by Donnie Hurt | Aug 1, 2021 | TOOLING
CHALK UP ANOTHER TIP To prevent a clogged file from marring your work, try filling the file’s teeth with chalk. Children’s sidewalk chalk works well for this. Should the file become clogged, a length of 3/8″ or 1/2″ copper tubing, with one end...
by Donnie Hurt | Aug 1, 2021 | OTHER SHOP WORK
CRANK ROTATING STUB I needed a tool for rotating the crankshaft when adjusting valves, and the harmonic balancer was on the engine. I cut off the snout end of an old crankshaft. With the woodruff key or keys installed, I put it into the end of the balancer and then...
by Donnie Hurt | Aug 1, 2021 | OTHER SHOP WORK
BROKEN TAP OR EZ-OUT If you have broken a tap or easy-out, how do you drill it? Go to the hardware store and buy a few cheap masonry drills. The type with a spade piece of carbide in the end. These drills will put up with lots of abuse and you can drill a hole in a...
by Donnie Hurt | Aug 1, 2021 | OPERATIONS
BEHIND CURTAIN #1 Everyone hates cleaning the flywheel grinder. Chipping or scraping takes time and is not very productive. We found that lining the inside of the machine with a cut up shower curtain or plastic sheet and using spring clips to secure it at the top...
by Donnie Hurt | Jul 1, 2021 | CAMSHAFTS & VALVE TRAIN
FREE UP ONE HAND I found an easy way to bleed hydraulic lifter buckets in the vice. I stick a small hex bit into the socket head bolt that holds the jaws to the vise. Then you just need to hold the lifter in 1 hand and work the vise with the other. Josh Alexander...