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...
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”...
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...
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 clamping the...
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...
SEAT SPUD For machining custom valve seats, in addition to the expansion arbor, I have a simple aluminum spud and lock. I can quick machine it down for whatever seat I need. It started out as a 1-foot-long piece of round stock, and I just keep drilling and tapping as...