For more years then I care to admit, I made do with whatever tools I had on hand, or what I could come by on the cheap. Kids, home, weddings, school. You all know the drill. Harbour freight, K-Mart, whatever was on sale, no matter how poor the quality, as long as it would get the immediate job done.
I am fortunate these days in that I am in a possition to be able to get the right tools for the job. One of my favorite categories of tools to scrounge up are the service tools made by Kent Moore that were sold to the dealerships and mechanics specifically for the trifive.
I am in the middle of redoing a four series posi unit. I have a couple of the Kent Moore tools for that job, bearing installers, yoke remover and installer, others. But there are others that I am always on the look out for. Right now, I need to separate the lower pinion bearing from the pinion. You can use a big bearing separator to do this, and I have one, but I always wanted the correct service tool. The service tool is actually two tools, a holder/receiver and a pair of C shaped collars for the receiver. In the years I have been looking I have never found a complete set. But this past week I found the receiver up for sale on eBay from one seller, and the C shaped collars on sale by another seller. So I made a deal with each of them and the tools arrived tonight.
Truth be told, every time I get my hands on a vintage USA made tool or piece of vintage automotive service equipment, I marvel at how well built and designed they are and truly lament how far away from that we have gotten in this country.
As an example, here is the Kent Moore lower pinion bearing removal tool. You should feel the weight of these tools.
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I am fortunate these days in that I am in a possition to be able to get the right tools for the job. One of my favorite categories of tools to scrounge up are the service tools made by Kent Moore that were sold to the dealerships and mechanics specifically for the trifive.
I am in the middle of redoing a four series posi unit. I have a couple of the Kent Moore tools for that job, bearing installers, yoke remover and installer, others. But there are others that I am always on the look out for. Right now, I need to separate the lower pinion bearing from the pinion. You can use a big bearing separator to do this, and I have one, but I always wanted the correct service tool. The service tool is actually two tools, a holder/receiver and a pair of C shaped collars for the receiver. In the years I have been looking I have never found a complete set. But this past week I found the receiver up for sale on eBay from one seller, and the C shaped collars on sale by another seller. So I made a deal with each of them and the tools arrived tonight.
Truth be told, every time I get my hands on a vintage USA made tool or piece of vintage automotive service equipment, I marvel at how well built and designed they are and truly lament how far away from that we have gotten in this country.
As an example, here is the Kent Moore lower pinion bearing removal tool. You should feel the weight of these tools.
