New tool thread

[Trav]

I picked up a new Icon G2 14" 3/8 locking flex head ratchet. It was a bit dry but the screws are in with a lot of loctite, I used a small soldering iron tip on the screws only and they came right out. The ratchet has low back drag and it is smooth, the locking mechanism is much nicer than a push button.

While there I got a 12v angle cutoff tool, I used it yesterday and it cut 10mm bolts with no trouble at all, get a 12v 4A battery for this tool, it is bit of a dog with a 2A. The cost with a 4A was $94, a bare tool 20v Dewalt is $200, sure the dewalt has more power but for small stuff this one is possibly one of the more powerful with a 4A. It has a depth of cut accessory, has 3/8 or 7/16, 5 yr walk in warranty and 3 yr on the battery.

 

[RooflessVW]

What lube do you use @Trav ?

 

[Trav]

What lube do you use @Trav ?

I used Mobil Mobilux EP1. I bought the grease because it was the same composition and spec as Milwaukee had for the old grinder I rebuilt. I just smeared a bit on the main ratchet gear, there was no noticeable difference in the low back drag but definitely smoother.

https://www.amazon.com/Mobilux-EP-Grease-NLGI-13-7/dp/B009OXHTGC

 

[MrGraybeard]

This is my favorite tool for working on brake line flare nuts, guaranteed not to slip. The Vise-Grip 4lw.
Oops, pic is of its big brother, the 7lw. The 4-inch is the one you want for brake lines. The tool's basic design is identical.

 

[D60]

I picked up a new Icon G2 14" 3/8 locking flex head ratchet. It was a bit dry but the screws are in with a lot of loctite, I used a small soldering iron tip on the screws only and they came right out. The ratchet has low back drag and it is smooth, the locking mechanism is much nicer than a push button.

While there I got a 12v angle cutoff tool, I used it yesterday and it cut 10mm bolts with no trouble at all, get a 12v 4A battery for this tool, it is bit of a dog with a 2A. The cost with a 4A was $94, a bare tool 20v Dewalt is $200, sure the dewalt has more power but for small stuff this one is possibly one of the more powerful with a 4A. It has a depth of cut accessory, has 3/8 or 7/16, 5 yr walk in warranty and 3 yr on the battery.

View attachment 281821View attachment 281822View attachment 281823
View attachment 281824View attachment 281826

I love my M12 cutoff for small fasteners under the vehicle. U-bolts, exhaust clamps, random bolts.

 

[CarbonToast]

Caught a sale and finally upgraded my tired Ryobi Impact to a New Brushless P262 Ryobi!
Got 2x 4ah and 1x 2ah HP batteries also.

 

[D60]

Cornwell caliper windback, $50 at pawn

 

[D60]

The big dog Phoenix vacuum bleeder. No idea if it's any good, but overall reviews are better than their all-plastic models

 

[D60]

Oddball M11x1.25 tap & die. Dodge caliper slider pins used this. Hard to find so I wanted a set on-hand, but just cheap ebay specials

 

[D60]

I wanted a stubby 1-1/16" ratcheting, but couldn't find one (I understand why), so I ordered a cheap Husky and fired up the bright blue light machine.

Tagging @AutoMechanic because this stuff makes him lose sleep, but I'm helping you through exposure therapy. Confront your fears, young man!

 

[AutoMechanic]

I wanted a stubby 1-1/16" ratcheting, but couldn't find one (I understand why), so I ordered a cheap Husky and fired up the bright blue light machine. View attachment 283182

Tagging @AutoMechanic because this stuff makes him lose sleep, but I'm helping you through exposure therapy. Confront your fears, young man!

If it was mine it’d be in the trashcan after the job lol. No modified tools on my box.

 

[D60]

If it was mine it’d be in the trashcan after the job lol. No modified tools on my box.

Don't worry, it hangs on the wall, not in a box

 

[Trav]

Oddball M11x1.25 tap & die. Dodge caliper slider pins used this. Hard to find so I wanted a set on-hand, but just cheap ebay specials View attachment 283181

Might as well grab an M9x1.25 with some M9 helicoils used on many VW and a few Dodge models. I have had a few that were stripped out by some ham fisted buffoon and found it in my lap. The threads are in the knuckle with no separate caliper bracket.

If it was mine it’d be in the trashcan after the job lol. No modified tools on my box.

Modified tools are some of my treasure, I would not get rid of any of them.

 

[Trav]

The big dog Phoenix vacuum bleeder. No idea if it's any good, but overall reviews are better than their all-plastic modelsView attachment 282828

The only tool that would bleed an old 60's MG clutch. Vacuum, pressure, gravity would not get it 100%, that bugger was made in Hades by the devil himself. This tool did it in a few min.

 

[D60]

The only tool that would bleed an old 60's MG clutch. Vacuum, pressure, gravity would not get it 100%, that bugger was made in Hades by the devil himself. This tool did it in a few min.

I misspoke, too, as I called it a vacuum bleeder but it's a reverse bleeder. I is smart.

 

[D60]

In my recent -- and still ongoing-- 14b drum brake adventures I found myself once again wishing for a drum puller that could handle 13" drums. I have the Astro but it does not have that much spread.

I stumbled upon the Lang 833 which claimed a capacity of 13" dia and 6" reach. The slide-on 14b SF drums are ~6.5" deep but I figured worth a shot. It didn't hurt that there was one in Warehouse Deals for $56, while retail is about $125. It arrived in a generic cardboard box but miraculously everything was there. There's presently another showing in Warehouse Deals for $71:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007QV85IK

True to specs, it couldn't quite reach:

You lose about an inch to the rotating head of the forcing screw, so I decided to add 2.75" to the arms (@AutoMechanic trigger warning)

Proof of concept, I now have a puller that can actually accommodate 13" drums, at least on a SF axle:

I understand this may not help you rust belt guys much as the arms and the forcing screw are kinda light duty. Still, the concept is to preload (and install a lugnut, just in case!) and then produce vibration through the means of your choosing.

When I first pulled these drums, I had to preload a slate bar with my hip while giving her the ol' reach-around with an air hammer on the WMS. As I get older, such gymnastics become more challenging.

Finally, OTC offers a HD puller as the #6979 that would likely work out of the box, but it comes with a heavy duty retail of ~$370. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a deal.

 

[BrianF]

@D60 i always appreciate and learn something from your posts, for that, I thank you!

Seeing as I am on a journey to learn, hence buy and driving beaters. I have begun my adventure into drum brakes. After a teardown, inspection, cleaning and reassembly of the Sunfire wheel cylinders, I needed some more tools to prepare for the possibility I will have to replace them.

To get them out, I will likely need to remove the wheel bearing to gain better access. For that I needed a T50 bit. Do I have one? Probably. Where? It might be in my tool kit in my 6 horse trailer. Could I go look? No. I found a set of torx on a 3/8 drive on sale. As well, the wheel cylinder bolts need an E8 torx socket. That I dont have. Also got that on sale. Found at our local Cambodian Tire.

Also found a cheap tire changing kit there, on sale. Got a torque wrenching, breaker bar and a few sockets. These will work on the trailers and companion vehicles we take to horse shows. This keeps me from assembling and disassembling a tool kit every trip we make.

 

[jhellwig]

In my recent -- and still ongoing-- 14b drum brake adventures I found myself once again wishing for a drum puller that could handle 13" drums. I have the Astro but it does not have that much spread.

I stumbled upon the Lang 833 which claimed a capacity of 13" dia and 6" reach. The slide-on 14b SF drums are ~6.5" deep but I figured worth a shot. It didn't hurt that there was one in Warehouse Deals for $56, while retail is about $125. It arrived in a generic cardboard box but miraculously everything was there. There's presently another showing in Warehouse Deals for $71:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007QV85IK

True to specs, it couldn't quite reach:
View attachment 283197
You lose about an inch to the rotating head of the forcing screw, so I decided to add 2.75" to the arms (@AutoMechanic trigger warning)View attachment 283198

Proof of concept, I now have a puller that can actually accommodate 13" drums, at least on a SF axle:View attachment 283199

I understand this may not help you rust belt guys much as the arms and the forcing screw are kinda light duty. Still, the concept is to preload (and install a lugnut, just in case!) and then produce vibration through the means of your choosing.

When I first pulled these drums, I had to preload a slate bar with my hip while giving her the ol' reach-around with an air hammer on the WMS. As I get older, such gymnastics become more challenging.

Finally, OTC offers a HD puller as the #6979 that would likely work out of the box, but it comes with a heavy duty retail of ~$370. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a deal.

The adjuster should have backed off enough to let the drum come off unless that was the problem. I wish my suburban had that little rust on it. If it was a Midwest vehicle you beat it with a sledge till the lip falls off then there is no problem getting the drums off.

 

[LeeA]

I just up graded my impact wrenchs from an older Bosch and Dewalt. I splurged and got 3 Milwaukees. A M12 3/8 current gen Stubby kit, a M18 3/8 Mid-Torque kit and a M18 1/2 High-Torque tool. Now I can handle anything that I would want to repair, plus some construction tasks.

 

[PKFan]

I just ordered one of those Etenwolf tire pressure gauges that were discussed a while back. It's $3.99 on Amazon at the moment (with 50% off coupon). I figured it's worth a try after using one of my pencil gauges last night on my son's spare tire and finding that the tire goes to 60 psi but the gauge only to 50 psi.