Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

This is the place for posts that don't fit into any other category.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25365
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4888

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by myglaren »

Found the Citroen specific one, used on the GS rear hub nuts.
Was ineffective as the nuts are , it the words of Sir Jim, Biblically Tight.
Discovered the official method was to smash them off with a cold chisel and fit new C-nuts and hex nuts and wind them up as tight as possible with the tube spanner - or a socket that I couldn't afford at the time.

Other one and key fob for scale, although some of my dad's tools would dwarf it.
AA280023.JPG
User avatar
NewcastleFalcon
Posts: 24563
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 6866

Re: Taps and Dies

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

NewcastleFalcon wrote: 27 Aug 2019, 18:38 I need an M10x1

Put me onto "Tracy Tools" from Devon, and reckoned I would only need a cheaper one at around £5 for my purpose, and they were excellent at shipping and would sell the taps singly. l
Tracy Tools come up with the goods next day, within 24 hours of ordering....first class literally.
nf own work
nf own work
Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25365
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4888

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by myglaren »

Not an improvised tool as such.
I was just reading a little about Linda Ronstadt - her whole Wiki page is far too long to read in its entirety and I have difficulty listening and reading but did spot this snippet:
Her mother Ruth Mary, of German, English, and Dutch ancestry, was raised in Flint, Michigan. She was a daughter of Lloyd Groff Copeman, a prolific inventor and holder of many patents. Copeman, with nearly 700 patents to his name, invented an early form of the toaster, many refrigerator devices, the grease gun, the first electric stove, and an early form of the microwave oven. His flexible rubber ice cube tray earned him millions of dollars in royalties
I may have his original here - gave the modern one away as I will never use it.
User avatar
NewcastleFalcon
Posts: 24563
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 6866

Disc Removal for the desperate.....

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Step 1 Cut two slots with an angle grinder
Step 1 Cut two slots with an angle grinder
Step 2.  Wedge a screwdriver/cold chisel in the top slot and hit with a hammer
Step 2. Wedge a screwdriver/cold chisel in the top slot and hit with a hammer
Worked yet again for me today

Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
Hell Razor5543
Donor 2023
Posts: 13727
Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
Location: Reading
My Cars: C5 Mk2 VTX+ estate.
x 2993

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

A trick I have been told (for driven disks) is to undo all of the bolts (so the only thing holding the disk in place is rust), start the engine, put the car in gear (first), and then hit the footbrake. The shearing action should break one of the disks free. Put the car in neutral and turn the engine off. Secure the loosened disk (with the wheel bolts), start the engine again, put her into reverse, and repeat. It should break the other disk loose. This cannot work on disks that are on 'free' wheels.

Obviously the car has to be properly supported, and when the disks come loose it can make a bit of a pop. I have NOT tried this for myself, but I have not (as yet) encountered disks that are so securely rusted in place. When I have changed brake disks I had smeared copper slip grease onto the wheel hub before fitting the disk, so that it should not rust hard into place.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
User avatar
white exec
Moderating Team
Posts: 7445
Joined: 21 Dec 2015, 12:46
Location: Sayalonga, Malaga, Spain
My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by white exec »

Some discs (and drums) also have a couple of threaded holes between the main studs/bolt-holes, into which bolts can be inserted, and tightened down, thus pushing the disc/drum away from the hub. If this doesn't make it pop off, with the bolts well tightened down, clout the disc/drum with a lump hammer, and the impact should spring the disc/drum off.

The same threaded holes can be used to squirt some WD/PlusGas into the rusty gap between disc/drum and hub.
Chris
User avatar
NewcastleFalcon
Posts: 24563
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 6866

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

A little gem from Peter originally posted up on POTD.
Peter.N. wrote: 23 Sep 2019, 18:13 Image

This is my state of the art high tech tracking tool, been using it for 30 years +, good every time. 8-)

Peter
and here's a bit of tool improvisation from me.
Bit of creativity to get this out. Hex none existant so its Mole Grips. No decent bench or vice and some torque required to remove from its rusty hole so out come the socket set extension bars...3 of them joined together, poked up the Hole of the sawn off exhaust pipe to brace the force of the mole grips, and the centre tube of an axle stand over the handle of the mole grips for leverage. Worked.
NF Own Work
NF Own Work
Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
doctle
Posts: 947
Joined: 16 Oct 2014, 12:17
Location: Meath Ireland
My Cars: 2008 Laguna 1.5 DCi
x 235

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by doctle »

Can anyone work out what this homemade tool is for?
Attachments
IMG_20190924_212739.jpg
IMG_20190924_212730.jpg
Oh buggle
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Donor 2024
Posts: 13523
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
Location: Hertford
My Cars: 70+ former cars (list available) including 11 Citroens, 3 Renaults
Current cars: 2004 Subaru Legacy 2.5 SEn, 1994 Mazda MX3
x 6011

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by mickthemaverick »

Maybe for lining up capping on the top of a wall? :) Place longer leg against wall face with shorter leg level with capping and then position cap against shorter leg? :-D
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
doctle
Posts: 947
Joined: 16 Oct 2014, 12:17
Location: Meath Ireland
My Cars: 2008 Laguna 1.5 DCi
x 235

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by doctle »

Its for pressing in the back axle bushing on a Mk3 vw golf. Nasty little bugger to get in. Needs must when the devil fits a bush on a Saturday evening without the proper tools
Attachments
g3bush.jpg
Oh buggle
doctle
Posts: 947
Joined: 16 Oct 2014, 12:17
Location: Meath Ireland
My Cars: 2008 Laguna 1.5 DCi
x 235

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by doctle »

mickthemaverick wrote: 24 Sep 2019, 21:39 Maybe for lining up capping on the top of a wall? :) Place longer leg against wall face with shorter leg level with capping and then position cap against shorter leg? :-D
Ingenious suggestion!
Oh buggle
User avatar
NewcastleFalcon
Posts: 24563
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 6866

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

The end product to post number one on this thread.
A timing belt tensioner tool for a 2.0Hdi
nf own work
nf own work
regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
User avatar
NewcastleFalcon
Posts: 24563
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 10:40
Location:
My Cars:
x 6866

Shear Head Bolts

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Any accumulated wisdom or top tips on removing shear head bolts?

This type of thing, which you will come across should you ever wish to remove an ignition barrel from the steering column (for a legitimate purpose of course!) like renewing the ignition switch which has nigh on impossible access problems to the screws retaining it without removing the barrel.

They are purposely designed so that the Cutting a "slot in the top" and using a screwdriver is hampered in that they are recessed just enough to make grinding with a dremmel likely to slice into the steering column at the same time

Image

Regards Neil



Regards Neil
Only One AA Box left
687 Trinity, Jersey
User avatar
bobins
Donor 2023
Posts: 5697
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
Location: Midhurst, West Sussex
My Cars: Kia Sportage
Mazda BT-50
Land Rover SIII SWB
V-F-R800
SL320
MX5
x 2871

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by bobins »

If the head has already broken off, then you could try roughening up the remaining 'head' and bond something onto it (JB Weld ??) so you can undo it and just pray that it wasn't done up too tight in the first place.
Sadly no longer a C5 owner :(
doctle
Posts: 947
Joined: 16 Oct 2014, 12:17
Location: Meath Ireland
My Cars: 2008 Laguna 1.5 DCi
x 235

Re: Toolbag Tales-Homemade and improvised tools

Post by doctle »

A nut in the earth clamp of a welder then put a spot weld inside the nut. They aren't very tight disconnect the battery before welding
Oh buggle
Post Reply