Please share some of your mechanical tips and tricks

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Dude. She is so ugly my brother and I both passed her over for her daughter.

Why do you think I recently stocked-up on paper grocery bags?!?!?!

[RSBob]

Originally Posted by Ronnie's.930

Why do you think I recently stocked-up on paper grocery bags?!?!?!

Plastic is too kinky?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by RSBob

Plastic is too kinky?

He is a gentleman. He gave her the choice.

[r-mm]

What is this, the WRX forum?

[RedCoupe]

As I am definitely not clever enough to compete with the posts from Bob, Ronnie, and RSBob, I'll just post my little tips and slink off into the night.

1. When I am diagnosing a problem, I always check to see what was recently worked on or could have been disturbed by a recent service. It's amazing how often that can lead you to the problem.
2. I discovered a flip-down magnifier recently and what a difference that makes to an old guy like me. I can read the imprints on the sides of drill bits, and really examine sealing surfaces, worn parts, etc. I recently wired my office and could have never used the Cat-5 crimper without the magnifier.
3. Earlier this year I went crazy at Home Depot and bought all sorts of new fluorescent light fixtures for my garage. It is truly bright in there and my bench is flooded in light. I am much less tired after a few hours of work, particularly when I'm working late in the evening.
4. When using a torque wrench, spotlessly clean threads with no burrs are important. The threads should be either lubed or dry, depending on what the specifications call for. Tightening with a smooth and steady motion gives the most accurate, repeatable results.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by RedCoupe

2. I discovered a flip-down magnifier recently and what a difference that makes to an old guy like me.

Went to the "Freight" today. Was going to buy a cheap one for a trial run after reading this tip. It was way too cheesy. It also had a flip down monocle to super amplify.

Where did you get yours?

Comparable to this one? Test, Measurement & Inspection | Optics & Visual Inspection | Carson Optical Mv-23 Magnivisor™ Magnifier | B496012 - GlobalIndustrial.com

[Pazuzu]

If you're going to do actual electrical work, suck it up and spend the money on some good electrical tools.
I rarely want to drop coin on tools when they are 3 or 4 times the price, but once I switched to a high end ratcheting crimper with changeable jaws, and an automatic wire stripper my life was changed. Throw that yellow handled cutter/stripper/crimper POS away.

Get a katapult type stripper: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035KF232
And a ratcheting crimper with a few sets of heads: http://www.amazon.com/Tool-Aid-18920-Ratcheting-Terminal/dp/B0002STTTI
And a heat gun: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003N3G4WY

Buy bulk heat shrink in a few sizes, and bulk connectors (female and male, no insulation).

For the $150ish investment, you'll be making factory level wiring fixes that will NOT be gremlins later on...

Edit: I picked that heat gun because it's small, so you can shove it into places (like behind the dash...) where you can't get bigger guns. It's PLENTY hot enough for even the heaviest shrink wrap.

[midnight911]

camber gauge


ground up 24mm wrench for spring plate height adjusting bolt

[reddogmotrsprts]

Use a mirror when doing a two-man brake bleed, so that the guy pumping the pedal can stay abreast of the fluid level. Align the mirror using a laser pointer, eg. an infrared thermometer. A flashlight helps to make the fluid level easier to see in the reservoir.

It's easier to demonstrate this on a non-911; hopefully, this image needs no rotation.

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by RedCoupe

2. I discovered a flip-down magnifier recently and what a difference that makes to an old guy like me.

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Went to the "Freight" today. Was going to buy a cheap one for a trial run after reading this tip.

Bob, do you need one of those to help with personal grooming, and other errr, ummm, "personal" activities?!?!?!

Originally Posted by RSBob

Plastic is too kinky?

No such thing as "too" when it comes to kink!

[zippy_gg]

Sometimes it takes 3 hands to install a plate, washer, etc...
I use a dab of grease on the item and "stick" it where it needs to go. The grease will hold long enough for me to install the nut(s) and tighten in place using both hands when required.

[RFP]

Originally Posted by stormin48061

the title got me interested to click on this post. I thought it was a post on tricks on getting stuff put back together on our 911s. One that I'd be interested in reading... is for those that have replaced their hydraulic hood lifts, how in the world did you get the pin and clip back in after you removed them to replace the hydraulic rod with the neat mechanical ones we all bought? My hands and fingers can't get around the wiring down there on the drivers side to push the clip on.... thanks for reading.

Hi Stormin... This drove me nutz too... Here's what I came up with: Easy Left Side Hood Shock Install !

Rob

[sugarwood]

Regarding that mirror to watch the brake fluid level....
An alternative is to use the bottle that comes in this HF kit

The vacuum part is garbage and doesn't work,
but I ended up using that upside down fill bottle.
It auto fills the reservoir as it empties. Works great.

[dicklague]

ALWAYS suspect the battery first on slow start, no start etc..

Get a good volt meter.

Get a good CCA tester I have this one and love it!
Worth every penny.....
Digital Automotive Battery Analyzer

[RedCoupe]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Went to the "Freight" today. Was going to buy a cheap one for a trial run after reading this tip. It was way too cheesy. It also had a flip down monocle to super amplify.

Where did you get yours?

Comparable to this one? Test, Measurement & Inspection | Optics & Visual Inspection | Carson Optical Mv-23 Magnivisor™ Magnifier | B496012 - GlobalIndustrial.com

No, Bob, the one I bought wasn't that nice but it does help a lot though. Bought it from a local indy new and used tool shop.

[sugarwood]

I was removing one of my trunk lid struts
I put a towel underneath to catch any nuts or washers that inevitably drop out of your hand

[Tippy]

I have one, opposite of what was posted earlier in this thread, use caution when using others advice from the Internet.

I can't tell you how many times I read something on the Internet by those far less mechanically inclined or experienced than I, that simply led me down a rabbit hole - going against what I'd learned from the past.

Why? The Internet creates a lemming situation. One person does something, others follow, then the practice becomes accepted and the "expert" method.

I've seen it here on the board many times too, not just other forums.

Caveat emptor!!!!

[tobluforu]

Best valve adjustment tool for cheap goofs like me.. Buy a feeler gauge set like this; make sure you buy one that has the most gauges possible as the remaining gauges not used will become the handle. Snip about a half an inch off the end of the gauge you will be using, place the remaining gauges back in handle, tighten down. Place a band aid on index finger; this will help as the edge of feeler is kind of sharp. Grab the gauge in your hand (the part with all the gauges locked in place.), this becomes the handle, point your index finger, place it on edge of bent, snipped off remaining gauge and push it through using index finger. Learned this from old VW mechanic, works amazingly well, and don’t knock it until you try it.
P.S. I tried the POS tool with the handle and the little itty bitty gauge on the end, snapped that thing in 10 minutes.

[Tidybuoy]

1) I keep a 6" piece of brake booster vacuum hose in my tool kit. This comes in handy for removing/installing the plugs as it grips the tip perfectly and helps to align the plug for screwing in. I can remember the days when a plug would fall out of the socket wrench and I would spend 5-10 min trying to fish the plug out - Never Again

2) 50/50 Mix of Acetone and Automatic Tran Fluid makes a great penetrating oil. Works much better than PB blaster and others that I have tried (not sure about Kroil but I can never find that at the store).

3) Gibbs Oil - Best stuff for restoring aluminum and magnesium. Spray it on and in a day, all the oxidation will be gone.

4) Obenauf Leather Oil - Great Stuff!

5) Separate toolboxes - metric vs. standard uggh!

[pjd131]

I have a bad neck. I found the best thing for neck support while working on my car was a bag of kitty litter. My creeper often leaves little room to work so lying on the garage floor with my neck supported with the kitty litter bag worked great (just in case you ever have to replace the slave cylinder on the G50). Bag cleans off easy too.