Special tools

[cj847]

As I am getting older, weaker, and hopefully wiser, I find myself looking for tips, tricks, and tools to make the job easier. The purpose of this thread is for a log of innovative, homemade or store-bought tools to save my back. To start I am looking for an easy way to put wheels on my truck. I struggle to lift a wheel/tire combo up 2" while lining up the lugs. I've used levers, pipes etc to get by. But, I think someone out there is smarter than me and has an easy way. Please post up anything you have for this problem as well as other helpful tools. If this is duplicating a prior thread please post a link. Thanks.

[LNP]

I use to work for Goodyear for over 22yrs I feel your pain. Heavy ones I did on the ground I used a long pry bar to lift the tire/wheel up so I could start it on the lugs. Another easier way if you can get the vehicle high enough is to use a motorcycle jack. That works real well. I use it here at my PC shop to raise heavy 4x4 wheels/tires up to get them on the balancer.

[72SB]

Well for me I use what you already have, my legs. I just sit and put tire across my upper legs and just lift tire up to wheel studs and rotate if needed to get over studs. I first set the tire with the holes close to orientation they need to be so minimal roll left or right to line up with studs. Basically, let legs do the lifting, not back or arms

While I have not seen one, you could make a curved cradle that goes on a floor jack to support tire but obviously you still need to lift the tire onto that cradle, balance guide it with one hand while you jockey floor jack into place

[72afr]

Originally Posted by 72SB

Well for me I use what you already have, my legs. I just sit and put tire across my upper legs and just lift tire up to wheel studs and rotate if needed to get over studs. I first set the tire with the holes close to orientation they need to be so minimal roll left or right to line up with studs. Basically, let legs do the lifting, not back or arms

While I have not seen one, you could make a curved cradle that goes on a floor jack to support tire but obviously you still need to lift the tire onto that cradle, balance guide it with one hand while you jockey floor jack into place

This is how I was taught to do it as well. Works well enough for my oversized truck/jeep tires.

[FamilyTruckster65]

https://www.amazon.com/Aain-DY016-He...3D&sr=8-4&th=1

how about this?

[72c20customcamper]

Motorcycle jack . I’ve used it to install tires on my dodge 315/70-17 34.5 inches tall and it works well as a transmission jack .

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by FamilyTruckster65

https://www.amazon.com/Aain-DY016-He...3D&sr=8-4&th=1

how about this?

That looks great! More than I'd like to spend, but compared to a sore back for a few days, it might be worth the cost.

[Steeveedee]

Sore back, indeed. I pulled the PG trans out of my '65 Malibu and put in a 350 trans, with no jack. Just John Armstrong. The older I get, the better I was. I wouldn't even try to pick that trans up off the ground, let alone bench press it into place, these days. It's probably why my body is so trashed...

[geezer#99]

I had a set of car Dollie’s like in this link. I modded one to fit a small bottle jack on one end in the middle and could lift one side enough to lever the tire high enough.
They do make ones now that have a hydraulic ram attached.
A bit pricey though.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mrm-m998035

[Steeveedee]

Make a rectangular frame out of 2" X 2" lumber, 4 feet long and 1 foot wide. Put it together with screws. You should be able to roll the tires onto the wood. The end you're going to lift should be attached above the long pieces so that you have a handle. You should have plenty of leverage that way. I knew a guy who weighed all of 140 soaking wet who worked on big trucks. He used something similar, but greased the wood. I personally don't want grease on my tire treads, so I just use that assembly as a pry bar. I have the arm strength, but an arthritic back is my problem.

[CG]

...

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by CG

...

I used to do that with 4-cylinder engines in Chevy Vegas. Just the short block. Pick it up, sit on a fender and swing over, plop the engine into place. SBC short blocks off the ground, into the bed of a truck, alone. Yup, I'm paying for it.

[jumpsoffrock]

With a new house and commitments, you were in a tight spot in more ways than one. Necessity is the mother of invention.

[special-K]

The best tool for a bad back is a lift.

Originally Posted by BLAZERMAN

I got this years ago, works great on all sizes of tire & wheel combos. It was real handy when I put the 19.5s on my K/30. The outside drive tire & wheels weigh 120 pounds each and the inside duals we're even heavier. I could lift the tire with one hand and easily turn it to match up lugs with the other hand. I don't use it often but I wouldn't be without, it's a back saver!

I want one. Never knew about these.

Originally Posted by jumpsoffrock

With a new house and commitments, you were in a tight spot in more ways than one. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Yeah, that was my song. Freezing pipes added their own special flair. Or was that flare? Of all things, that was a record breaking winter for cold and snow also. I don't think I was barefoot, she wasn't pregnant, and my dog was just a healthy puppy

[skinnan]

Originally Posted by cj847

As I am getting older, weaker, and hopefully wiser, I find myself looking for tips, tricks, and tools to make the job easier. The purpose of this thread is for a log of innovative, homemade or store-bought tools to save my back. To start I am looking for an easy way to put wheels on my truck. I struggle to lift a wheel/tire combo up 2" while lining up the lugs. I've used levers, pipes etc to get by. But, I think someone out there is smarter than me and has an easy way. Please post up anything you have for this problem as well as other helpful tools. If this is duplicating a prior thread please post a link. Thanks.

In these situations I end up placing my foot near the spot the tire needs to be lifted from and roll the tire up on my foot. That usually gives my the few inches I need to get it up on the lugs.

[RichardJ]

Have any leaf springs laying around? I have a leaf out of a set that is about 18" long and has a nice curve on it. Slide one end of it under the first rib or two of the tire tread and push down on the other end.
Easy Peasy. They even have a hole in them to hang on the wall and is ready to use as a pry bar for anything else. I have two different lengths hanging on the wall that have been used for hundreds of different things.

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by cj847

As I am getting older, weaker, and hopefully wiser, I find myself looking for tips, tricks, and tools to make the job easier. The purpose of this thread is for a log of innovative, homemade or store-bought tools to save my back. To start I am looking for an easy way to put wheels on my truck. I struggle to lift a wheel/tire combo up 2" while lining up the lugs. I've used levers, pipes etc to get by. But, I think someone out there is smarter than me and has an easy way. Please post up anything you have for this problem as well as other helpful tools. If this is duplicating a prior thread please post a link. Thanks.

It took me a while but I finally found the post I was looking for. I originally posted this on 5 January 2008. These aren't tools to save your back - except for maybe the distributor wrench - and all the operations these tools perform I have done with other tools and/or means, but when you get the right tool there is no going back.

1. Distributor wrench says snap-on and came from a used tool store that no longer exists. The used price was $15. The online catalog price for new was $48.50 in 2008. Now I see it online for $81.25.
2. Brake bleeder wrench.
3. GM door handle/window crank spring clip remover.

Link to original post:
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=272608

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by mrein3

It took me a while but I finally found the post I was looking for. I originally posted this on 5 January 2008. These aren't tools to save your back - except for maybe the distributor wrench - and all the operations these tools perform I have done with other tools and/or means, but when you get the right tool there is no going back.

1. Distributor wrench says snap-on and came from a used tool store that no longer exists. The used price was $15. The online catalog price for new was $48.50 in 2008. Now I see it online for $81.25.
2. Brake bleeder wrench.
3. GM door handle/window crank spring clip remover.

Link to original post:
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=272608

Yup, I have those, too! I have a manual valve spring tool that I bought to put valve stem seals on my '64 Malibu way back in the early '70s

[RichardJ]

Over the counter tools are nice, but the OP was looking for home made tools as well.
I still use the old style beam torque wrench's, but mine is limited to 100 lb/ft.
A length of channel iron that effectively increases the "lever length" can increase the range of the torque wrench. In my case, I doubled the "lever length" and doubled the range to 200 lb/ft. It was easy to bolt a breaker bar to the channel iron and cut a square hole for the torque wrench. I just have to remember not to use that piece of channel iron for some other purpose.

[RichardJ]

I do have one store bought tool that I never use, but when I do, its worth ten times what I paid for it. The short arm on the left has fittings to latch into most door latches, but if you remove that arm you can roll the door in to be completely flush with the body.
One-man door installer with no fuss. HF hasn't sold it in years. Much of what they sell is junk, but this thing is golden.

[doowopper]

+
For handling wheels I use a long handled shovel. Lots of leverage with the handle, enough clearance to push down and a little shove and the wheel is on.

[72SB]

I have many "use once but worth every penny" tools. A valve spring, Crane, that was $100 20 years ago and now extinct but worth every penny. I have used it several times for swapping springs with heads on engine and engine installed.

Few homemade ones to...like this spark plug socket mod for getting plug in/out of that one cyl the header makes difficult. It slides on plug sideways and a open wrench to turn the cut down head to loosen, then just remove plug by hand

[truckster]

I needed a holding tool for the balancer on my daughter's Subaru. I was going to weld one up (they list for over $50 on Amazon, and who's got time to wait...) but then I got smart. I grabbed a piece of 1" square tube off my metal pile and drilled two 3/8" holes in it and ran 2" bolts through the holes. It worked like a charm. I threw it aside in case I ever need it again.

[LS short box]

LS engine tools. Balancer removal and install tool. Valve spring removal tool. Timing cover alignment tool. Oil pump alignment tool. Push rod length checker.

[cj847]

Following up, I saw this on TV this morning. Sema new tool award winner. But, a little expensive for me.


https://www.liftwithtrac.com/pages/t...mance-features

https://www.liftwithtrac.com/products/trac-tire-jack