406oc.co.uk

Ok Boys and girls, it's time to let your hair down, take a sip of your favourite beverage and tell us your true feelings -

What was your favourite/best tool that you wouldn't be without - when doing a clutch change.

Naturally, most tools that you may have used are pretty essential, but you can often "make do" or use a couple of alternatives (spanners and sockets are frequently interchangeble for instance) - but, out of your arsenal - what really made the job work for you?

Trolley jack,

lozz wrote:Trolley jack,

yep trolley jack for me as well

bytecode wrote:Ok Boys and girls, it's time to let your hair down, take a sip of your favourite beverage and tell us your true feelings -

What was your favourite/best tool that you wouldn't be without - when doing a clutch change.

My credit card...

As well as the trolley jack, I couldn't do without my scissors jack and block of wood to go under the engine.

trolley jack , failing that Jasper and his mate cos they did mine

waue1978 wrote:My credit card...

On a similar note - a 2 meter tall Croatian mechanic.

lozz wrote:Trolley jack,

yup - got two of those, one small red one (£15?) and a medium (£10 - carboot) absolutely brilliant, I just wish I could afford a decent one like those that the tyre fitters have; low profile, large cup, high lift.

waue1978 wrote:

bytecode wrote:Ok Boys and girls, it's time to let your hair down, take a sip of your favourite beverage and tell us your true feelings -

What was your favourite/best tool that you wouldn't be without - when doing a clutch change.

My credit card...

LOL - I almost spat my wine all over the keyboard & monitors!

jasper5 wrote:As well as the trolley jack, I couldn't do without my scissors jack and block of wood to go under the engine.

Ah yes - the block of wood.
I have so many pieces of driftwood, bits of wooden pallets, a few planks etc..
and I use the scissor or "half-scissor" (I don't know what you call those) for things like pushing the engine forward away from the bulkhead when doing the the timing belt etc...

I've also got a couple of bottle jacks, one of which I'm thinking of converting into a hydragas suspension pump - but that's another story.

bytecode wrote:

jasper5 wrote:As well as the trolley jack, I couldn't do without my scissors jack and block of wood to go under the engine.

Ah yes - the block of wood.
I have so many pieces of driftwood, bits of wooden pallets, a few planks etc..
and I use the scissor or "half-scissor" (I don't know what you call those) for things like pushing the engine forward away from the bulkhead when doing the the timing belt etc...

I've also got a couple of bottle jacks, one of which I'm thinking of converting into a hydragas suspension pump - but that's another story.

I almost forgot to say - Wood is precious here is Cornwall, I have to protect it and fend off my G.F. all of the time as it would otherwise end up in bits in the wood stove (our primary heat source) or else she'd saw it up and make some driftwood sculpture and sell it.

My usual approach to protecting my wood for "car work" is to "accidentally" drop some used engine oil on it. Whoops!

puggy wrote:trolley jack , failing that Jasper and his mate cos they did mine

Hmm... If I had enough homebrew and beds I'd invite them down to sunny (I lie, RAINY) Cornwall for some help!

steve_earwig wrote:

waue1978 wrote:My credit card...

On a similar note - a 2 meter tall Croatian mechanic.

I wouldn't say no to a 2 meter tall croatian woman if she was suitably hot - although my GF might not be so impressed ;-)

Ok guys & girls, come on, Jacks are good - but not necessarily "clutch" centric (No! No! No! Do not say clutch centering tool/favourite socket that serves the same purpose!) Swarfega for cleaning your delicate hands afterwards is also out ;-)
What about things like:

• my favourite piece of cardboard
• camera phone for working out where *this* leftover bolt came from
• ratchett spanners
• breaker bar made from old exhaust pipe

There must be something useful that left you thinking - "I'm glad that I had that when I did my clutch"
(I'm thinking Brolly at the moment, judging by the weather)

bytecode wrote:

lozz wrote:Trolley jack,

yup - got two of those, one small red one (£15?) and a medium (£10 - carboot) absolutely brilliant, I just wish I could afford a decent one like those that the tyre fitters have; low profile, large cup, high lift.

£70 @ costcos for a massive one,