Making your own tools and gadgets

[Gregor 4,847]

I was sitting here waiting on parts, as usual, and I thought, I have my drill press back, I have all these sharpened bits, I should make something. So, after squaring  up my drill press, and getting it as true as I could, I made something. The other day I was watching Taryl Dactl rebuild a small Tecumseh motor. He had a gizmo that held his dial indicator above the piston, to set the spark at the precise proper moment. I figured I could make something like that. I started with an 8" chunk of 1 1/8" X 1 1/8" square PTO shaft. I drilled a hole in the center to receive my dial indicator, only a bit larger. As  you can see in the pic, there is a plastic sleeve inserted to protect the indicator.

Then I drilled several holes with the idea of utilizing this tool on different blocks, drilled and tapped a hole for a thumb knob.

I added a long 5/16 bolts and some nuts. You can raise and lower it where ever you like. This happens to be the block for my Tecumseh H70. I repainted it a more Horsey Red. Everything is held firmly in place.

 

Then, as you know, every shaft has 2 ends, I think. Why waste one. During this video Taryl was installing new valves. Of course with new valves comes adjusting the lifter clearance. He has a fancy machine, I don't. When I did my K161, I did as he suggested, and simply ground them on the side of my bench grinder wheel. This seemed rather crude for a spec that has a tolerance of .002 or .003" ,but ya do what ya gotta do. I thought there had be be a better way with out spending 2K on a valve grinding machine. Soooo  On the other end of the shaft I drilled a hole to accept the valve stem. I drilled it off center so I could have more meat for the threads on the thumb knob. You can just barely see in the pic, there is a small brass pin protruding into the hole. I did this to keep from marring up the vale stem with the thumb knob.

 

Now I can get it close with my bench grinder, and then put it in my drill press vise, and with a grinding wheel, or sanding disc, I can grind it pretty smooth.

The valve on the left is before grinding, the valve on the right, after. Is It absolutely dead perfect, I doubt it, but it has to be better than sticking it on the side of your bench grinder, and hoping it's flat.

 

[WVHillbilly520H 10,374]

I made this one up for checking piston to deck height on my SBC rebuild... Its aluminum and i press fit 2 1/2" magnets to hold onto the block also have 3 positions for the dial indicator.

[ebinmaine 68,481]

 

Trina's well known for making due with what's on hand. 

She'll use every scrap of wood before considering going to buy more. 

Here's what she did while reassembly of some tent poles. 

The wire that rides inside needed to be held steady. 

Screwdriver through wire. 

Pliers holding either wire or screwdriver. 

Vise holding the both of them. 

 

So simple. Yet I wouldn't have thought to do this in a million years. I'd have gone and bought needle nose vise grips...

 

 

 

 

Here's how I used to hold the cable lugs while making a battery cable. 

 

 

[peter lena 8,752]

ebinmaine , liked your  vise crimp, when I make up leads I  prefer the ( mechanical lug ) design, https://www.truevalue.com/shop/electrical/plugs-connectors/mechanical-lugs/aluminum-mechanical-lugs-00-14-awg-2-pk  that aloe's me to  easily add to a solid point with a screwdriver . since adding additional grounding points on my horses , my electrical issues have  stopped , pete  

[ebinmaine 68,481]

47 minutes ago, peter lena said:

prefer the ( mechanical lug )

I've since purchased a hammer style lug crimper. Haven't tried it yet. 

Should be easier to hold things in place. 

Lining up the cable and both bolts is an exercise in patience for sure. 

 

 

[peter lena 8,752]

ebinmaine , liked your  vise crimp, when I make up leads I  prefer the ( mechanical lug ) design, https://www.truevalue.com/shop/electrical/plugs-connectors/mechanical-lugs/aluminum-mechanical-lugs-00-14-awg-2-pk  that aloe's me to  easily add to a solid point with a screwdriver . since adding additional grounding points on my horses , my electrical issues have  stopped , pete  

[peter lena 8,752]

ebinmaine, picked up some 4 ga  battery cable , easy to strip off  last inch of cover and plug into the mechanical lug , I  also add a serrated washer at bolt down point and dielectric grease  to ensure solid ground,  those lugs also work very well on the snow blower chute  to cable mount point . take off the original screw cable hold , and bolt on a small mechanical lug , instead , for a much easier working  cable mount pull point .  just my experience , pete  

[formariz 11,988]

5 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Trina's well known for making due with what's on hand. 

She'll use every scrap of wood before considering going to buy more.

Unfortunately today most are conditioned to immediately look for a new tool or item to do a job or task when around us there are so may resources that will be just as good if not better than most items bought. It is not only it is a satisfying feeling to gaze at and use our resourceful creations but it keeps our minds stimulated towards that resourcefulness, inventiveness,and independence which due to all that is easily available for us to buy it is basically lost today. That attitude needs to be fed into our young from early on. As I take walks through the woods with my 9 year old grandson he constantly picks up pieces of metal and odd items thrown away  ages ago, sometimes so rusty one is not sure of what it is, I ask him what he is going to do with it and he answers" I don't know but it looks like it may came in handy some day". I say nothing but smile and think YESSS.

 

[formariz 11,988]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Lining up the cable and both bolts is an exercise in patience for sure. 

A couple of turns of masking tape holding everything together prior to placing it on the vise will turn the system into a piece of cake.

[Gregor 4,847]

Flywheel puller. Just a 3 X 3 x 1/2 plate with a 1/2 X 20 hole tapped in the center, and 3 holes drilled in a pattern to match the holes on the flywheel. I think it might even work for a steeing wheel puller.

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

What do you do when you need to turn a big twin to set points, or check valve clearance?

 

Grab a piece of 1x2 off the scrap pile, drive a couple nails or screws (screws work better actually) about 4" apart.

 

Stick the screws into the holes in the grass screen and turn.

[Digger 66 3,488]

Official Can-Am crankshaft locking tool .