Tips and tricks

[gggGary]

This one is simple but SO helpful.
Clip off a bit of fuel line, place under the terminal nut, it's soft enough to smoosh and hold the nut in place.

the hole in the fuel line accepts the bolt without crushing or damage and is there to hold the nut anytime you remove the bolt.
no more fishing to get the bolt started in the nut.

 

[Its been a long time]

LOL! Good idea. I put a little wedge of wood in there to do the same thing.

 

[Sparkyduc]

LOL! Good idea. I put a little wedge of wood in there to do the same thing.

I put a Qtip under the nut and pull it out once it starts threading

 

[Mikey]

And here I've been cussing and holding on to the nut with a needle nose pliers all this time
Good tips guys !!!

 

[grouchie77]

I used a small flathead screwdriver. But this is also a good idea.

 

[Wingedwheel]

I do something similar Gary. I put a foam earplug under the nut. Easy to shove in there then expands to hold the nut. Remove the bolt and the nut never moves.

 

[Scottike]

This one is simple but SO helpful.
Clip off a bit of fuel line, place under the terminal nut.
View attachment 358116
no more fishing to get the bolt started in the nut.

I fold a small piece of solid solder and slip it under nut.

 

[Jim]

Sometimes you need to weld on zinc plated bits. To do that you have to remove the zinc plating. It doesn't make for strong, easy welds. Besides, the smoke it makes is toxic. Bad smoke, go to your room. Grind it, wire brush it... hell, chew on it. There's no way to remove all of it easily... 'cept this way.

Keep a little bit of hydrochloric acid, AKA muriatic acid or driveway cleaner for such times. Drop a plated bit in the acid and it'll bubble like a madman... for about 10 seconds. Pull it out, rinse it off and Bob's your uncle... clean as a whistle, not even a whiff of zinc left.

This is the way.

 

[Scottike]

I always save the plastic bags from the nuts, bolts, & hardware I buy at the hardware store. They work great for keeping parts organized when I do a teardown.

 

[grouchie77]

I always save the plastic bags from the nuts, bolts, & hardware I buy at the hardware store. They work great for keeping parts organized when I do a teardown.
View attachment 358854

I like to save gum containers. Perfect size for storing small parts.

 

[Scottike]

You have the right idea, I just don't chew that much gum - adapt, overcome, and carry on!

 

[grouchie77]

You have the right idea, I just don't chew that much gum - adapt, overcome, and carry on!

Ex-smoker.... Gum is better for my lungs.

 

[Wingedwheel]

I always save the plastic bags from the nuts, bolts, & hardware I buy at the hardware store. They work great for keeping parts organized when I do a teardown.
View attachment 358854

I just raid the kitchen cabinet for the box of sandwich baggies.

 

[Raymond]

Oh, so that's why they keep disappearing.

 

[Downeaster]

Speaking of the kitchen...

If, like mine, your better half periodically replaces cookware, baking pans and cookie sheets are useful in the shop, especially the 9x9 pans. I have several and they're perfect for working on carbs. I generally use three: one for the dirty carb, one for small parts (jets, screws, springs) as they come off, one for big parts (float bowls, slides). Keeps things from rolling off into oblivion and that last little bit of varnished gas from soaking into your bench.

Shallow pans with turned up (but not too tall) sides are great for looking for that just-right screw. When you find it, you can just tip (most of) the contents back into the container for next time. You DO have a container of some sort with about 5 pounds of random hardware, right? RIGHT?

 

[grouchie77]

Speaking of the kitchen...

If, like mine, your better half periodically replaces cookware, baking pans and cookie sheets are useful in the shop, especially the 9x9 pans. I have several and they're perfect for working on carbs. I generally use three: one for the dirty carb, one for small parts (jets, screws, springs) as they come off, one for big parts (float bowls, slides). Keeps things from rolling off into oblivion and that last little bit of varnished gas from soaking into your bench.

Shallow pans with turned up (but not too tall) sides are great for looking for that just-right screw. You DO have a container of some sort with about 5 pounds of random hardware, right? RIGHT?

I love when my wife gets a new cookware set... and those round cookie containers that used to have those dry as hell little Danish cookies hold all the "randos" that seemingly have no purpose.

I popped the handle off a small soup pot, drilled some holes, ended up with a new strainer for the parts washing tank, for the low low price of zero dollars.

 

[Raymond]

Baking trays are IMHO essential in the garage. I lay out dismantled parts in order, place the tools used for dismantling next to the parts, can't really imagine working on a bike without these little trays. It's a little miracle to go back in the garage after a couple of days to resume a task and there's the parts and tools just as you left them. Much better than grubbing about on an untidy workbench looking for screws or washers that have rolled under something else.

 

[Downeaster]

And baggies...

I have a couple of piles of them in various sizes. When I use anything that comes in a ziplock, the bag gets saved. Except those tissue thin Chineseium pieces of crap. Have also stooped to actually buying a box of my own on occasion.

If a project is going to be long term (ie, more than overnight...) I slip a sticky note in the bag with the parts - especially random fasteners - saying where they came from or what they are.

For BIG projects, like stripping a bike to the frame and starting over, I buy cardboard parts boxes from Amazon. Nice to label the front of the box with "rear brake parts" or whatever and tucking on a shelf for reassembly days/weeks/months down the line.

 

[Raymond]

And baggies...

I have a couple of piles of them in various sizes. When I use anything that comes in a ziplock, the bag gets saved. Except those tissue thin Chineseium pieces of crap. Have also stooped to actually buying a box of my own on occasion.

If a project is going to be long term (ie, more than overnight...) I slip a sticky note in the bag with the parts - especially random fasteners - saying where they came from or what they are.

For BIG projects, like stripping a bike to the frame and starting over, I buy cardboard parts boxes from Amazon. Nice to label the front of the box with "rear brake parts" or whatever and tucking on a shelf for reassembly days/weeks/months down the line.

Yup! Except instead of buying boxes, I use mostly the boxes our wine arrives in. Of which we seem to have plenty.

 

[OHRider]

I used a small flathead screwdriver. But this is also a good idea.

I tried that but shorted it to the frame