tools, techniques, shortcuts, bargains

[harleysportster]

An easier method is to use a 1 1/4" wrench as suggested in the service manual.

[jdsnowfire]

Well this is my very first post and I am so happy that I found this site and a bunch of guys who are as addicted to JD sleds as I am. My first sled was a 77 Spitfire, and although it left me pulling my guts out many days in the winter withot the joy of riding, I still love those machines to this day and just got another one this past march.

My question is, has anyone found any way to make their own primary pullers? I am in the midst of starting a bit of a vintage sled repair and sales biz here in Manitoba and I'm not having a lot of luck finding pullers for all of these differnt sleds for a reasonable price. I have currently a 79 Spitfire, 2 340 kohlers engines from stripped sleds, a 77 Liquifire and a 73 300 that all need the clutches pulled and serviced, as well as many other vintage sleds and motors. Any info would be great!!

i made a primary clutch puller for sptfires by taking a grade 5 bolt and turning it down to the correct size on a lathe then using a die to cut the threads. it has pulled 3 clutches so far with no problems.

[79 Spitfire]

My dad has showed me a way to get any cluth off these old things.

1. Find a bolt that will thread into the clutch.
Fill the hole with grease.
Thread bolt in with a Impact.
Should pop right off.
If not pull bolt out and pack with more grease.

Another way if the first doesn't work.

2. Take a bolt that will fit all the way in the clutch need to be long and the head of the bolt should not go into the crank. Put the bolt that threads into the clutch in and screw in with a Impact.

Have old screw that when you try to take of they just strip out?
Buy this tool and do it to all the screws before taking a screw driver to it to be safe.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 921x00003a


Just my 0.02 worth.


James

[S_Kyle]

A guy that runs a local shop said he dose something similar when he dosen't have a puller. He puts a small piece of rod in then screws a bolt into the threads of the clutch.

[79 Spitfire]

A guy that runs a local shop said he dose something similar when he dosen't have a puller. He puts a small piece of rod in then screws a bolt into the threads of the clutch.

Yup, works well if the first doesn't. The Spitfire I did worked with the grease way, But unfortunately last night with the Trailfire it did not and I had to use the second option.

[Matt]

A guy that runs a local shop said he dose something similar when he dosen't have a puller. He puts a small piece of rod in then screws a bolt into the threads of the clutch.

This is not a good way to do it. You risk damaging the end of the crank, and if that piece of rod gets disfigured and jammed in there, you then have a big problem getting that clutch off.

The grease trick might work? Not sure. You are much better off to buy the correct tool for the job.

[A1 SLEDER JIM]

magnet trick

when you use the magnet on a rod tool to clean where metal shavings exist it gets all the magnet and can be hard to remove. when using your hands they get splinters, a glove is to corse, tapping does not remove all and a blast of air sends it all over the place. i found that if you put a small piece of paper towel over the magnet and tape it if you cant hold on to it . it is real easy to remove the towel and metal over a trash can. like installing a battery tray for instance. since i figured this out i seem too use this technique quite often now in the shop. less splinters too.

[tjsdad]

I found that Harbor Freight has pretty decent " cheap " tools. I painted my 69 Mach 1 Mustang with their purple el- cheapo HVLP gun and it worked better than the Binks I have. They have bearing seperators for 40.00 to pull bearings for cranks seal jobs.

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Holy crap that thing is nice. Too bad it isn't a Chevy.

DA

[JDT]

It is stunning!

[lwb140]

it got an fe in it??

[A1 SLEDER JIM]

I painted one of my liquifires with a HVLP from HF and it turned out great with a black and a clearcoat. Professional body shops are using them too. It turns out that the chineese copy the best design and reproduce millions. You can get them cheap on sale. I have several and painted my deere backhoe several tractors and my old truck with surprisingly excellent results. Just get a good disposible 3m resperator from a body shop supply house.

[hondaboy55]

[SpitfireKing]

Went through most of this the other night, but has anyone ever tried making their own battery powered timing light? I see the one in the repair manual looks like a flashlight with a couple of wires on it....sure would make timing a bit easier.

[JDT]

I think you need a strobe light.
Regular bulb will not get bright fast enough.