Imagine my luck to find a $170. unit on sale for $40. complete with case and a few bits. It is 1/2" drive and can torque up to 220 ft lbs. That's my manual collapsible T-bar spanner on the right.
Just in time too as we are starting to get frost in the mornings and I have to scrape my windows before I leave for work
I usually change over my tires on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend but I was talked out of it, and it was such a nice day that we decided to drive our "Vette and go for a ride. That was two weeks ago.
So it waas last Saturday that my project for the day was to change my tires but first I had to dig them out of our basement and pump up the tires. It is so much more convenient to have your own compressor and not have to ride over to the gas station. Did you know that air is not FREE anymore. Most stations up here now charge for AIR
I also wanted to upgrade my hydraulic jack and get a lightweight aluminum one but I am waiting for them to come down in price. I have been waiting for several years now and still they are above my threshold. What a breeze it is to use my new electric impact wrench. The nuts come out with hardly any effort at all. It was such a chore to manually remove them manually with my T-bar
The rear wheels come off easily but the front wheels are sort of baked on, I suppose because of the heat generated by the disc brakes. Last year I used a rubber mallet on the inside of the tire and broke the bead which caused the tire to leak air. I had to go to my tire dealer and have him remove the tire and remount it again to get the bead to seal. What a pain, so this year I decided to just hold the sides and shake it loose from the hub
After I tightened the studs with my new electric impact wrench I decided to make sure they were on tight enough, so I used my T-bar to loosen and retighten as I tighten them by "feel" and years of experience
Now I had to put stickers on to mark where they were mounted. Not that this matters at all because these tires are "directional" and the direction of rotation is marked on the tire so it is easy to determine which side they belong to. These are summer only performance tires and not really that suitable for winter use, esp when the temperatures go below 7°c
During the past couple of weeks I have been gaining about a pound a week and when David was here all we did was eat.
After I came back from my Continental tour this summer I was delighted to find that I had lost nearly 9 lbs and I was determined to keep most of it off. Then I gained nearly all of it back again so last week I started to bring salad to work and so far I have lost about 5 lbs and I only have a few to go
I usually just eat lunch at my desk and surf the net. Today I had Yogurt for dessert
It's nearly Hallowe'en and our new Grand daughter is nearly 2 months old
and she already modeling her costume
She's beautiful Grandpa Bob!
ReplyDeleteNikos:
DeleteThank you. She's still in the sleep, cry and eat mode
Cute pic of the grand-daughter Bob! But, she's all skin and bones, must feed her more! ;)
ReplyDeleteNice job scoring that impact wrench, can you set a specific torque setting when tightening so you don't overtighten a fastener? I use a torque wrench as final check, to ensure the lug nuts are on at specified torque values. That's on the Beemer and Bimmer of course, on the URAL...not so much.
Dom:
DeleteYep, skin and bones but she has gained a lot of weight since she was born
The expensive ones have a "torque setting" ring. My drill has one. This electric impact wrench doesn't. I stop tightening after the first "click" or so. I think you can continue to tighten and it will "click" more times for higher torque. I checked one nut on each wheel with my T-bar and loosened it to see how tight it was, and then I hand tightened and checked all the other bolts. This impact wrench seemed to work perfectly so for now I am happy. For $40. )plus taxes) it was a screaming deal. I can always buy a better one when this breaks.
We do have a torque wrench one of those that have the ring adjustment. I think it is 3/8" drive. I also ordered one of those digital adapters which turn any wrench into a torque wrench. Haven't got it yet
Great score! Having good tools really makes most jobs a lot more pleasant to deal with.
ReplyDeleteLucky:
DeleteEven though I am not a mechanic, I love tools. There's some neat stuff coming out now. I have a wrench with a built-in telescopic extension handle. I also have a sort of crescent wrench with a slider adjustment, rather than that little wheel and it is very easy to set.
I don't need anymore socket sets but I nearly bought a black chrome Stanley last week which was on sale for $250. off MSRP for $90.
Good score on the wrench Bob. Makes that job a little easier on your.
ReplyDeleteAnd the weight gain and loss is all transitory fat so it comes and goes really easy. Most people fluctuate 3-5 lbs or more depending on the day or week.
Cute picture of your granddaughter. Aren't we all in a cry, eat, sleep stage? Well more like, laugh, eat, sleep I guess.
Trobairitz:
DeleteIt was a chore to remove and fasten those nuts, by hand. Now this will make the job easier. I may buy a scissor jack and use this wrench to wind it up and down. This will also make things easier.
I need to get rid of a few more lbs., then I will be happy.
I think we all: eat, sleep & work. Soon it may be: eat, sleep & ride
Tool porn. Love it!
ReplyDeleteCanajun:
DeleteIt's nice to spend an hour or so in the tool department of a large store to see what they have. You don't always need the best. Depends upon how much you are going to use it whether you get a more expensive one, or not
Nice picture of your granddaughter. You probably always want to torque the lug nuts to prevent the disc from warping. After running the lug nuts on, don't use the impact wrench to completely tighten the lug nuts. Alternatively, get the short extension designed to absorb the impact once the desired torque is reached. This is what the tire shops normally use. I've never seen them sold individually but as a set.
ReplyDeleteRichard:
DeleteThat's what I did. I tightened to the first click or so, then I manually loosened and then tightened to what I usually do. Then I went and checked each one the same way. It was still easier to use the impact wrench, rather than doing the whole job by hand
My friend has an air tool, impact wrench and he does the same. Puts on the bolts with the wrench, then torques each one manually with a torque wrench. Of course, removing the bolts is now much faster. I can hear the impact wrench "hammering" then the nut comes off fast
Bob - the granddaughter is gorgeous! What a cutie patootie! Your salad looks yummy, I think I am going to have to start bringing yummy looking salads to work too, I get in the rut of just eating left overs and there has not been too much inspiring lunching going on for me. Winter tires, I haven't even thought of those yet other than to park the bike and take the cage to work, which I have to say I am kind of enjoying not being cold and soggy when I get to work or having to get ready at work either.
ReplyDeleteDar:
DeleteThe only way I can lose weight is to eat Salad. There is so little meat in them that they are nearly vegan. We have gone several days now with lunch and dinner being mostly salad so tonight we are deviating . . .
The worst was when I was taking leftovers to work. My lunch was nearly as large as dinner so I had to stop.
This year I was trying to reduce my insurance costs so insurance on both bikes have expired and I have storage insurance coverage which is nearly $1,000. with my bikes parked. This will be the first winter where I won't have a bike insured but I saw a few bikes last weekend and was dreaming of riding . . .
There's nothing wrong with driving your car and being warm and not have to gear up, plus you can also listen to your radio
Too sweet and totally unaware that Gramps is spending her inheritance on tools!
ReplyDeleteKaren:
Deleteshe's safe, I don't buy that many tools but Cameras & computers are a different matter
Tools are an investment! Cameras and computers, less so...
DeleteRichard:
DeleteYou would be wrong. There's nothing wrong in learning. Self taught education is what I have always done since I started developing and printing photos. Trial and error to learn what I know. Putting my learning into practice, using my camera and then trying to muddle my way through photo editing. It took a while to figure out ICC profiles using my Pro printer.
True that disposable assets such as electronics and digital equipment are outdated and thus not worth much after a short time and tools will outlive our existence but I am having more fun with cameras/computers than tools.
this is also true for cars and motorcycles which depreciate and we replace them before they have outlived their useful lives. I mean why do we upgrade when they still work, I guess I have always kept abreast of technology. Safer brakes, better tires, newer is more reliable, warranty . . . many reasons to buy something newer. Plus the next bike may be my last . . .
I am investing in myself. Our time is not infinite but we never know how long we have and this bothers me . . .
Oh she's a beauty Bob!! Such a pretty baby!
ReplyDeleteI used to love to buy tools, but now that I don't have a place, and no place to keep them, I'm not so interested any more.
But it looks like fun!
Smooches,
Sash
www.SashMouth.com
Tina:
DeleteAs you age you realize that a bit of automation makes things easier. When I was young we never had a washing machine. I had to wash my own clothes by hand using a washboard, and then hang them outside to dry. I used to have to beat our rugs outside against a pole or hang on a clothes line. Then we got a wringer washer. I caught my arm in the rollers once and boy, was it strong. We could do things the old way or we can now buy a washing machine and dryer.
Our neighbour next door had an ice box and every week an ice truck would come and the iceman would use the ice clamps and deliver a big block of ice. We were lucky and had one of those refrigerators with the coil on top and we always called it the "ice box".
anyways, tools or appliances make for an easier life
Bob - I know what you mean about dreaming of riding, I have been watching people zip by on their bikes and I feel a little wistfulness and wish I was out, particularly these last 2 days which were sunny and beautiful. Today though it is cold and grey and I was happy as a clam in my warm little cage.
ReplyDeleteDar:
DeleteYou don't know how many times this week I was thinking of getting some short term insurance for my Vstrom. How many times have you been driving and then automatically give the rider's wave to a bike going by ? I have been getting a few funny looks
Tools mean we have to do jobs instead of palming them off on some other poor sod. A Mixed Blessing. On the preparations for winter front (not the salad front) I get so confused this time of year. Everyone keeps nagging on about leaves changing color and the joy of jobs required by the of change of season then simultaneously moaning about the weather and the cold and stuff. 85/30 every day suits me fine.
ReplyDeleteMr Conchscooter:
DeleteHaving a colder winter season makes you appreciate the summers more. I am not a winter person, perhaps if you like to ski or build snowman then it would be different. KW is sort of like Hawai'i in having consistent weather all year around and it is cheaper for us to get there, rather than KW
Tools and Grandchildren. You can't go wrong with either one. Enjoy that little girl today, there will be time for tools later!
ReplyDeleteNew toys are fun and HEY... looks like you have tennis shoes on! What a cutie lucky Granddad!
ReplyDelete