Technical Little tips and tricks for garage hobbyists.

Trying to get an idea on what the valve spring retainer to locator height is, and couldn't get vernier or calipers in due to the deep cut pocket and valve cover rail. Took a short piece of 5/16 brake line and ran 1/4-20 tap in it. Then inserted short length of threaded rod inside. Was able to fit it in between retainer and locator, and secure at proper length. Took it out, and measured with vernier. Tried a couple of times, and was getting the same number, so pretty confident. Although, I'll get someone to double check, with proper equipment, maybe.

 

Inside micrometer or telescoping gauge and regular mics?

 

That's the thing, I don't have those. Going to get someone that has them to come by, but came up with this in the meantime.
Have an inside mic, but wrong range, so would need a block to get it to right height for measuring. I wouldn't try this for checking bearing clearances.

 

Hundreds of telescoping gauges on ebay. New or used, American or yangoleese, sets and singles. 15 to 40 bucks. Probably take a couple days to get 'em.

 

On the list of want-to-have, just wanted a quick measurement this afternoon. Going to check around locally, to see who has what in meantime.

 

You needed a measurement and what you got is plenty close enough for those valve springs, unless of course you build NASCAR engines. I think you used your ingenuity and it served you well.

 

Agreed.

 

I like your ingenuity, and feel your pain.

About a year back I had to make the same measurement on a I6 GM Holden head. It's a local aftermarket Repco head, uses Vincent motorcycle valves. They only made 200 or so of them, and info is scarce. It has been abused in speedway, so lots of measurement needed before getting it milled back to plumb. Aim was to get roller rockers made up, and will run very close to coil bind so measurement needed to be pretty accurate. I tried verniers, but same problem of not being able to get the angle right due to pocket depth.

I hunted for a long time on Google to find a telescoping thimble-type gauge. I could get gauges a little too big, and a little too small. Finally found one for O/T Honda 4-banger B engines that would measure the range I wanted. Sold a kidney, and got it imported from the US. Wrong part got sent, so waited again for the right one to turn up.

It's a nice tool, and I was feeling proud of myself for doing the right thing. Measured one side OK (inlet or exhaust, I can't remember which), but not the other side. The tool was tool was too long, even when fully retracted. I could get the retainer on, but could not quite get the collets in place. So, so close.

Gave up in disgust, and paid a local machine shop to do the measuring. Wish I had of thought of threading a piece of brake line.

Cheers,
Harv

 

In that same vein, worked with an old-timer who did the engine machining. Short section of thin wall tubing, roughly the diameter of the spring. Had a notch in each side of the top about a 16th inch down.
When doing a valve job on Ford V8s with non adjustable valvetrain, valve height was critical. Top was max, notch was minimum. You could slip the valve in, quickly check the valve tip height and grind as needed. Cost was some tubing and 5 minutes with a caliper and file.

 

I wasn't trying to belittle the brake line idea, just pointing out that there are inexpensive alternatives. I have done something similar using a piece of threaded rod and a coupling nut to measure between the side plate and brake rotor on a Quickchange. Checking in a couple of positions, you can tell if the axle tube is bent.

 

I have set the “toe in” on many straight axles using a piece of chalk and an old curtain rod . Works really well and easy take your time measure a couple times and lock it down .

 

Saw this on Facebook and had to share.

 

THAT is delightful!

 

@BJR That would work great when trying to repair a line while still on vehicle. Which happens often enough here in rust area. Thanks for posting.

 

That is genius!

 

Yeah, I had a trans cooler line that someone before me cut. It would pop off hoses. I had to use a flaring tool to deform the end enough to provide a bulge, but that is neato!

 

@RodStRace , that's what I usually do, is start a double flare to get a bubble, and its' good. But, often when it's still in the car, you don't have room to get a flaring bar and tool in there. I like this, need to look for some small balls!

 

Remove chairs and the beer fridge and TV if you have one.
Stops the loafers from hanging around and slowing down your work.
Once I did that the amount of work I could get done doubled.

 

According to my wife, I have small balls. I wanna know how she knows!

 

Bicycle wheel bearings have pretty small balls.

 

One is the size of a mustard seed and the other one is a little bitty thing.

 

This is a great tool , question what holds the ball from being lost in the tube ? Just be careful. It create a real issue unless I’m missing the good parts

 

i don't know if bandit billy is WILLING to donate his to the cause!

 

I'm thinking that they would have to be 1/2 the diameter of whatever bolt/mandrel you are using for the tubing. That way the 2 of them would recess back in to the hole, and only come out to form bead, when you screw in the top push bolt. The snugger the fit, the less likely they would have the clearance to slip out of tool.

 

Amazon has balls. I just searched 1/16th ball bearing and got 166 results.

 

Just looked myself, there are even vendors that sell ***orted size packs, so one could make for all different size tubes.

 

The ball-bearing type flaring tools are available commercially:
Proflow Tube Beading Tool For 1/2in. Tube PFEBEAD12 | eBay
I tried one a few years back, and it came apart pretty quickly. Could be that the steel used for the bolts was soft, and wore around the forming balls. Mebbe flared 2 tubes before it would no longer retain the forming balls tight enough.

I would love one of the Parker aviation beading tools, but they are as rare as rocking horse poo. I finally ponied up for a pair of Graham beading tools. Same design as the Parker, but only had to sell one kidney instead of two.
Tube Beading Tools — Graham Tool Company, Inc. | Tube beading tools for professionals | At-home dental aligners, retainers, tongue thrust

Cheers,
Harv

 

I'm glad there are precision tools like that out there, but OMG they are valuable!
70 bucks for a hammer handle!?!

 

Special Pentagon pricing!

 

I just saw this on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/reel/1017616770271103