Basic tools

Theo Markettos · 2007-02-24T15:25:31+00:00

The exhaust's gone on my 1988 Mitsubishi Colt. Local exhaust places wantabout 180 quid inc fitting for it, while I can get the parts new from Ebayfor 40 quid. From what I hear garages tend to be a bit sniffy if you askthem to fit parts you've supplied yourself, and that would probably beanother 40-50 quid.So I've been wondering about fitting it myself, and spending the money ontools instead. From the workshop manual it seems fairly straightforward -about a dozen bolts to unscrew, which aren't too hard to reach. Of courseit's only straightforward if they're not siezed. They seem fairly rusty,but it's difficult to say if they're siezed, and maybe WD40 will help?Anyway, now I have an excuse I've been thinking about getting some basictools. I have a jack (labelled 'Austin Montego', so nice and new) but ithas 4 prongs and a bump on top, and when I jack it up the jacking point onthe chassis rests on only two of the prongs which doesn't inspire me withconfidence - so I think I need a proper jack. What's the best type of basicjack - trolley or bottle? I'd also need chassis stands of some description.I have about half a dozen metric sockets from a screwdriver set, but I don'thave a right-angled wrench for them. They've been annoyingly-few on anumber of past occasions, so I need some more sockets and metric as that'swhat the car is. I'm not quite sure what sizes are useful (the manualdoesn't say). The manual gives tightening torques, but torque wrenches seemto be quite expensive. As it's an old banger, can I get away without one?Any recommendations on what and where (esp if online) I should get? Mygeneral policy is to buy a cheap until I know exactly what Iwant so I'm not looking for anything too expensive, but buying a decentsmaller set of sockets that will do the job rather than a hundred cheap oneswould make sense.Opinions?ThanksTheo

Basic tools

Feb 24, 2007 22 Replies

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Lin Chung 19 years ago

I think I'm right: at the back of every Haynes "Service and Repair Manual", there is a chapter on "Tools and Working Facilities". Two lists are given. The first names the tools (< 20 types) "considered as a minimum requirement, if routine maintenance, servicing and minor repair operations are to be undertaken."

If you don't have a Haynes manual (I assume the 'manual' mentioned in the post is not Haynes), a visit to your local public library is worthwhile. You can have that relevant page printed out for your private use.

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Theo Markettos 19 years ago

Thanks, that's useful. My manual is a Russek not a Haynes (they don't produce one for my model), and I did look for such a list but to no avail.

Is it specific to each manual (eg imperial sizes for American cars, metric for Europeans) or a general list? I might have to go and raid a charity shop and buy one of the Haynes manuals for long-dead cars they seem to have :)

Theo

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Lin Chung 19 years ago

I dunno. All the Haynes manuals I ever owned have the same chapter (suggesting the materials are not specific to the car of that manual). The contents, degree of detail and topography are slightly different.

I intended to send you a direct reply with an attachment of a reprint of the relevant page. Guess what? My 3-in-1 printer (with scanner) is out of action!! I'll type out the list and post it to you.

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