Topic: Cool Tools.

[Don R]

Rebuilding tilting steering column was one of the hardest jobs I ever did.  This tool made it possible.  As far as I remember it presses hinge pins out. 

My buddy that had a shop used a slide hammer dent puller except with a machine screw in it. I helped him make it when I needed the loose screws in my tilt column tightened up.

[Tim2005]

My kids bought me one at COSTCO a few years ago. Circular LED lamp with a large magnifier in the middle. It’s on a 24” + 24” articulated arm and clamps to one end of my bench. I’ll take a picture, next shop day. Fantastic device, I use it constantly. Even when not using it, I keep the top cover closed, but turn on the light for extra brightness!

Is it similar to this one that I had spotted, except for the clamp base? Looks pretty good to me. I had also wondered about the type that you wear, as per the second link below. It's tricky to know which type would be best to use

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224564286351

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364077185409

[newday777]

Does anyone use any kind of magnifier? Ageing eyes and shrinking electrical & carb parts seem to make one more useful than ever nowadays. I do have a big Sherlock Holmes style one, and a little jewellers one, but often think something hands free would be better, one that's either on a stand or wearable. Has anyone found any good types?

My kids bought me one at COSTCO a few years ago. Circular LED lamp with a large magnifier in the middle. It’s on a 24” + 24” articulated arm and clamps to one end of my bench. I’ll take a picture, next shop day. Fantastic device, I use it constantly. Even when not using it, I keep the top cover closed, but turn on the light for extra brightness!

I used to have an old round florescent lamp/magnifier like you described that my dad had on his fly tying table, one that took 20-30 seconds holding the button to start the lamp......but the bulb finally died and in a move, it got tossed.
Now, my eyes are dimmer than in my younger days and could benefit from a lit magnifier these days..... I guess I'll have to keep a watch out for another

[RAFster122s]

Check goodwill and thrift stores for the magnifier lamps…sometimes they show up there.
Harbor freight used to carry them if you want to give them money…

[BenelliSEI]

Does anyone use any kind of magnifier? Ageing eyes and shrinking electrical & carb parts seem to make one more useful than ever nowadays. I do have a big Sherlock Holmes style one, and a little jewellers one, but often think something hands free would be better, one that's either on a stand or wearable. Has anyone found any good types?

Here’s the one I have. Clamps to the bench and has a flip down cover to protect the lens. The bulb is actually two rows of small LED lights, circling around the lens. VERY USEFUL.

[Tim2005]

Yes that looks really good, I like the clamp-on idea too,  can then use it clamped under the car bonnet etc too. I'll go hunt amazon & ebay for deals now. Cheers

[BenelliSEI]

Yes that looks really good, I like the clamp-on idea too,  can then use it clamped under the car bonnet etc too. I'll go hunt amazon & ebay for deals now. Cheers

You won’t be disappointed. Today that rig helped me find the markings on a set of piston rings that seemed to have “disappeared”!

[CycleRanger]

Does anyone use any kind of magnifier? Ageing eyes and shrinking electrical & carb parts seem to make one more useful than ever nowadays. I do have a big Sherlock Holmes style one, and a little jewellers one, but often think something hands free would be better, one that's either on a stand or wearable. Has anyone found any good types?

Here’s the one I have. Clamps to the bench and has a flip down cover to protect the lens. The bulb is actually two rows of small LED lights, circling around the lens. VERY USEFUL.

I need one of these badly. I've looked up various models, I just need to pull the trigger.

[BenelliSEI]

Today I used this MAC tool kit my son gave me. One of my wife’s broken appliances (melted wire where it joined a spade connector) was held together with Philips screws that have only THREE slots..... WTF is that all about? Looked through the box and there’s was a full set X four sizes of these weird bits!

Very handy set.

[RAFster122s]

Are those called Tri-wing, they are a security bit, designed for tamper resistance. Or job security until Harbor Freight and all the other tool places started carrying the security bits..
Before only the repairman would have those bits.

[70CB750]

Today I used this MAC tool kit my son gave me. One of my wife’s broken appliances (melted wire where, it joined a spade connector) was held together with Philips screws than have only THREE slots..... WTF is that all about? Looked through the box and there’s was a full set X four sizes of these weird bits!

Very handy set.

I have a set of torx bits with a hole in the middle.  I had to buy them for some work on Volvo.  Torx heads should not exist, imho, this was just another level of beef I have with them.   

[70CB750]

In December I spent the money and added japanese waterstone to my Tormek.  Quite amazing.  It polishes the edge of a knife/chisel/plane blade to scratchless mirror. It sharpens to level I was never able to achieve by hand - yes, I am lazy  .  I also use it to restore straight razors. 

[dave500]

i have a big glass hand held magnifying glass in the tools,bloody handy once ya get a bit older,see jets numbers or score marks etc,i also have a set of weirdo bits that fit weirdo screws that weirdos dont want you to undo,i got it free when i bought a decent multimeter years ago,been handy!also a few custom made bent/buggered and modified tools to suit certain things,im sure you can buy the real ones but wheres the fun in that?that little bent 6 side ring lets you bleed rear drums on Holdens with wide wheels without taking the wheels off,this bent 9/16 ring with the 1/2 drive socket head unlocks the dissy holding bolt on V8 Holdens with the dissy right hard against the fire wall like chevys have,these 1/2 drive sockets cut into fingers undo the clutches on a few chainsaws,too easy.

[RAFster122s]

Dave, those pins on the end of the modified sockets. Similar ones work to undo clutch pack nuts on some Honda bikes.

[dave500]

Yeah,i used to have the genuine honda tool for the xr75 oil spinner you had to remove to swap out the clutch,dont know what happened to it?it was a four fingered deep recess thing with a fixed tee bar,i still have a genuine honda fly wheel ignition puller with a left hand main thread thats also fitted yammys.

[BenelliSEI]

Dave.... I need that bleeder for the back of my FORD F350.Will make one before I crawl under there again!

[BenelliSEI]

My son spotted this at a garage sale in Toronto. No other parts, but he thought it looked familiar! Great way to drag a SOHC cb750 engine around the shop?? Sad end to a frame...... Hopefully it wasn’t a Sandcast!

[70CB750]

Picked for $10 at local Habitat for Humanity. I already own 3 planers, just couldn't leave them behind. 

[Don R]

My son spotted this at a garage sale in Toronto. No other parts, but he thought it looked familiar! Great way to drag a SOHC cb750 engine around the shop?? Sad end to a frame...... Hopefully it wasn’t a Sandcast!

 I have two of those, one attached to my engine stand and one attached to a small HF furniture dolly. Rusty, split and no title = engine holders.

[C317414]

I got tired of cheap oil drain pans, so I did a bit of research, a found this one from Matrix Concepts.  It's made from strong plastic, it holds enough for one or two oil changes, and it fits underneath most bikes.  Moreover, it's US made.

[70CB750]

I got tired of cheap oil drain pans, so I did a bit of research, a found this one from Matrix Concepts.  It's made from strong plastic, it holds enough for one or two oil changes, and it fits underneath most bikes.  Moreover, it's US made.

I like that!

I bought me a bead roller - to finally put a fender on the sidecar.  Love that thing but I am afraid I will be now looking for projects to use it on. 

[Kelly E]

I've been using the same Blitz 15qt oil drain pan for the last 20 years. Luckily the cap is the same thread as the caps on Rotella T4 oil jugs so I can replace the cap when it starts to leak.

At the moment my favorite cool tool is our 1/4" cordless DeWalt Impact driver. I've removed a bunch of stuck case cover screws with it that would have been an issue without it. 

[C317414]

Here are two tools that I rarely use, but they are invaluable when I need them:

The first one is an exhaust spring puller that came in the OEM toolkit of my 85 Husky 510.  The bike is long gone, but I continue to use the tool. The wire is made from heat-treated high strength steel, and won't bend under load.   I use it on exhaust spigot springs, as well as side and center stand springs.

The second is a ratcheting, right angle screwdriver. I've used it a number of times to loosen screws without having to completely disassemble the interfering assembly.

[BenelliSEI]

Today I used a new tool, for the first time. Found it in some junk I bought ages ago. It’s a thin, wire cable (looped end, rubber covered) that screws into an inner tube valve stem, when the valve is removed. You feed it through the rim hole first, then into the valve body. Pulling the valve through is a snap.

WHY DID I NOT BUY ONE OF THESE 50 YEARS AGO!

[newday777]

Today I used a new tool, for the first time. Found it in some junk I bought ages ago. It’s a thin, wire cable (looped end, rubber covered) that screws into an inner tube valve stem, when the valve is removed. You feed it through the rim hole first, then into the valve body. Pulling the valve through is a snap.

WHY DID I NOT BUY ONE OF THESE 50 YEARS AGO!

I remember those.