Date: Fri, 10 Feb 1995 10:19:00 -0600 (CST)
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: jbrill@unlinfo.unl.edu (James Brill)
Subject: Preliminary Tools List
This is a test run of the tools list. I took the 15 or so
responses I received and ran them together along with what little
knowledge I have on the subject. There are some holes in here. It
would be great if people could respond to me or the list and answer
the question marks that are below. I have not checked this against
Muir's list. There are few or no parts listed here. It makes sense
that if you are doing a bearing job you should have some grease, etc.
Also, I typed it up as a Unix file so if you all could spell check it
that would be great. I will finalize in a week or less and post the
results. It is in American-eze, with emphasis on Sears, etc. If
there is some size wrench or socket or anything missing please let me
know. I like to minimize my 10 mile trips to Sears. It is said in
here somewhere but I will say it again here. This is a pretty
expensive list of tools. You can start out with much less. I,
however, want the whole banana now. So, this is it, or will be soon.
This would be a list of tools that you should have to work on your VW.
It is a compilation of suggestions I received from people. There are
things on the list you might never need but others have found useful.
There are questions to be answered concerning some of the items.
Please read this over and answer them if you can and I will make the
corrections and repost. It should be noted that I don't want to start
big debates about what kind of torque wrench is best. If the one
listed is adequate for most and cheaper and more easily available then
we should leave it at that. Same goes for the rest.
First off, get some eye protection. After you are in the emergency
room is the wrong time to be wishing you had been wearing some.
Secondly, buy a fire extinguisher. Put is under or behind your front
seat. Make sure your frequent passengers and mechanical assistants
know where it is and how to work it. These are $10-$15 at K-Mart in
the U.S. Four things will kill your love - wrecks, neglect, rust and
fire.
GENERAL COMMENTS
When buying tools from Sears be sure to get the Craftsman brand and
not the Sears brand. The former is superior in quality and caries the
infamous lifetime gaurantee.
Snap On and Mac tools, available in the U.S., will have a nicer finish
and might be more heavy duty but will probably not be worth the price
difference from the Craftsman for just about anything short of a
professional. Also, when you break a tool at three o'clock Sunday
afternoon you know where the Sears will be parked. As far as I know
those other brands are only available from the person driving a truck
around selling to shops.
Check the sales at Sears around Father's Day and other holidays aimed
at buying things for your average manly man. Also, go there and get
their Hand and Power tools catalog (you know when Joel bothers to put
it in caps it must be important). I suppose they might have some
thing in there some stores might not stock but could be ordered.
You should be looking for one of the prepackaged semi-huge all metric
sets of sockets, etc. They would have all threee sizes of ratchets
and sockets, deep and shallow drive. There will also be various
length extensions and adapters. If you catch them or wait for the
right sale you might even get 10% off or a free toolbox or set of
pliers.
Some of the suggestions here are obviously overdone. I am striving to
get a complete set of tools listed. Most people could to a tuneup and
many other repairs with about 10% of this list. The suggestions made
are usually done in the name of having the right tool for the job
(which also has a safety factor to it) and long term cost savings.
RATCHETS
1/2" 3/8" 1/4" drives
Torque wrench -- 1/2" drive, ratcheting type seems preferable to
the dial type. A 1/2" to 3/8" adaptor bit is nice, too. Craftsman
1/2" bi-directional goes 20-150 pounds, part # (9)44543, and comes
recommended.
Breaker bars in 1/2" and 3/8"
SOCKETS
1/2" -- 10,12,13,14,15,17,19,21,23,30,36mm full hexagon if you
can get 'em. i.e. six point as oppossed to twelve.
3/8" -- 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19mm
-- 10,11,12,13,14,15,17,19mm deep drive
1/4" -- 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19mm
-- 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14mm deep drive
hex-head -- sizes?
torx-head -- sizes?
extensions 1/2" -- 3",6",9",12"
3/8" -- sizes?
1/2" t-bar
universal joint adaptor 1/4", 3/8", 1/2"
SCREWDRIVERS
Rechargeable electric w/interchangeable bits for tight spots and
general ease on the wrist.
Ridiculously large flat blade screwdriver with a lifetime
guarantee. (TM)
At least one with interchangeable bits that has allen heads, too.
The rechargeable one might have these.
Stubby type sizes and everything up the large one above.
WRENCHES
Open-end/Box-end 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,15,17,19,21
PLIERS
Needle nose, circlip, wire crimping, channel lock, regular, side
cutters, sheet metal sheers.
VISE GRIPS
Needle nose, small, large. Good advice here it to get the Vise
Grip brand. Made in De Witt, Nebraska.
PULLERS/CLAMPS
Wheel bearing seal puller, "G" type clamps (I assume this is a
lot like a "C" clamp), two armed gear puller, harmonic balancer
puller. Somebody please give this portion some help.
ALLEN/HEX HEAD WRENCHES
2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,17mm Ball type drive ones are nice,
too, if you can find them. The big mutha is for the transaxle fluid.
CRESENT WRENCHES
6,12,18"
CHISELS/PUNCHES
Center punch, flat-end punch, small chisel, large chisel.
HAMMERS
Both small and large in hard and rubber, ball peen, too.
DRILL
Variable speed, what size?
Metal cutting bits.
MISC
Little mechanics mirror on extendable handle for looking into
places smaller than your head.
Flourescent trouble light, no burns, more shockproof.
One magnetic-type and one claw-type grabber for picking up things
through holes smaller than your hand.
Reamer, for making small holes larger.
Timing light
Tach-dwell-volt meter
Grease gun with flexible hose.
Compression guage, get the type with the screw-in head and
pressure release button, so you can do it yourself. [Can we assume
that Sears has decent prices on this and electrical type equipment?]
5' fence post makes a nice cheater bar
You can never have too many 10 or 13mm wrenches or sockets
Feeler guage, consensus has it that you should spend a little
extra on the nice one. Think about what a 0.001" distance is and how
much you like you valves.
Broom handle, maybe two is you are working on the front end like
Muir.
Pocket knife, razor blade type cutter.
Hacksaw
WD-40
Hand cleaner, gloves, ear plugs
Propane torch
Liquid wrench
Oxyacetylen torch, for when the above doesn't work
Clutch alignment tool, aka wooden dowel
Ring compressor
Plastiguage
Steel ruler
Micrometer
Battery charger
Old tooth brushes
Wire brush
3-ton floor jack
6-ton jack stands
Electrical tape
Test light
SPARE PARTS
I will not go into this. My own philosophy on this one has been to buy two if I can afford it, so I have one for the next time. At a minimum I should guess a spare clutch cable, throttle cable and some fuel hose.
--
James A. Brill Jr. \\ //
jbrill@unlinfo.unl.edu \\ \\// // If you're not outraged
University of Nebraska \\//\\// you're not paying attention.
free-lance homo sapien \/ \/
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