Topic: Cool Tools.

[BenelliSEI]

I have a set of feelers that have a machined step on the end that is a thousandth thinner than the main thickness, as in an .015 leaf and .014 on the machined end. I'll check to see if they have a name brand.

Yes. But have you’ve checked to see how accurate they really are? Never cured to me, but given some of the other crap I’ve purchased recently, I’ll be checking.

[Terry in Australia]

The battery in the wife's Hyundai went flat a couple of weeks ago, after she left the hatch slightly open, and the interior light stayed on all night. No problem, I jump started it and she drove around for the rest of the day with no issues. A couple of days later, it was flat again. OK, I removed it from the car and charged it overnight, and the next day it was showing 13.5v, and easily started the car. A week later, it was flat again. I bought her a new battery.

I put the old battery on the charger, and once again, it charged up fine, and sat on 13.5 volts for a couple of days. I saw a battery tester on FB that not only tests the voltage, but also Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) and some other stuff that I've already forgotten about. Now we all know that a lot of FB adverts are fake scams, so if I see something I like on FB, I then do an Amazon search for a similar item, and yep, I found a device that does all the same things, with delivery the next day, for way less money than the FB device. I ordered it and as soon as it arrived I connected to the battery in question. I input the CCA marked on the battery (560 CCA) and the test showed that it had only 180 CCA, so I can now happily throw that battery out, and not worry that there might be a bad charging system in her car. $35 well spent.

[PeWe]

I have had great use of my battery tester.

I have found that bad batteries get lower test values after a week. Both charging rate and CCA.
My CB750 got a new battery last weekend. The old one discharged too much within 10 days. Measured the current with ign switch off. No leak.

I'll see how the new and old on the shelf will change within 2 weeks. So no rides on that bike.

My car battery discharged quickly too so new battery. 
The old had served 7 1/2 year.
The cheap tester verified very well.

After my K2 sudden stop 75km away from home in June I have bought a few batteries.
No more cheap ones that dies after a year or 2. 
The battery on test now is a 3 years old AGM, not cheap.

EDIT: That AGM battery self discharged too fast, new AGM  (Motobatt) to bike. The 3 year old one on the shelf as an ignition timing lamp battery.

[dave500]

mate of mine has a 68 mustang with windsor 289,it runs fine but fumey if you remove the oil filler cap,were gonna pull it out next year and rebuild it,he dropped over today and I made up a jigger to turn the motor via the balancer with a degree wheel behind it,its a 3 bolt balancer.

[grcamna2]

I have had great use of my battery tester.

I have found that bad batteries get lower test values after a week. Both charging rate and CCA.
My CB750 got a new battery last weekend. The old one discharged too much within 10 days. Measured the current with ign switch off. No leak.

I'll see how the new and old on the shelf will change within 2 weeks. So no rides on that bike.

My car battery discharged quickly too so new battery. 
The old had served 7 1/2 year.
The cheap tester verified very well.

After my K2 sudden stop 75km away from home in June I have bought a few batteries.
No more cheap ones that dies after a year or 2. 
The battery on test now is a 3 years old AGM, not cheap.

EDIT: That AGM battery self discharged too fast, new AGM  (Motobatt) to bike. The 3 year old one on the shelf as an ignition timing lamp battery.

I'm very pleased with my Ansel battery tester/diagnostic.
I never knew how poor a cheap battery would fail me.
I bought 2 new batteries(cheap)on Ebay,and the Ansel tester diagnosed them as having a weak CCA problem;I returned them both to the seller before ever installing them.
PeWe, I appreciate your exhaustive tests using your new Ansel battery tester.
The best $29.99 I ever spent. 

[vfourfreak]

mate of mine has a 68 mustang with windsor 289,it runs fine but fumey if you remove the oil filler cap,were gonna pull it out next year and rebuild it,he dropped over today and I made up a jigger to turn the motor via the balancer with a degree wheel behind it,its a 3 bolt balancer.

Maith an fear Dave. Well done.

Maybe there is a market for that.

Kev

[PeWe]

I have had great use of my battery tester.

I have found that bad batteries get lower test values after a week. Both charging rate and CCA.
My CB750 got a new battery last weekend. The old one discharged too much within 10 days. Measured the current with ign switch off. No leak.

I'll see how the new and old on the shelf will change within 2 weeks. So no rides on that bike.

My car battery discharged quickly too so new battery. 
The old had served 7 1/2 year.
The cheap tester verified very well.

After my K2 sudden stop 75km away from home in June I have bought a few batteries.
No more cheap ones that dies after a year or 2. 
The battery on test now is a 3 years old AGM, not cheap.

EDIT: That AGM battery self discharged too fast, new AGM  (Motobatt) to bike. The 3 year old one on the shelf as an ignition timing lamp battery.

I'm very pleased with my Ansel battery tester/diagnostic.
I never knew how poor a cheap battery would fail me.
I bought 2 new batteries(cheap)on Ebay,and the Ansel tester diagnosed them as having a weak CCA problem;I returned them both to the seller before ever installing them.
PeWe, I appreciate your exhaustive tests using your new Ansel battery tester.
The best $29.99 I ever spent. 

I like that you had good use of the tester.
A good investment for me too

I have read about bad batteries where people measured batteries in the shop with low health (CCA) status. Cheap batteries.

I had several batteries to test with follow-ups to learn how it works with the  discharge rate for  bad,  semi bad and new battery

Easy to check when a battery need an overnight fill-up.
No more cheap batteries despite good  values. It can suddenly go bad as my 3 years old in my brown K2 did
Anti vibration mat under battery is installed after that event.

[grcamna2]

I have had great use of my battery tester.

I have found that bad batteries get lower test values after a week. Both charging rate and CCA.
My CB750 got a new battery last weekend. The old one discharged too much within 10 days. Measured the current with ign switch off. No leak.

I'll see how the new and old on the shelf will change within 2 weeks. So no rides on that bike.

My car battery discharged quickly too so new battery. 
The old had served 7 1/2 year.
The cheap tester verified very well.

After my K2 sudden stop 75km away from home in June I have bought a few batteries.
No more cheap ones that dies after a year or 2. 
The battery on test now is a 3 years old AGM, not cheap.

EDIT: That AGM battery self discharged too fast, new AGM  (Motobatt) to bike. The 3 year old one on the shelf as an ignition timing lamp battery.

I'm very pleased with my Ansel battery tester/diagnostic.
I never knew how poor a cheap battery would fail me.
I bought 2 new batteries(cheap)on Ebay,and the Ansel tester diagnosed them as having a weak CCA problem;I returned them both to the seller before ever installing them.
PeWe, I appreciate your exhaustive tests using your new Ansel battery tester.
The best $29.99 I ever spent. 

I like that you had good use of the tester.
A good investment for me too

I have read about bad batteries where people measured batteries in the shop with low health (CCA) status. Cheap batteries.

I had several batteries to test with follow-ups to learn how it works with the  discharge rate for  bad,  semi bad and new battery

Easy to check when a battery need an overnight fill-up.
No more cheap batteries despite good  values. It can suddenly go bad as my 3 years old in my brown K2 did
Anti vibration mat under battery is installed after that event.

Pewe, after using the Ansel on new batteries:do you have a better choice of battery brands which you choose now?

[PeWe]

I have had great use of my battery tester.

I have found that bad batteries get lower test values after a week. Both charging rate and CCA.
My CB750 got a new battery last weekend. The old one discharged too much within 10 days. Measured the current with ign switch off. No leak.

I'll see how the new and old on the shelf will change within 2 weeks. So no rides on that bike.

My car battery discharged quickly too so new battery. 
The old had served 7 1/2 year.
The cheap tester verified very well.

After my K2 sudden stop 75km away from home in June I have bought a few batteries.
No more cheap ones that dies after a year or 2. 
The battery on test now is a 3 years old AGM, not cheap.

EDIT: That AGM battery self discharged too fast, new AGM  (Motobatt) to bike. The 3 year old one on the shelf as an ignition timing lamp battery.

I'm very pleased with my Ansel battery tester/diagnostic.
I never knew how poor a cheap battery would fail me.
I bought 2 new batteries(cheap)on Ebay,and the Ansel tester diagnosed them as having a weak CCA problem;I returned them both to the seller before ever installing them.
PeWe, I appreciate your exhaustive tests using your new Ansel battery tester.
The best $29.99 I ever spent. 

I like that you had good use of the tester.
A good investment for me too

I have read about bad batteries where people measured batteries in the shop with low health (CCA) status. Cheap batteries.

I had several batteries to test with follow-ups to learn how it works with the  discharge rate for  bad,  semi bad and new battery

Easy to check when a battery need an overnight fill-up.
No more cheap batteries despite good  values. It can suddenly go bad as my 3 years old in my brown K2 did
Anti vibration mat under battery is installed after that event.

Pewe, after using the Ansel on new batteries:do you have a better choice of battery brands which you choose now?

No more $40US battery on the bike
I hope the new Motobatt and Global AGM will last longer.
I read that AGM must NOT be charged in low motorcycle battery mode.

My CTEK charger has a snowflake setting. (Later charger of same model, MXS 5.0 has AGM written there).

Car battery mode with higher voltage and current.
Give them a charge once a month.

I think there are chargers with MC + AGM mode.

Car battery (not AGM) will hopefully last over 7 years as my old Bosch. Also a 24h charge once a month due to short drives and mostly parked.

I can follow their status, no more guessing.

[grcamna2]

I have had great use of my battery tester.

I have found that bad batteries get lower test values after a week. Both charging rate and CCA.
My CB750 got a new battery last weekend. The old one discharged too much within 10 days. Measured the current with ign switch off. No leak.

I'll see how the new and old on the shelf will change within 2 weeks. So no rides on that bike.

My car battery discharged quickly too so new battery. 
The old had served 7 1/2 year.
The cheap tester verified very well.

After my K2 sudden stop 75km away from home in June I have bought a few batteries.
No more cheap ones that dies after a year or 2. 
The battery on test now is a 3 years old AGM, not cheap.

EDIT: That AGM battery self discharged too fast, new AGM  (Motobatt) to bike. The 3 year old one on the shelf as an ignition timing lamp battery.

I'm very pleased with my Ansel battery tester/diagnostic.
I never knew how poor a cheap battery would fail me.
I bought 2 new batteries(cheap)on Ebay,and the Ansel tester diagnosed them as having a weak CCA problem;I returned them both to the seller before ever installing them.
PeWe, I appreciate your exhaustive tests using your new Ansel battery tester.
The best $29.99 I ever spent. 

I like that you had good use of the tester.
A good investment for me too

I have read about bad batteries where people measured batteries in the shop with low health (CCA) status. Cheap batteries.

I had several batteries to test with follow-ups to learn how it works with the  discharge rate for  bad,  semi bad and new battery

Easy to check when a battery need an overnight fill-up.
No more cheap batteries despite good  values. It can suddenly go bad as my 3 years old in my brown K2 did
Anti vibration mat under battery is installed after that event.

Pewe, after using the Ansel on new batteries:do you have a better choice of battery brands which you choose now?

No more $40US battery on the bike
I hope the new Motobatt and Global AGM will last longer.
I read that AGM must NOT be charged in low motorcycle battery mode.

My CTEK charger has a snowflake setting. (Later charger of same model, MXS 5.0 has AGM written there).

Car battery mode with higher voltage and current.
Give them a charge once a month.

I think there are chargers with MC + AGM mode.

Car battery (not AGM) will hopefully last over 7 years as my old Bosch. Also a 24h charge once a month due to short drives and mostly parked.

I can follow their status, no more guessing.
[/quote

Excellent 
Does Global AGM use fresh lead for their plates,or recycled lead ?

[PeWe]

I guess so.
https://batterycouncil.org/news/press-release/new-study-confirms-lead-batteries-maintain-remarkable-99-recycling-rate/

[grcamna2]

I guess so.
https://batterycouncil.org/news/press-release/new-study-confirms-lead-batteries-maintain-remarkable-99-recycling-rate/

How about Global AGM ?

[PeWe]

I guess so.
https://batterycouncil.org/news/press-release/new-study-confirms-lead-batteries-maintain-remarkable-99-recycling-rate/

How about Global AGM ?

I do not know. Recycling is a good thing today and keeping down the cost will help.
I'll see how long it will last. If still OK 2029-2030 better than my old batteries. I'll maintain it better today too.

[grcamna2]

I guess so.
https://batterycouncil.org/news/press-release/new-study-confirms-lead-batteries-maintain-remarkable-99-recycling-rate/

How about Global AGM ?

I do not know. Recycling is a good thing today and keeping down the cost will help.
I'll see how long it will last. If still OK 2029-2030 better than my old batteries. I'll maintain it better today too.

I see.
I'm wondering if they use fresh lead in their manufacture ?

[Don R]

I have a set of feelers that have a machined step on the end that is a thousandth thinner than the main thickness, as in an .015 leaf and .014 on the machined end. I'll check to see if they have a name brand.

Yes. But have you’ve checked to see how accurate they really are? Never cured to me, but given some of the other crap I’ve purchased recently, I’ll be checking.

 There are old school quality and accurate according to my cheap micrometer. But how accurate is it?

[dave500]

cut down 3/32 allen key,not a real cool tool unless your a GM guy who like quadrajets like me,this tiny hidden grub screw locks spring tension on the quadrajet secondry air valve,I just find a short version works easier if you want to make an adjustment,its not like its a regular tune up thing,lotta guys dont even know its there.

[grcamna2]

cut down 3/32 allen key,not a real cool tool unless your a GM guy who like quadrajets like me,this tiny hidden grub screw locks spring tension on the quadrajet secondry air valve,I just find a short version works easier if you want to make an adjustment,its not like its a regular tune up thing,lotta guys dont even know its there.

Dave, do the secondary top-flap butterflies open sooner w/ less spring tension to allow quicker response(more air?)when the large secondary throttle plate opens-up ?

[dave500]

yes Bill,they are also controlled with a vacuum canister a bit like a vacuum advance type.

[grcamna2]

yes Bill,they are also controlled with a vacuum canister a bit like a vacuum advance type.

Vacuum secondaries?
I had mechanical secondaries on a 67' Buick GS400 w/ the stock Quadrajet I owned back in the 70's:very abrupt acceleration.
I imagine vacuum-controlled is much more smooth,for different loads & rpms.

[scottly]

cut down 3/32 allen key,not a real cool tool unless your a GM guy who like quadrajets like me,this tiny hidden grub screw locks spring tension on the quadrajet secondry air valve,I just find a short version works easier if you want to make an adjustment,its not like its a regular tune up thing,lotta guys dont even know its there.

One time my buddy Henry pulled up to the shop with a 1985ish 454 Chevy Suburban that he had just bought, and said it didn't seem to have as much power as it should and was sluggish to start. I whipped out my cool Sears Penske timing light that I had gotten Xmas 1972,(along with Craftsman 3/8" and 1/2" beam torque wrenches, compression tester, and vacuum gauge) and confirmed the timing was quite retarded. After resetting the timing, the engine started more briskly, but also produced an ominous knocking sound from deep within it's bowels. A subsequent autopsy showed the crankshaft had already been turned down the maximum amount and was FUBAR, and there were no good cores left, so the decision was to swap a 350 in, using the Quadrajunk from the 454. After I adjusted the secondary spring tension it worked like a champ.      

[dave500]

once sorted they stay sorted,you need the early pre smog ones from the late 60s/early 70s with the side fuel pipe inlet.

[Don R]

 I also got the sears timing light for Christmas, about 1973. The first time I used it I got the shock of my life. The high-tension wire was grounded to the case inside. I completed the tune-up using rubber gloves and a towel.
 I returned it to Sears and the tool guy took it to the automotive guy who said we'll see about this. They wouldn't let me watch but I was giggling when they took it to the auto dept. They came back and authorized a refund, when I asked to exchange it for a better mag pickup type, his tone changed.

 In case I told that one before, here's a useful one, inadvertent discovery of dowel grippers. Next up a handmade curved bend jig, this fit around a roll cage bar.

[spotty]

A big thanks to Terry, my new gas mig, still trying to figure out how it all goes together

[spotty]

Again a big thanks to Terry, my new grown up size drill press which hopefully will allow some beginner grade milling

[scottly]

Hey Spotty, a drill press generally makes a poor mill, due to the sloppy spindle and lack of rigidity...