CURRENTLY TRENDING As I visit machine shops around the state, I notice some common trends. Shops have downsized to some extent over the years. Many of the shops no longer want to assemble engines. They claim that they don’t want the liability of assembling engines...
TOOLING PARADISE I work on everything from large HD agricultural to motorcycle engines. My excessive amount of seat and guide tooling had to find a home. I built this rotating tool holder out of 3 pieces of heavy wall PVC. The inner tube is attached to a pipe, which...
OLD SCHOOL HEAD BENCH This is very basic and has been in our shop for over 30 years. It’s been rebuilt twice, which means new carpet was installed on the V-blocks. The weight of the head, or gravity and the carpet on the V-blocks works to hold the head snugly in...
LET THE LIGHT SHINE IN When I’m struggling to see the valve keeper groves on an overhead cam head, with “bucket style” lifters, I attach a small flash light to shine thru the top of my air operated spring clamp. This puts the light directly in the area needed. This...
MORE KNOWLEDGE In a resent issue of Engine Builder magazine (Feb. 2015), they discussed how the internet is your friend with all the available info on manufacture’s web pages, forums and articles. In searching for that information you may be overwhelmed by the number...
BALL PLUGS Ball plugs that can’t be accessed and knocked out are difficult to remove. I use my Heli- arc welder and heat the ball until it is red hot. Then I weld a filler rod to it. When cool, it is usually loose and can be pulled out. If the ball is staked in,...