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...
POWER ADJUSTMENTS To save time, we use a half inch cordless drill to power our stroke and counterweight adjustments on our crankshaft grinder machines. Adney Brown Performance Crankshaft Ferndale, MI DECEMBER, 2021
SET UP BLOCKS Keep your tape measure in the toolbox when doing set ups that you repeat time and time again. Make some gauge blocks or fixtures, whatever it takes to save time setting up your machines. Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN DECEMBER, 2021
3D PRINTER One of the most useful tools I have acquired and recommend are my two 3D printers. It allows rapid part prototyping as well as the ability to quickly make a tool. In this case I had a cam bearing that my two other cam bearing tools just weren’t working well...
PINS TO STANDOFFS It’s common for shops to use DOM (Drawn Over Mandrel) tubing to make standoffs they need to torque plate hone different engines. For a while there was a materials shortage, but that didn't mean there wasn't some old .927’ wristpins over in the scrap...
INDICATOR ADAPTER Most Co-Ax indicators have a 3/8" or 1/2" diameter stem. Instead of wasting time closing the lathe chuck to hold the indicator and then more time opening it back up to hold a larger diameter work piece, make a simple stepped adapter with a precision...