19 replies to this topic

[beardylondon]

I ordered the red handled tool and the clips and fitted today, all went on fine, apart from the tool didn't cut properly, theres a fault with it, the gap is to big, so it just bends it even further, had to unfurl, keeping it tight and cut it with tin snips and secure. anyway at least I have properly secured CV boots now!

[mini-mad-mark]

About 10BC (yes, Before Cable ties) we used galvanised fencing wire. You could get a really snug fit by twisting the ends together with pliers. Fold the end with the usual shaft rotation so if it pokes up it will get knocked back against the joint.

When I was a kid (long time ago) my Dad had mini vans most of the time and he taught me a lot of what I think is called "bush mechanics" (plus a lot of what I know about minis now)

One of which was the use of wire to hold on gaiters. Usually he used copper wire - the earth wire from twin and earth mains cable - he used to get second hand gaiters from the scrap yard - we must have been poor but I didn't realise then...

 

On a different subject (but still on bush mechanics) I saw something on here about ball joint splitters - my old man didn't have one (and perhaps couldn't afford to buy one I now realise) but he used to split hub ball joints by holding a lump hammer one side of the arm and hitting the other (hard!) with another hammer to shock it out.

 

Flywheel removal to change clutch - remove starter motor and knock the f@ck out of it through the clutch housing with a lump hammer or a half sledge until it came off !!! rotating a quarter turn after each 5 or 6 blows - again guess he didn't have/couldn't afford a puller

 

I was 8 or 9 years old so didn't know better - I was chief spanner passer - so soon learned what a 9/16 AF was although it was not until I started working in Engineering that I really learnt what AF meant

 

I remember he had a HGF and when he took the head off the block was cracked between 2 and 3. He got some "Chemical Metal" (think it was a brand name from the same company as "Plastic Padding")  he filled the block, put the head back on and tightened the middle studs more than "normal" (no torque wrench obviously so who knows what normal was)  

 

He was a wizard with pop rivets and plastic padding (or P38/Davids Isopon - hey where did I drag that up from?) to "repair" rust

 

I helped him build a Mini Scamp when I was 16 or 17 (he was fed up with rusty vans)  and I had to sell it when he died (idiot - but I had nowhere to keep it! and can't remember the reg to try and find it) He bought me my first mini for my 21st birthday (OBM841P if anyone can help find that)   

 

I was 22 when he died aged 47 - I miss him a lot; he might have enjoyed helping me to play around with my current fleet although he would be 80 now so maybe not. Its partly his fault I am into minis I suppose    

 

Just a ramble of my misspent childhood 

[GraemeC]

Glad you’ve got the clips on.
For next time, before you try to cut the excess off, use the tool to bend the strap over first. It should then hold itself tight whilst you deal with cutting, unfurling or whatever.

[beardylondon]

I bent it way over, would not cut, tool is defective for sure.

 

Glad you’ve got the clips on.
For next time, before you try to cut the excess off, use the tool to bend the strap over first. It should then hold itself tight whilst you deal with cutting, unfurling or whatever.

[imack]

I ordered the red handled tool and the clips and fitted today, all went on fine, apart from the tool didn't cut properly, theres a fault with it, the gap is to big, so it just bends it even further, had to unfurl, keeping it tight and cut it with tin snips and secure. anyway at least I have properly secured CV boots now!

Disappointing that it doesn't cut properly.
I used mine today on the inner boots of my hardy spicer drive shafts when I replaced the universal joints, it makes a pretty neat job of it.

Attached Files

•  20190504_120200_resized.jpg   79.97K   2 downloads