Home-made tools

[RichardL]

Two things I wanted to do:
1. Surface grind my Ariel hub sprocket so it would be in balance. It was too thick for about 120 deg of arc. (Operation was successful. Balance now very close.)
2. Cleanup my Ariel hub with a turned finish look. (Photo shows partly done.)

Both of these needed a lathe, which I do not own. Wish I had named my daughter "Necessity" so I could hope for a grandson named "Invention."

Here are video Parts 1&2 for item #1, above.

https://youtu.be/ULWXOq2UegM
https://youtu.be/7v4jJ-DgU-I

Here is the video for item #2, above.

https://youtu.be/O9Ja9jETRuc

Photos show sprocket waiting for paint, the hub on its way to being done, and the hub turning motor.

Hope you find this amusing.

Richard L.

[Greybeard]

Brilliant!

Are you aware of the artist Heath Robinson?
In the UK, we might describe your setup as 'Heath Robinson'

[Minto]

Fair play Richard, good work. Though I'd definitely be wearing some heavy duty armoured gloves if Id got my fingers near it.
Jase

[berger]

greybeard, exactly what my mate said when he looked at the screwdriver thing i made to try and adjust the yonda carb screws, "Heath Robinson" the lawn mower carb filter foam holds the brandy cork thing up into the slots on the screws, it sort of worked but you get burnt hands on the engine because space is very very limited ,so a special tool musky told me about has now been ordered. i'm glad i saved the cork though it gave us a laugh.

[RichardL]

Something tells me those carb screws might be difficult to access.

Richard L

[berger]

richard your methods are amazing, i think you should invest in a lathe they are very useful even if your not a real latherer like me. i was worried about it grabbing and taking your thumb.  as for room under the yonda carbs there isn't much at all, hence a special tool that is long and has a bend at the bit end and you operate from the  other end. musky has put me on the right path with getting one so i can hopefully get the yonda sorted.

[RichardL]

Berger,

I suppose my lackadaisical reckless approach to hand protection reflects a bit of my dad in me. He was an electrician who often tested for hot power by flicking fingers across wires or terminals. My rigs for these tasks would fit his style. When I mention my dad I like to proudly throw in that he was a submariner in the '20s who served on Submarine S4. That sub is worth a Google.

Richard L.

[Greybeard]

....my dad...was a submariner in the '20s who served on Submarine S4. That sub is worth a Google.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_S-4_(SS-109)

[RichardL]

Neil,

Thanks for posting the link. I was trying not to go overboard (uhh, accidentally, a nautical term) by pushing this topic to be too much about my dad, but I really appreciate your recognition of the story. Your link didn't work for me, so anyone interested might do better just Googling the sub number.

Richard L.

Edit: For the obvious record, he left the boat before the story ensued.

[BigJim]

Top notch stuff Richard. Great efforts at improving your parts with minimum expense. Always enjoy your videos with entertaining commentaries. Keep it up. I do have a mini grinder but it probably best if i stick with my vice and big hammer!
 

[RoyC]

....my dad...was a submariner in the '20s who served on Submarine S4. That sub is worth a Google.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_S-4_(SS-109)

http://pigboats.com/subs/jim-s4.html

[Colsbeeza]

That is a great story of the S-4 Richard.
And I chuckled at your Heath Robinson invention. Very much outside the square.
Col

[RichardL]

That is a great story of the S-4 Richard.
And I chuckled at your Heath Robinson invention. Very much outside the square.
Col

Thanks, CB. My dad left the boat shortly before the incident. Having lost all his best friends affected him for the rest of his 92 years.

Back to topic, he actually had a lathe in his garage, but my mom cleared it out after he passed and while I was not around to glom it. A missed opportunity that still affects me.

Richard L.

[chaterlea25]

Hi All,
Getting back to home made tools here are two I recently made

First of all I will not use wire circlip's with "ears" as they tend to be easily dislodged, plain wire clips should be used with gudgeon pins with a small chamfer at the ends, if the pin slides over to the clip the chamfer will push the clips harder into the groove, circlips with "ears" prevent this ,
On a recent build the wire clips supplied were really stiff and after retrieving them from the furthest corner a few times I made this gadget,
The circlip is pushed into the sleeve at 90 degrees then turned  to compress fully (some will need a mm trimmed from one end to prevent butting up)
The tapered end  of the sleeve is placed carefully up against the pin hole in the piston and the "pusher" gets a confident push, with a bit of luck the clip will pop straight into the pistons groove   

John

[chaterlea25]

part 2

The next gadget is for testing the pressure relief valves
A piece of alloy from the odds box is drilled from one end and threaded to accept the PRV
The opposite end is drilled through and the valve from an old inner tube fitted through with a rubber washer and nut on the outside.. a hole is drilled  to intercept the gap between the threaded sections of the prv to allow the leak off from  the PRV
I connect the tyre inflater to the valve with the pressure regulator turned all the way down then increase the pressure with the regulator until the PRV opens (farting sound) reading the pressure on the airline gauge 


John