Young Ed Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 While trying to liberate a headlight switch for Mike Maker I decided I was sick of using pliers on the bezels for the switches. Looked around for a suitable item to use for a homemade tool. Ended up with a used head bolt. I drilled a hole down the center for the switch to fit into and then dremeled it a little to leave behind 2 fingers to go into the bezel. Popped it on the switch and twisted the bezel right off. And if you had a stubborn one you could put the bolt in a socket and really get some leverage. Just hope the little arms on the bolt dont break off! 1 Quote
Niel Hoback Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 I use snap ring pliers with angle tips to unscrew them too. Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Picture???? I have a picture of Ed's tool. I just pictured it in my mind. Quote
dezeldoc Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 I used a old deep socket, made one for the headlamp and also the antenna. Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Back in the 70's & 80's I always bought cars without a radio, then bought a nice one cheaper and better than the ones that came in the cars. That also meant, the cars had no antenna's. So.....to install the antenna's I bought an antenna wrench. Have two or three of them different sizes laying in the drawer. Quote
Fluid drive Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Hey Young Ed: Snap On used to make a tool for those bezels. I can't find mine just now but the last time I checked they could still find it listed in their tool offerings but the guy couldn't come up with it. Sounds as if you should make a few more of those and market them! Quote
aero3113 Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Ed, Should I even ask ??????????????????????????????????? Quote
1947PLEVY Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Way to go Ed: Necessity is the key to invention. Primitive, but suitable and it works too. Take Care and God Bless Us All.. John 47Plevy Quote
Young Ed Posted February 20, 2009 Author Report Posted February 20, 2009 Ed, Should I even ask ??????????????????????????????????? I made a cd for a friend of mine who was pregnant and that is the picture I took for the back cover. So far no one has ever guessed correctly what the little dinosaur is standing on. Quote
Young Ed Posted February 20, 2009 Author Report Posted February 20, 2009 Inside of a headliner? Nope Quote
Frank Elder Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Good grief! Charlie Brown AAARRGGGH! Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 I'd say he's standing on your head, Ed. Handy looking tool. I end up using one of those small pocket screwdrivers, and tap it with a small hammer. But, that only works on one side at a time. Quote
Young Ed Posted February 20, 2009 Author Report Posted February 20, 2009 It worked quite well so far Bob. Goffy thing though the bezel for the heater switch is slightly different size so it won't quite work on that one. Might have been able to make it dual purpose if the one size drill bit hadn't been too dull to use. Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 It worked quite well so far Bob. Goffy thing though the bezel for the heater switch is slightly different size so it won't quite work on that one. Might have been able to make it dual purpose if the one size drill bit hadn't been too dull to use. Ooops, it's back to the drawing board. Quote
Young Ed Posted February 20, 2009 Author Report Posted February 20, 2009 Good thing I've got a few more old headbolts to play around with Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Good thing I've got a few more old headbolts to play around with If you run short, let me know. I've got almost a complete set of old ones too in a baggy. Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 It would seem that a person could find a hollow metal tube, that was sturdy enough for the task, and then do the notch on the end without drilling thru the middle of a bolt. Lazy man's way out perhaps. Quote
Young Ed Posted February 20, 2009 Author Report Posted February 20, 2009 Would possibly work Bob but if you can't turn it by hand how will you turn the tube? my other thought was a piece of square stock but this bolt was handier Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Just one of my "what if" kinda thoughts. I guess you could use a pair of pliers to turn the tube if needed. Or the small vice grips. Quote
Niel Hoback Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 Again, try some snap ring pliers with 90 degree tips. Plenty of leverage and one size fits all. Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted February 21, 2009 Report Posted February 21, 2009 Bob's idea is a good one too. You could use electrical conduit pipe, or just plain old galvanized pipe. Just pick the size you need and put a notch on the end of it. For a handle, drill a hole in one end and stick a steel rod through it. Or...........if you really want to get with it, weld a handle on it. 1 Quote
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