sensei

Every kit or scratch builder has tools they have devised and created and general building tricks they have learned along the road of hard knocks, so the question is, do you care to share with us what you consider your best ideas for fun and knowledge?

Bob

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Sure but I have never had an original idea in my head. I just made up a tool for holding down the valve springs on four strokes from some 4-40 piano wire, Think of a set of tweezers with the ends facing in then grinding the two ends flat. I just clamped onto the spring on two sides and squeeze the tool in and pushed down. The spring was compressed and I was able to get the two little spring keepers back in without having them take flight. When I do a valve job I also do it in a tupper ware clear plastic tub with holes in the side for my hands so I can see what I'm doing and if the parts get away from me they are still in the tub. I have a white towel inside the tub so the parts don't go far.Holding the valve closed with a wooden dowel is the toughest part.
I got the original idea on the YS forum and just made the tool a bit different then was described.
Don't get me wrong though because it still wasn't easy but it worked. I'm still not looking forward to the next valve job.
I also have tools I made to remove cam bearings but I got that idea from an old YS four stroke book.
I get a lot of ideas for tools from old books and magazines that were published back in the days when people did all there own work.

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

I post any and all of my nifty little tricks in my build threads. When i was young in the hobby i had allot of older mentors to show me how to do things, so i try and follow in their foot steps by doing the same.

tacx

My Feedback: (1)

I found a handy method to hold down the valve springs while inserting the tiny retainer clips. I use a small box end wrench that has the opening just large enough to fit onto the spring hold down washer. With this I can hold the spring and washer down with one hand and not worry that the spring and washer can slip out.