There are just some days I wish I didn't turn wrenches

[OR VietVet]

Then I drove to Sweet Home, Oregon and bought some tools from a guy that I had purchased, for $850, S/O new digital 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive flex head torque wrench set that typically sells on the truck for around $2200. He had only used the 3/8" drive 2 times. You could see he was not lying. Each will do inch pounds, foot pounds and NM.

He contacted me again with these for sale:

https://shop.snapon.com/product/Digital-Display-Circuit-Testers/Multi-Probe-Ultra/EECT900: Normally sells for $484 and I got for $200. Has never been used.

Pardon Our Interruption...

Got the new, never used bore scope for $300

I also picked up a Mac Tool SXT10LRA-10 piece twist socket set for $100, again, new never used. $100

 

[OR VietVet]

Now for something that I am just putting out there in case anyone wants this. Snap On EEHD301-6 scanner with docking station and case and all the accessories. I looked at ebay and saw them for sale in a wide range. Check for yourself. I only saw one that had all the accessories and the case. This guy has it all and is updated thru 2022.
It has the docking station as well. He is asking $1500ish. I truly believe that I can talk him down to close to $1000 plus buyer pays shipping.

In case you are wondering, this guy used to run the truck shop and they gave him gobs of money to supplement his tool collection and when he retired, they said to take the tools.

He has other new/used once tools for sale: Mac Tool Master Puller set #STP600B-$100, Mac Tool P/S puller set #PSPKita $100, S/O Small Slide Hammer puller set-CJ93B for $300ish, Mac Tool 5 piece twist socket set #SVT5LRA $100.

 

[OR VietVet]

Something I been meaning to ask. We have metric sockets and wrenches but why is all the sockets drive still in SAE and not metric?

I am thinking...1/4"=7mm drive, 3/8"=10mm drive, 1/2"=13mm drive, 3/4"=19mm drive and 1"=25mm drive.

 

[homesick]

Something I been meaning to ask. We have metric sockets and wrenches but why is all the sockets drive still in SAE and not metric?

I am thinking...1/4"=7mm drive, 3/8"=10mm drive, 1/2"=13mm drive, 3/4"=19mm drive and 1"=25mm drive.

I've wondered about that too.

The guess I've come up with is that maybe it was just simpler and/or cheaper to make fewer changes in the works. If Snap On made you buy new metric ratchets, but Mac let you use the SAE ratchets you already owned, whose tool truck would you be climbing into?

joe

 

[OR VietVet]

I've wondered about that too.

The guess I've come up with is that maybe it was just simpler and/or cheaper to make fewer changes in the works. If Snap On made you buy new metric ratchets, but Mac let you use the SAE ratchets you already owned, whose tool truck would you be climbing into?

joe

Makes sense. Afterall, The vehicles and other things are put together with nuts and bolts that are metric but who gives a damn what drives them.

 

[OR VietVet]

For some reason, today is another day where I completely regret not starting an automotive/light truck shop, of some sort. Had an opportunity one time in KCMO but it was just before I was moving to Oregon and was not a good time and thought I would go ahead and open a shop here. Got involved in the shop I was running and an off road club here and time got away. Now. all I see is shops being stacked up with business and even opening up multiple locations to handle it all. I am waiting to see what happens with the partnership of my shop owner friend. They are having some big disagreements and the building owner wants the other guy gone and my friend to stay there. The guy said he would help "reset" the shop and help with equipment if needed. My friend is going thru all that and on his family homefront, it looks like he is getting a divorce as well. He has good days and bad, attitude wise. He has some mood swings that can be a PITA but he is by far the best tech I have ever seen. I know if he separated from the "used truck lot" partner and stopped catering to him as much and paid more attention to retail customers, it would be great. He has people flock to him all the time but he needs another tech for the work flow and let the "former partner" know that he has to get in line too and pay more for the work.

I think I could invest and help smooth it all out but only after the two of them split and he stays at the shop where the building owner wants to set him up even better. I would have to have some guarantees. The partners are mulling over my friend having a bigger portion of the business and him taking 50% of profits instead of the 30% he takes now. Starting a shop by myself, is out of the question. It takes a lot of money for that and the equipment purchases. Tools are not a problem. At 72 and soon to be 73, it is something I know I can "manage and control" but the $$$ outlay is beyond me. To buy in on a new retail business, with my friend's shop is the better choice but waiting on the partnership decision is a PITA.

 

[homesick]

For some reason, today is another day where I completely regret not starting an automotive/light truck shop, of some sort. Had an opportunity one time in KCMO but it was just before I was moving to Oregon and was not a good time and thought I would go ahead and open a shop here. Got involved in the shop I was running and an off road club here and time got away. Now. all I see is shops being stacked up with business and even opening up multiple locations to handle it all. I am waiting to see what happens with the partnership of my shop owner friend. They are having some big disagreements and the building owner wants the other guy gone and my friend to stay there. The guy said he would help "reset" the shop and help with equipment if needed. My friend is going thru all that and on his family homefront, it looks like he is getting a divorce as well. He has good days and bad, attitude wise. He has some mood swings that can be a PITA but he is by far the best tech I have ever seen. I know if he separated from the "used truck lot" partner and stopped catering to him as much and paid more attention to retail customers, it would be great. He has people flock to him all the time but he needs another tech for the work flow and let the "former partner" know that he has to get in line too and pay more for the work.

I think I could invest and help smooth it all out but only after the two of them split and he stays at the shop where the building owner wants to set him up even better. I would have to have some guarantees. The partners are mulling over my friend having a bigger portion of the business and him taking 50% of profits instead of the 30% he takes now. Starting a shop by myself, is out of the question. It takes a lot of money for that and the equipment purchases. Tools are not a problem. At 72 and soon to be 73, it is something I know I can "manage and control" but the $$$ outlay is beyond me. To buy in on a new retail business, with my friend's shop is the better choice but waiting on the partnership decision is a PITA.

Just be careful.

joe

 

[OR VietVet]

Just be careful.

joe

Yea, I cannot let my emotions get away from me. He had said, "slipped I think but unsure", that if he had $20k he would buy out of his agreement with the other partner. Basically a $20k investment in the business. I did not react, I just continued to listen to him vent. He has not brought it up again but has repeated what he said about the building owner backing him, several times.

If he gets away from the existing partner, completely, and he stays there and let some time go by to see how he reacts to all of it and see what the building owner does, I may, repeat may, see about investing but his mood swings will have to change. He knows to not take anything happening to him, out on me. I will walk and he knows it. I know he has pressures, business and personal, but I like the shops to come to to have fun and not for drama.

 

[homesick]

Yea, I cannot let my emotions get away from me. He had said, "slipped I think but unsure", that if he had $20k he would buy out of his agreement with the other partner. Basically a $20k investment in the business. I did not react, I just continued to listen to him vent. He has not brought it up again but has repeated what he said about the building owner backing him, several times.

If he gets away from the existing partner, completely, and he stays there and let some time go by to see how he reacts to all of it and see what the building owner does, I may, repeat may, see about investing but his mood swings will have to change. He knows to not take anything happening to him, out on me. I will walk and he knows it. I know he has pressures, business and personal, but I like the shops to come to to have fun and not for drama.

I'll be up here in the bleachers, pulling for you.

joe

 

[OR VietVet]

If I could justify spending Snap On $, if I was in a shop a;; day, I can't though. I like Klein Tools equipment. I have a Klein Tools DVOM and a Laser Thermometer and this.

Cannot justify a new Snap On Thermal Imager at ebay, so I bought this set up:

 

[Fless]

My youngest son and I have been working on my step-son's 2004 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 (330k miles, and it shows), essentially replacing the front end. Upper and lower control arms, steering rack, struts, etc. We ran into a slight compatibility issue with the aftermarket lower ball joint on the passenger side. These bolt in with four bolts, but the bolt holes are slightly mis-cast. They are spaced as much as 1.5mm too close or apart, I don't recall, but we couldn't get all four bolts to thread at the same time.

After failing with the Rock Auto part, and the O'Reilly part, my son went to Toyota to get an OE part. The parts guy wasn't surprised and asked how many aftermarket ones we tried. He said he never sells the driver's side one, but apparently the aftermarket ones don't fit right, so he stocks plenty of them, and they're proud of them ($$). But they fit.

Just in case you ever run into this.

 

[OR VietVet]

My youngest son and I have been working on my step-son's 2004 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 (330k miles, and it shows), essentially replacing the front end. Upper and lower control arms, steering rack, struts, etc. We ran into a slight compatibility issue with the aftermarket lower ball joint on the passenger side. These bolt in with four bolts, but the bolt holes are slightly mis-cast. They are spaced as much as 1.5mm too close or apart, I don't recall, but we couldn't get all four bolts to thread at the same time.

After failing with the Rock Auto part, and the O'Reilly part, my son went to Toyota to get an OE part. The parts guy wasn't surprised and asked how many aftermarket ones we tried. He said he never sells the driver's side one, but apparently the aftermarket ones don't fit right, so he stocks plenty of them, and they're proud of them ($$). But they fit.

Just in case you ever run into this.

Thankfully, it is a RWD and not a 4x4. With only 79k miles on it and me inspecting all of it before we did our swap and money exchange, I know the steering and suspension is tight. Plus, I have a shop discount at the local Toyota dealer and get a decent price. Thanks for the info though.