by Donnie Hurt | Jan 1, 2022 | CRANKSHAFTS & CONNECTING RODS
MOVE YOUR SPOT Sometimes when I first spin up a crank, the correction area is off the counterweight. Instead of grinding up by the rod throw, try adding weight to the opposite end if there are balance holes already. I taped in some flat disc plugs until the “spot”...
by Donnie Hurt | Jan 1, 2022 | DISASSEMBLY & CLEANING
EXTRACTING SHARP EDGES I like to chamfer the sharp edges on lifter bores after shotblasting blocks. I use a spiral flute extractor and just rotate it clockwise a few times with my fingers to remove any peened over edges. I find that it works better than a lot of my...
by Donnie Hurt | Jan 1, 2022 | OTHER SHOP WORK
CHUCKS AND MORE CHUCKS A few rookie tips that a few old timers may have forgotten: The risk of a drill bit slipping in a Jacobs chuck, gouging the drill shank, can be significantly reduced by tightening all 3 “holes” in the chuck with the chuck key. When...
by Donnie Hurt | Jan 1, 2022 | TOOLING
BLOW THROUGH VACUUM If you end up chasing threads or tapping on a machine and don’t want to make a mess blowing them out, here’s a quick tip. Drill a hole in your vacuum cleaner nozzle and feed your blow gun nozzle through it. Now suck the chips up as you blow the...
by Donnie Hurt | Jan 1, 2022 | CRANKSHAFTS & CONNECTING RODS
POLISHING THE BIG END Starting to see more and more cracked (powdered metal) connecting rods these days. After checking to make sure the size is correct, I use a plateau brush with a few drops of oil to clean up any rust or dirt. If you have a finished set of rods...
