clamp costs a hell of a lot less then a half decent spring compressor…

If you have to do something on an old car (specially an MA61), try to work out what other things can be done
while its in bits. Say cambelt, replace cam / crank seals, clutch, replace rear engine seal etc…
Saves time in the long run.

If in doubt, rip it out.
Engine work on a stand is blissful compared to in the engine bay. May seam like lots of
Work initially, but saves much pain / bleeding. The end result is generally a better repair.

-A

["Z" UTE]

Throw away your old fashioned wire wheels that you use in an electric drill.

Never ever again have to pluck those pesky bits of wire out of your clothes.

Use an Abrasive Nylon Brush, (Josco, available at Bunnings) these things are the business for removing paint in your car roof gutter, around the window recess's, and a myriad of other places. They last quite well considering they are nylon.

cheers Chuck.

[jure]

maybe already posted... but cbf checking!! pilot bearings and spigot bearings can be removed by pumping grease into the hole then getting something of a tight fit and hitting it with a hammer through the hole... this will displace the grease and push the bearing out!!

[TERRA Operative]

also works with wet paper towel in a pinch.

["Z" UTE]

Love the things your die grinder can do, but hate the swarf getting stuck in your clothes and skin?

Pinch the big thick plastic zippered bag that your missus keeps a spare quilt or blanket it. Put the job and die grinder in the bag, and let rip. When finished tip the metal shavings into the bin, and put the bag away for the next die grinding job.

cheers Chuck.

[andrew_mx83]

whilst washing powder is great for cleaning hands the best by far i have found is......SHAMPOO!! palmolive (i think) works the best
also it doesnt sting like a bitch if u are cut and takes almost no scrubbing. if in doubt check out the color of the water that u rinse ur hair with after shampooing it....all the grease etc that u mopped up off the conctete with ur hair just runs straight out and it does the same on skin.

also tip a bit of windex in ur washer bottle for that clean,streak free shine

["Z" UTE]

An old trick tought to me back in the 60's by my mechanic. When replacing rear axle seals, use 2 hammers!. Tap one side so it firms up a little, hold hammer head there and with the other hammer tap 180 degrees around. Continue by always backing up the low side with the spare hammer and tapping the high side. Use a piece of flat steel plate and hammer to push the seal in. Finish driving the seal home with a flat punch.

cheers Chuck.

[LeeRoy]

The PIN for all new toyota stereos is the last 3 digits of the VIN.

note: This can be changed by the dealer.

[Gavatron]

Only on the newer ones, and dealers can change them to whatever they want anyway.

[sauceman]

Always make sure your car has four wheels and tyres fitted before driving.It really helps fuel economy.And the car will travel faster.

[TERRA Operative]

I always check for five wheels, the fifth one usually being located between the drivers seat and instrument cluster.