MacGyver tool builders?

[gggGary]

There have to be a few more like me in here. Faced with spending $60 to 100 on a valve spring compressor. I visited the local salvage store (Delaney's, you Wisconsin guys and many fibs know where THAT is) and scored a slightly bent big C clamp with a missing swivel for a buck, then went through the scrap drawers and came up with the parts to lathe, grind and weld this. I straightened the clamp then ground the ball end into a cylinder and lubed it so the guide can rotate but stay straight on the shaft.


It works a trick. So what is in your "custom" tool collection?
Other tools in my collection: a combination fence post puller / tire bead breaker. Just built the wife a hot box for ski waxing. ($1100 at the dealer, total cost zero) The down side? A 40 by 60 shed full of stuff that "could be useful".

[82Shafty]

I'll have to add my steering stem bearing spanner tool I built out of pipe.


I like your idea for a spring compressor btw.

[Truth]

I don't have pics, but I have pipe wrenches with the handles cut off and a 3/4 or 1/2 inch drive hole drilled into them. Custom bent wrenches for injection pumps on Cummins Diesels, bent distributor wrenches, bleeder wrenches, GM W body strut cartridge tool, and a bunch of other stuff but nothing bike related yet.

When I need an expensive tool I usually got to harbor frieght, buy something for a couple bucks, and with a torch, BFH, and a welder there's not much you can't make with some imagination. I'm done giving the tool truck guys my money.

[gggGary]

Here's my replace the O rings float valve seat remover. Based on a ball gauge for measuring the ID of drilled holes. I have an idea for an easy to build version I will post when I make it.

[Sandy]

Probably the most common and easiest to make home brew tool is this tool for holding the fork damper rod to remove the allen bolt on almost any Jap bike known to man.

[midnightcafe]

sharpened (metal) knitting needle to push out broken carb air screws.

Large iron nail head to tap stem nut free rather than the spanner wrench. some other tips that don't come to mind right now...

[SqDancerLynn1]

Probably the most common and easiest to make home brew tool is this tool for holding the fork damper rod to remove the allen bolt on almost any Jap bike known to man.

Hay I heve on just like that..

[Steve]

There have to be a few more like me in here. Faced with spending $60 to 100 on a valve spring compressor. I visited the local salvage store (Delaney's, you Wisconsin guys and many fibs know where THAT is) and scored a slightly bent big C clamp with a missing swivel for a buck, then went through the scrap drawers and came up with the parts to lathe, grind and weld this. I straightened the clamp then ground the ball end into a cylinder and lubed it so the guide can rotate but stay straight on the shaft.


It works a trick. So what is in your "custom" tool collection?
Other tools in my collection: a combination fence post puller / tire bead breaker. Just built the wife a hot box for ski waxing. ($1100 at the dealer, total cost zero) The down side? A 40 by 60 shed full of stuff that "could be useful".

Looks like a very nice upgrade from my idea, pretty much doing the same thing.

You can see a video of it in use on BassCliff's site (of course).

One (small) advantage of my system is that you still have a useable C-clamp.

.

[tuckomf]

When I was trying to get my needle valves out, I pulled the "guts" out of a bic ball-point pen and used it like a ram to with a hammer. I'm sure everybody's probably already done something similar, but for those who aren't in the know, it's a perfect fit and it makes a solid contact.