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Making/improvising Special Tools

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by timgr, Jul 12, 2016.

  1. Jul 24, 2016
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2004
    Messages:
    4,491
    Small potatoes compared to building your own bridge but, here's the yoke wrench I made. I made it extra long for leverage against that 200l lb-ft torque spec. It's just flat steel. I never really finished it. I might make the end of the handle a bit more ergonomic at some point. Either to make it easier to hold in your hand or so it lays better/flatter against the garage floor. I'd like to make it a little prettier too so it doesn't look like a hack job like it does in it's current rough design.


     
  2. Jul 26, 2016
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2006
    Messages:
    1,929
    For all those rusty bolts and nuts I quit using purchased stuff. Best think I've ever used is a 50/50 mix of ATF fluid and acetone. Few drops and a few minutes later they come off. I have not broken a bolt using that stuff. Granted it might take a couple days of soaking but it has always worked...so far.
     
  3. Jul 26, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
    Messages:
    7,540
    That's what Ive been using for years...It's awesome.

    Made a couple of tools years ago (non Jeep related). I don't remember what the top one was for. I just remember needing it to be a thin wrench. The bottom one is to release the serpentine belt tension on my wife's Caravan. Same thing...Needed a thin bar in order to avoid removing a bunch of crap in my way.
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Aug 25, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
    Messages:
    6,656
    The air conditioner in my wife's car quits when it's above 89*. Convenient, huh? I found out it's a common problem due to a worn clutch on the AC compressor. There should only be .3mm gap between the clutch face and pulley. Hers was measuring .91mm. All it takes to fix it is to remove the face, remove a shim, and put it back together.

    Easier said than done. It's a Volvo with a transversely mounted 5 cylinder. It's tight in there. I had exactly 1 3/8" between the clutch face and the unibody. The "$111 down" rental puller from O'Riellys was never going to work. This was my workspace, looking up from underneath.

    [​IMG]

    The clearance was so tight, I could only get a 10mm socket on the retaining bolt by holding it with vice grips. I had to make two special tools. One to hold the clutch from spinning while loosening/tightening the bolt, and the other to press the clutch face off. After about 8 hours of trial and error and swearing, the final versions worked like a charm. (y)

    [​IMG]

    My final spec is .41mm. If it 'kinda' worked at .9mm, it should work just fine.

    BTW, it is jeep related in a way... the wrench on the left was made from leftover steel that I made the corners and dash out of for Mighty Mouse. :D
     
    Lockman likes this.
  5. Nov 21, 2016
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    Messages:
    2,115
    Puller/installer/scrapper for dana 30/44 axle shaft seal

    What i use is a 5/8" threaded rob by 3 foot long, some washer that has the right diameter.


    Just put it againts the seal, couple of hammer strike and seal is off. You can also use it as a scrapper so you can take all the dirt inside the tube.

    For reinstall pretty easy too, just need a wilder washer and you turn the nut until seal are at their right place.


    So total cost for this custom tool is about 10$. The right tool for this job is around 125-150$ so it's pretty cheap my way and it work as a charm

    15152418_10153850976471621_2144112852_o.jpg

    15139777_10153846306196621_224057566_n.jpg
     
  6. Feb 25, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
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    7,540
    I was making a template for a hard top window. I needed to be inside of the opening 3/8". I took a AAA battery and used the nipple of it to run along the window frame. The nipple to the pencil tip was 3/8"...It was too easy (AA = 1/2" BTW).
    [​IMG]

    Here's another cheesy measuring device I threw together to determine the thickness of the glass.
    [​IMG]

    3/16" thick...Now I can have a piece of glass cut or try the Plexi idea.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Feb 25, 2017
    scott milliner

    scott milliner Master Fabricator

    Seattle Wa.
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    2,361
    Have you ever tried to torque the pinion nut? I made my own tool for the job. I use two 1" box tubes with holes and a 3/4" solid rod. Brace on the floor and torque away.
    [​IMG]
     
    termin8ed and 73 cj5 like this.
  8. Feb 25, 2017
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2014
    Messages:
    2,137
    Used this to remove the outer oil seals on the AMC 20. Just an old bolt and lawn mower pulley.
    [​IMG]
     
    a72cj likes this.
  9. Feb 26, 2017
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
    Messages:
    3,083
    My "special" tool for cleaning out front axle tubes on open knuckle axles. A piece of 1/4" threaded rod, a few nuts, 2 fender washers and scotch brite. I use one fender first to scrape the majority of the junk out, then I put the scotch brite on and run it through with the drill. Be sure to double nut each side to prevent loosening. I also spray some brakekleen in the tube before running it through. Some trimming of the pad might be necessary for smaller axles. This is on my dana 60 for my 55 chevy. It scrunches up like a ball hone and works very well. After running this through a few times, I spray some more brakekleen in and push some rags through with a pipe like cleaning a gun barrel.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    piffey263 likes this.
  10. Mar 2, 2017
    alpina72

    alpina72 Member

    Georgia
    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2015
    Messages:
    180
    We made a four man tap handle for a 3 1/2" NPT tap at my old shop.
     
  11. Mar 2, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
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    4,418
    I just found a bubble wrapped miller tool tucked away in one of the shops cabinets for holding the yoke yesterday. That looks like it should work just as well
     
  12. Mar 12, 2017
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2003
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    9,754
    48" Pipe wrench worked for me. Chinese import was cheap enough and I use it for all kinds of things when I need "Mungo" leverage.
     
  13. Sep 11, 2017
    tymbom

    tymbom Member

    Siskiyou Co.
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    Messages:
    814
    I don't often brag, but I came up with a pretty clever solution to something, so I thought I would share it with you guys... I have an old wood splitter that I got in a trade. You know, one of those things that gets in the way of working on Jeep's... I've been tinkering with it and changed the valve. The new valve had some huge plugs in it.
    [​IMG]
    I didn't have a wrench big enough so I went searching the auto parts stores in town with no luck. 3/8ths is the biggest. So I was in Tractor Surprise and stuck a bolt in the plug.
    [​IMG]
    It fit, grabbed a couple nuts and presto!

    [​IMG]

    With a little effort the plug came right out... Not bad for less than a dollar. Anyway, I thought it was cool. Laters
     
    Danefraz, tripilio and Lockman like this.
  14. Sep 11, 2017
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
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    12,367
    Good thinking! I would have been totally focused on looking for an allen wrench that size.
     
  15. Sep 12, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    Aug 18, 2014
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    Nice work...That has saved me before too. I ended up welding the nut to the bolt and added it to the tool drawer.

    Moved to the improvised tool thread.
     
    tymbom and Bowbender like this.
  16. Sep 13, 2017
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
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    Done that too. Theres a front diff fill or drain hole on one of the newer jeeps and i dod this with a gearwrench to get it off.
     
  17. Nov 1, 2017
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2014
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    7,540
    Improvised "Spanner Wrench". :)

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Nov 1, 2017
    GeoffreyL

    GeoffreyL Well-Known Member

    moorestown, nj
    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2012
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    1,521
    What is this for? Only spanner wrench I can think of is the one I use to take hose apart as a fireman.
     
  19. Nov 1, 2017
    mortten

    mortten I can’t put my finger on it 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Peninsula, Ohio
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    Apr 17, 2006
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    The disc on a 4" angle grinder would require a spanner wrench to get the nut off. Usually a nut with two holes in it. The pins on the spanner go into the holes. Any wrench in England is a spanner.
     
  20. Nov 1, 2017
    Bowbender

    Bowbender I'm workin' on it!

    Northern Minn.
    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2014
    Messages:
    561
    You use a spanner to put a kitchen sink drain together too.;)

    It's too bad Foto suck it ruined so many good posts.:mad:
     
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