how to use coil spring compressor safety

Inside coil spring compressors are wonderful tools. They can safely do what is unsafe using any other method. Utilizing a threaded central rod, they use the principle of the inclined plane to exert hundreds of pounds of force to compress the coil spring into a short-enough length to remove or install.

Things can go wrong, however, and this tip is intended to help prevent that from happening to you. The threads on the spring compressor are strong, of course, and the tool-steel central threaded rod can easily withstand the tension forces put upon it during spring compression. The problem is friction...



When the spring compressor undergoes the tension/compression forces, the threads are all that is holding things from slipping. As they are turned, great amounts of friction are generated. This friction causes metal-to-metal wear that can quickly damage the threads. Turning the rod further amplifies the forces and, given the right circumstances, catastrophic failure can result.

To minimize this risk, always grease the rod's threads each time you use the spring compressor. Use bearing grease, and spread it liberally over all the threads on the rod. After using the compressor, wipe the threads clean and store it in a plastic bag until the next use.

How to remove/take off steering wheel?

If you want to replace that old steering wheel on your car with a new one, you first have to remove the old one. This procedure requires a special tool, but anyone with average mechanical skills can remove a steering wheel.

1.Park the car with the wheels pointed straight ahead. Open the hood and disconnect the positive cable from the battery before you begin to do any work.

2.Remove the the horn mechanism covering by pulling it away from the steering wheel and removing the screws underneath. If your vehicle has a horn cap, this is removed by pressing down on it and twisting.

3.Take off the spring-loaded metal plunger and remove the horn wire. You can get the plunger off by pulling it straight out---or by turning the plastic sleeve and then pulling it straight out. Now cut off the horn wire that is on the plastic sleeve.

4.Remove the retainer clip over the nut on the steering wheel shaft, and use a socket and a ratchet wrench to remove the shaft nut.

5.Take the steering wheel puller and insert the two bolts through the puller and into the two holes located on the hub of the steering wheel. Then turn the center jacking screw on the puller, and it will pull the steering wheel from the splines on the steering shaft.

How a Grease Gun Works

Grease guns are used to lubricate joints and connections that require re-greasing periodically. The grease gun is a portable device that stores a determined amount of grease. The grease is then pressurized, even slightly sometimes, to pump a concentrated amount of grease from an aperture located on the end of a small hose. The hose is flexible to allow maneuverability in situations where the grease fitting; also knows as a zerk fitting, is placed in a compromising position. Grease guns are found in every reputable repair shop. Most cars used to have multiple zerk fittings on the chassis components and drive shafts. Many newer import and domestic vehicles are now being manufactured with sealed chassis components that do not require greasing. However, once the components fail, the aftermarket replacement of the component most always is supplied with a zerk fitting.

Grease guns are hand-held. Most of the economic ones use a cartridge of grease inserted into the chamber of the gun. Installing the cartridge correctly will make less of a mess and ensure the grease purges out of the aperture correctly. The spring-loaded plunger on the bottom of this type of gun is pulled back and locked in an open position on a slot located at the bottom of the chamber. The top of the grease gun where the trigger and hose attachments are located is then unscrewed from the chamber of the gun. Removing the plastic cap of the cartridge will reveal the grease inside it. This is placed into the chamber grease side down. At the other end of the cartridge, now visible at the top of the chamber, is a flip top can lid. This is removed and discarded. The top of the gun is then screwed back onto the chamber tightly. A few hand pumps of the trigger or lever will prime any air pockets in the cartridge and a small amount of grease will purge from the aperture at the tip of the flexible hose. Each pump of the trigger will produce a small amount of grease.

What Grease Guns are Used For

Grease fittings or zerk fittings are located on many light to heavy duty trucks and SUVs. Some cars are still manufactured with grease fittings on the chassis components. Large commercial trucks have several zerk fittings located throughout the chassis, U-joints, drive shafts and other places that require lubrication. Lawn and garden tractors that use a pinion steering system may have tie rod ends and ball joints with zerk fittings requiring occasional grease. Mower decks for riding lawn mowers often have zerk fittings on the individual arbors of the deck. Industrial equipment for factories often have zerk fittings for machinery used requiring scheduled grease applications.