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...
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...
CENTER THE MANDREL This saves a lot of time when centering the mandrel on blocks with bed plates. Using an indicator on the mandrel with stone pressure against the mains, zero the indicator, release pressure with lever. Turn the mandrel 180 degrees, put pressure back...
PUSH LOCK HOSE ASSEMBLY When assembling push lock style fittings, we have found that clamping an old male fitting in the vice with the new push lock hose end tightened to it, prevents the new fitting from becoming scratched or marred. Adam Cofer Salina Engine Salina,...
LUBE IT AND TAG IT I recently had a customer that had possibly the biggest mishap one could make on a fresh engine. He got excited and forgot to install the intermediate shaft to the oil pump before dropping in the distributor on his Ford 300 L6. During the first 10...