SOFT SPOT FOR YOU To improve the appearance when balancing connecting rods or other metal objects adding a “soft spot” to one end of your belt sander can help. Machining the end of the platen down about 1/8” will give you a “soft spot”. Finish sanding the part in the...
IT'S OK TO CHEAT Cheat the Tool Bit that is with a sliver of paper to change the angle slightly. Post-its or any thin paper seems to work well. I like to run my valve and seat angles the same. Tool Bits and Holders can vary and this helps with the results, if I need...
PANDEMIC MARKETING 101 “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. This phrase is a popular witticism in American English and it’s also a popular Billy Ocean song. In today’s context it refers to the state of our business and specifically, how to stay productive...
TAKE YOUR CAP OFF After being disappointed with a cap splitter, I found the best way to remove tight caps. Clamp the cap in a rod vise and put a rubber coated hammer handle inside rod. Put pressure on the rod by prying against the vise. Then smack the rod side to side...
ANOTHER HOMESPUN MANDREL We do a lot of crankshaft snout rebuilding. To make the process easier we keep some homespun mandrels that screw into the snout of the crankshaft so it is held secure for welding and machining. Also, by using a copper washer between the...
BLOCK TRU OHC ECCENTRIC I made an eccentric for the front of an Audi block to set up the block true fixture. It uses the original slot as there is a bolt hole directly behind it. Several variations could be made with a smaller diameter eccentric and a slot in the...