That Cool Valve Adjustment tool - New Source

[thastings]

To my surprise, I checked out this new Island911 and found that is is exactly like the tool I have been using for the last 20 years, which is a carbon copy of the tool my father had been using since the 1950's to adj valves.
I paid about $3 plus $5 for a piece of stock .004.
Take the photo to your local auto parts store (no not a Walmart),
and ask the oldest guy behind the counter if he has a tool that looks like it.
OR......go to that OLD garage, owned by someone that worked on OLD cars (50's, 60's) and see if you can talk them out of one of those OLD tools, 'cause the new wrench-turnin' kids don't want those old tools.
I bet that a Snap-on dealer etc has them in stock.
And to think of all of those tools I've seen at yard sales for $0.25 and laughed at. I will now start looking for them as I follow my wife around every roadside yard sale in Pa.
I may even be able to convince my brother, a Class A machinist, with a big shop full of tools, to make a few, if there is a big demand.
Once you use 1 of these you will NEVER go back to the P-213.

[Schrup]

Originally posted by thastings
I may even be able to convince my brother, a Class A machinist, with a big shop full of tools, to make a few, if there is a big demand.
Once you use 1 of these you will NEVER go back to the P-213.

There are at least thirty people on this board that want one, myself included. Here is the second of two threads expessing interest.
WTB: Island style valve adjustment feeler gauge

[RickM]

Can we see a pic of the "old" tool?

[thastings]

Well I guess I could photo it for you , BUT it looks just like the island911 tool pictured above.
I am checking online to see if any tool makers still carry that style. Snap-On has a flat one for $18 but that is way to much.

[RickM]

Thanks

[stefang]

Count me in too.

Stef

[Superman]

Me too, but I'm not sure if Glenn is going to go there again. If he does, I'm in.

[Doug Zielke]

Originally posted by thastings
To my surprise, I checked out this new Island911 and found that is is exactly like the tool I have been using for the last 20 years, which is a carbon copy of the tool my father had been using since the 1950's to adj valves.

Nobody around here claimed the island911® Valve Adjustment Tool is a "new design".

Do a search....you'll find the whole thing started at one of our bull sessions at John Walkers shop in Seattle. John had been using that type of tool for years, and we all wanted to get one. It seems they were NLA from most of the major suppliers.

So the good guy that he is, Glenn (aka, island911) made up (2) batches of the tools on his own nickle, and sold them to any and all. I gave my P-213 away shortly afterwards.

I think Glenn is out of the manufacturing business (for now), so if you have one of the tools, you're one of the lucky ones.
Thank you Glenn, and John Walker!

[scottb]

Maybe if we ask Glenn realllllllyyyyy nicely (and throw lots of money at him), he'll do another production run.

[john walker's workshop]

you have the pictures, so how difficult would it be to bend up a strip of metal and fashon a sliding collar. the long gauge stock is readily available on the snapon, mac, cornwell trucks.

[thastings]

Not hard for me, but thats because my brother has a machine shop (chevy race car work). But why make them when they are still available for a couple dollars.
My brother and I are now searching for a source and I will let you know the results. If not found, maybe I can come up with something as good, and knowing my brother, something even better, since he has just finished adjusting one bank of valves on my 911. Guess what he did to my 12 yr old, new, P-213 after 1 valve, thats right, I had to dig it out of the trash. Guess what he pulled out of his toolbox to finish with?.......

[john walker's workshop]

more power to you if you can find one. there was quite a search for a source when i first posted about the tool, but baum tools quit stocking them, and all the tool truck guys couldn't find them either. i used to buy them from mac tools, and sell them to customers cheap, but that source dried up too.

[Decolliber]

island - I bought one of these from you over a year ago. Is this the same one, or has it changed? It was not clear to me whether the design chnage you mention is to the one you sold before or the previous version that you adpated for 911s.

Island is focusing on family and health issues of late. Doesn't allow a lot of time for the board. Best wishes to him.

[justesen]

Can anyone tell me the overall length of this tool? From the back of the finger loop to the tip of the tool?

TKS

JJ

[thastings]

It is about 4".

[justesen]

Thanks thastings for the help.

JJ

[banjomike]

Oh man I really would have loved to have had one of these a few weeks ago. No offense the the one sold on this site was really awful. I had to bend it just to get it to fit down in there. The blade that was in it initially was not hardened so I bent the tool straight and then ben the blade 90 deg. After I had mangled that blade I replaced it and found that the replacement blades were harded and very brittle. So I bent the tool again, but I screwed up and it bent where the bolt holes were so I had to hammer it flat and bend it again. Eventually I got it to work but I bet I spent 30-40minutes messing with the tool instead of adjusting valves. I guess I'll have to find a SnapOn truck before I do this next time.

[vash]

isnt the snap on version too long to work around in our engine compartment?

[thastings]

yes.
Bending it does not work, BUT what if you cut it off at 4", weld it, hell even duct tape the 2 sides together at the cut end. The slider (there are 2 of them, since this tool is designed to hold 2 feeler gauges) will still keep the blade in place
AND....
you now have 2 of these little guys. It might even work better since you will not have the finger loop to work around.
Interesting.........................