A pocket knife. Aka, screwdriver, scraper, prying mechanism, wedge, awl, ruler, oh and cutting instrument.
One tool every gearhead should have and why
- Thread starter harrisonm
- Start date
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Its a rare use tool, but a borescope has recently saved me a lot of work when 6 gm injectors fell apart during removal.
I second the power probe,and a circuit tracer to go with it. Together there isnt an open or short circuit you cant find.
I have had a multi-tool on my belt for 20 years. Make sure it has a file,had to cut a padlock off,it saved a 50 mile trip to get bolt cutters.
I second the power probe,and a circuit tracer to go with it. Together there isnt an open or short circuit you cant find.
I have had a multi-tool on my belt for 20 years. Make sure it has a file,had to cut a padlock off,it saved a 50 mile trip to get bolt cutters.
A factory service manual.
Unconventional
Well-Known Member
Swiss army knife .. Or reasonable facsimile thereof .. A 60s vintage USMC pocket knife has served me well .. Gotta love those Marines 
A can of rust buster to get your nuts loose. WD -40 doesn't really work to loosen my nuts.
Inertia
Well-Known Member
stethoscope, to pinpoint noise, and save hours guessing and searching. less than $20..
A good professional brand double flaring tool...
Unconventional
Well-Known Member
I read an interesting history of WD-40 .. Intended for US military applications .. It was mostly fish oil in it's original form .. Wartime it was and petroleum had more important uses .. Water Displacer Formula 40 was it's designation
Imperial Eastman
Unconventional
Well-Known Member
Wobble extensions .. Wobble sockets and U Joints always had just too much wobble for my tastes
jos51700
Green Bearing thread connoisseur
Bastard, beat me to it.
I'll never forget how I got my first job working on Harleys. I stopped and asked the Big Smelly Biker (complete with full length beard no hipster would touch) if they were hiring mechanics.
Service manager looked me up n down, and asked "if you had a 1/4-20 bolt threaded into aluminum, how tight would you tighten it?"
I had no idea.
So I said, I dunno..... thirty foot pounds?
but I would prefer to look it up in the service manual first....
He smiled and said, "I think we can find a home for you here"
I have the thermal imager and the bore scope for my cell phone. Handy as hell.
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dano
Evil Handy Man
Vacuum Gauge.
diymirage
HP@idle > hondaHP@redline
I just bought another one. I remembered that I gave my last one to a friend.
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
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A 3/8 fine-tooth ratchet with,in addition to doing it's normal function, you can twist/spin/rotate the shank when the ratchet is in a tight space and you can't use it in the normal way. I got one as a gift and now use it almost exclusively; I put that 'chet on everything.
A good air hammer NOT A MUFFLER GUN that snap-on sells as the best, I mean a air riveter the air craft style one CP4444 or 4X or CP714 all the same. They can be used for everything.
Nudie calendar
I just use a paper towel, if I notice I'm bleeding.
Moparman1806
Well-Known Member
It was supposed to be funny. When I cut myself to the point of needing them, it's usually a trip to the ER
harrisonm
Well-Known Member
I like the way you think. Before I retired, I used to wait until about 5:00 to have my favorite Adult Beverage (Rum and Coke). Now I don't care. I figure it's 5:00 somewhere.
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