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MG MGA - What's the worst tool you ever bought
| Mine was a MItyVac |
| dominic clancy |
| "What's the worst tool you ever bought" - Cheap ones! As for the MityVac, I fin it to be a most useful tool, although I don't use it much, mostly to check vacuum advance on our MGB or check for vacuum leaks in items that are supposed to hold a vacuum. It is also useful for sucking fluids out of various items if you get the adapter to run the vacuum through a jar to catch the fluid. It is much touted for bleeding brakes, but I don't find it to be really great for that, preferring to do it the old way with a helper to push the pedal down (this is just a personal preference). Cheer - Dave |
| David DuBois |
| The SU "Tool Kit" ... I had visions of a gleaming set of intricate tools that would require weeks of study to divine their intended use, only to find an aluminum rod and an unfolded paper clip. |
| Chuck Mosher |
| The Oberg Tilt Lift I found to be of no use. The cables extending from the lift were too long to pickup the engine with the hood (bonnet) in place. I used a piece of old chain for pennies on the cost of a Oberg tilt lift. I suppose it would work fine if the bonnet was removed, but so would the chain. Anyone want to buy my unused tilt lift still in the box? I see they are selling for about $10.00 over what I paid. Ray |
| Ray Ammeter |
| Mine was a special tool made for mixing anti fouling paint using a drill press in slow mode. I placed the can in the locking bracket as described, lowered the paddle into the paint-turned the press on and $95.00 worth of PETIT Blue anti fouling went all over the room. Called my supplier and next Monday the factory rep replaced the tool and during his trial he to, sprayed paint all over again. That was a total of $190.00 of paint and three days cleaning up. Did it all by hand for the next few years. Sandy |
| SANDY SANDERS |
| My dad told me that during the depression some one sold a tool for killing Colorado potato beetles. you sent off for it and by return mail you were sent two blocks of wood, with the instructions, place beetle on block A then strike sharply with block B. |
| S E Bryan |
| Mine was the OTC rear hub nut socket - it may be good the right application but not for this job. see the story here http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/tools/hub_socket.htm Mike |
| Mike Ellsmore |
| S.E.Bryan.....that tool has evolved and found many uses. I once heard the same tool was used for castrating camels. Held in both hands for the crucial blow but apparently hurt like hell..................................................if you got your thumbs caught. |
| neil ferguson |
| Following up on Mike's hub nut problem, has anyone used the Moss hub nut (18G152B)? I was on the point of making a purchase... any experience welcome. Shane |
| Shanerj |
| Front coil spring compressor. I bought a pair, thinking they might be an easy way of removing the springs. Did not fit. Steve  |
| Steve Gyles |
| Hey Sandy, if you dont drive your MG in the water, you wont need anti fouling paint.......Glenn |
| Glenn Hedrich |
| Glenn. That part of my life (owning/operating a marina on the gulf of Mexico ) was what paid for my MG habit. Sandy |
| SANDY SANDERS |
| Hi Sandy, Im glad the Marina covered your MG "fix" As for tools, I have generally never regretted buying QUALITY tools. (thye usually pay for themselves) WHat I HAVE regretted is buying inexpensive tools that dont work properly, or break the first time you use em. Let me tell you that dollar store vise grips, screw drivers and chisels SUCK! lol, Glenn |
| Glenn Hedrich |
| Picking a worst tool ever might be tough, simply because there have been so many candidates... For now I am gonna go with the 1/2" drive MAC torque wrench that had it's ratchet head break in two, as I was attempting to apply 220 foot pounds to a lug nut on the City of Cordova's ambulance at stud changeover time. This unexpected failure resulted in me driving my knuckles into the concrete floor of our tire shop. Dad had insisted on the hand torque treatment for the ambulance, but after that I NEVER used a torque wrench for any lug nut calling for much over 120FP or so. And never, ever wrapped my fingers all the way around the handle again. To this day, other mechanics that I work with occasionally comment on how I hold a tool when I am tightening something. |
| Del Rawlins |
| Squeeze type wire strippers. You stick the wire in the jaws and squeeze the handle...the tool then strips the coating off of the wire. Bought then put one piece of 18 guage wire in the mouth and squeezed. the whole jaw mechanism broke apart and few across the room. I finished the job with my old wire stripping pliers. |
| Gordon Harrison |
| I'm surprised no on has mentioned the Clik-Adjust. Fiddly beyond belief, everytime I've tried it over the past three years, I've sworn never to use it again. Sure it will adjust the valves, but Barney Gaylord is right... there are quicker, more accurate and simplier ways! warmly, dave |
| Dave Braun |
| My worst tool (one of many) is a hammer driven pickle fork. They are intended to remove ball joints easily but I have only been successful in destroying the ball joint and rubber seals. I don't even try anymore. A close second, is my set of Craftsman Easy Outs. Second to the pickle fork only because in 25 years I have been successful in its intended purpose once vs. zero for the fork. As for the two wooden blocks (substitue 2 bricks) and a camel, I though that was how you got camels good for 8 day journeys across the desert. I guess the difference is how hard and when the blocks get struck. Chuck |
| Chuck Schaefer |
A left handed Screwdriver. |
| Mark Hester |
| Chuck I couldn't agree more. Got both, both useless. Malcolm |
| Malcolm Asquith |
| I have found that hammer driven pickle forks work great for ball joints, at least on old American cars. Only problem is they do destroy the rubber boot, so they aren't a good choice when you wish to reuse the parts. Critical thing is that the fork has to be the right size. On my MG I have been using the two hammer method on the tie rod ends. Worked for me and doesn't destroy the boot. Barney describes it well here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/steering/sr109.htm -Steve Trovato strovato@optonline.net |
| Steve Trovato |
| Nice to see a topic where so many take part who otherwise stay silent. I have to agree with the pickle fork as being a very close second - I have a scissor type separator which is significantly more useful, don't know why I still have the fork one in the drawer. Cheap cross-head screwdrivers are also a waste of money - in fact cheap screwdrivers of any sort unless you just want something to open paint tins! Cheap pliers that break under hand pressure (had a few of those over the years as gifts) The automatic wire strippers are great as long as you don't ask them to strip heavy duty cables. They do break from time to time, but they are so cheap, replacing them is no great deal. On a plugging note for the MityVac competition, my Eezibleed seals had become ineffective after 20 years, so I dropped an email to gunson asking if I could source replacements - and two new caps incl. seals arrived free of charge in the mail today. That deserves a very big credit to Gunson for customer service beyond the call of duty. |
| dominic clancy |
| Oh, almost forgot. My "worst tool" nomination is the "Bionic wrench". If you're not familiar with it, here's a link: http://loggerheadtools.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=3 Some day maybe I'll find an application where I can get that thing to fit around a nut or bolt. And when I do, a regular combination wrench will still work better. At least I got it for free as part of an Eastwood promotion. I see they don't carry it anymore. I think I know why. -Steve |
| Steve Trovato |
| I have found the pickle fork ever so useful for things it wasn't intended for, like wedging and prising things. Mine also sounds a perfect concert pitch high "F" when you strike it, so it could be used to tune a piano! |
| Lindsay Sampford |
| Stud extractor set ~ on the two occasions I've tried to use them, both ended in failure. Broken extractors left in studs. Is there an extractor kit for broken stud extractors I wonder? Has anyone had any decent success with them ? . |
| MGJohn |
| I think that i have to agree with the Stud extractor/ easy outs, regardless of who made them. I have had very rare success with them. I had a set of automatic wire strippers, and they worked a charm when I used to instrument cars. I don't remember what I did to snap the gripping set of teeth, but I did. I never have seen the use for them since, because I just don't strip that much wire anymore. |
| Mike Parker |
This thread was discussed between 06/09/2009 and 09/09/2009
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