POTD- PROJECT OF THE DAY: What Did You Make In Your Shop Today?

[GoceKU]

Today i continue fixing the astra, bought a new OE water pump, it come with a paper gasket, on which i apply silicone and mounted it. That gasket looks flimsy so before i mount the alternator i fill the coolant system and of course it was leaking. Removed the pump again the gasket is thinner in one place. So i had to make a new one, i made it from kingerit and apply silicone. Mounted it waited an hour and fill the cooling system and apply pressure and left it over night to see if it will leak again, i don't want to do this again. This car is nothing but trouble, as soon as i fix it, it needs to go awey.

 

[Just for fun]

Repaired a leaky water hose and adjusted the valves.

 

[FOMOGO]

I've replaced probably a dozen valve stems since I got my machines a few years back. The Chinese don't seem to be able to make decent rubber, or vinyl products. Got the last one's from Discount tire, and so far so good. Mike

Changing the tires wasn't hard i did have an issue with one valve stem, it was dryroded cut it off clean the surround pop a new one mounted the tire started to air it and it leaks, it has a defect in the rubber when it was molded. Defeated the tire broke the bead cut that one pull thru a new one that one the threads stripped, new valve stems are made from aluminium just painted gold to look like brass. Cut that one also installed a 3 rd valve steam and finished the job, thankfully all the tires hold air and mounted well. All the tires i moaned come second hand, i'm interested have you had issues with standard rubber tire valves, around here i can't find good quality ones, even the germany marked ones are made from aluminium ir zink just painted and fail on mouting.

 

[GoceKU]

Over here i don't have much choice, i've used screw and nut type of valve stems made from aluminium, brass and stainless. They are better but very expensive the rubber ones quality is garbage, i'll keep looking but in 3 places all the same china valves.

 

[pontiac428]

What, me worry?

 

[finsruskw]

Whatever happened to Al anyway?
Is he still around??

 

[GoceKU]

With the issues i had yesterday with the cheap china tire valves, i contacted couple of places that sell tire supplies and found a place that has good quality brass valves, tire patched, tire lube. It is in neighboring city skopje, so after work headed there. Tire lube was 12-20$ can, vulcanizing cement 8-20$ a can, tire patches 0.2-50$ dependent on the size, rubber tire valves 0,25$ a pice, up to 20$ for the aluminium ones. I did buy normal and extra long tire valves and couple of tire patches. That place is not to hard to get to so i can buy staff as i need them.

 

[FOMOGO]

Still testing positive for covid, but feeling alright. Been doing small jobs in the shop. Mostly cleaning up and organizing, set up a table in the back of the welding shop for cutting material, cleared off the welding table, and put 4 new guide bearings on the big saw, and cleaned and repacked the other six. Cuts nice and true now. Glued up one of the plastic wheels for the lift arms that allow the four post car lift to be moved around. It fell off of one of the ramps on the raised lift, and broke into 7 pieces. Used a Loctite product that is the only thing that I've found that works well on most plastics. Repaired a come-along that came out of my dad's shop, and a few other small repairs that have been waiting for me to get to them. Mike

 

[GoceKU]

Today was a hard and disappointing day in the big garage. I changed the alternator and water pump this time the cooling system hold, started the car and expected the new alternator to work. But no such luck, it not charging at all. Call the place that sold the alternator they said they'll send their tow truck to pick it and they'll change it. To be honest they sounded very vague, let's see if they keep there word.

 

[dkemppai]

So, I've been pondering not having a nice precision square. Been looking at various place for good granite 12x18x3 squares or similar, etc. (Anyone have one they don't need, let me know!)

Then it dawned on me, a cylinder square could work also, at least as a start. Then I remembered I have some precision hardened ground pins of various sizes I picked up as scrap. (I picked them up for pushers and blocking for the hyd press...)


Just checked them, they're all parallel to around 20 millionths along the length, and appear to be just as round! Stood one up, and checked it, it's out of square by about .002". So, I guess when I get some free time I'll have to start grinding and lapping them in. That shouldn't be too hard. It's basic grind, test, etc.

Yes, the big one is big. 10" by almost 4-3/4" dia, Probably nearly 50lbs.

As is, I can mark the zero line, and use them! Precision reference problem solved!


No dollars were harmed during this process! lol