Clothespins not what they used to be?

[Jim Yergin]

I am in the process of removing my camshaft with the engine in the car. Per the factory manual, I tried using spring loaded clothes pins to hold hold the tappets up to allow removal of the camshaft. The clothespins I used will not grip tight enough to hold the tappets up. Were clothespins better in 1941? Does anyone have any other suggestions? I was thinking of getting 12 cheap needle nose locking pliers from Harbor Freight.

Jim Yergin

[Joe Flanagan]

Jim, if I understand what you're doing, I have a tool that is specifically made for removing the springs, valves, etc. from a flathead engine so you can get the camshaft out. It compresses the spring so you can take out the keepers and lift the valves straight up out of the block. If that's what you're talking about, you're welcome to it. Do you already have all the valves out?

[Don Coatney]

Jim;

If your camshaft is indeed bent that may be why you are having the clothespin problem???????

[Plymouthy Adams]

only a steel camshaft will bend, cast iron will break there was a number of steel cams used..the suffix S will be affixed to those engine serial number that indeed came stock with a steel camshaft..the cam bearing supports as close as they are to each other would petty much prevent any bending..a cast cam shaft that is laid at an upright angle would have a tendency to warp due to shift..only by v-blocking will you be able to detect and measure the runout..

[greg g]

If yer going to harbor freight just get some of these spring clamps. Lat time I was there they were 89 cents each. they should hold up yout tappets just fine.

Chinese clothespines will never hold up American iron, but these might.

[Jim Yergin]

The valves are out. It is just the tappets I need to hold up to get the cam shaft out. The bag of clothespins says made in China.

Greg, that looks like a good idea, I will check them out.

Thanks to all.

Jim Yergin

[faucet47custom]

Sorry but I couldn't resist. I guess I am too "new school" AKA under 30 and I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I had read a manual on anything built in the last 20 years that referenced using clothes pins to hold engine parts in place to R & R anything. I just wanted to share with the classroom.

[Plymouthy Adams]

you need clothes pins from Australia, as the lifter are "down under"

[jd52cranbrook]

Sorry but I couldn't resist. I guess I am too "new school" AKA under 30 and I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I had read a manual on anything built in the last 20 years that referenced using clothes pins to hold engine parts in place to R & R anything. I just wanted to share with the classroom.

You may not believe it now, but many things have gone by the wayside since 20 years or more ago. Some of which should never have left.

[jd52cranbrook]

But that's a whole other topic, sorry,,,,,,,

[Don Jordan]

Speaking of clothes pins... remember pants stretchers?

I get a catalogue from Vermont Store that has the old clothes pins - no spring, just wood.

You're right a lot of stuff has gone the way of the buggy whip.

[boxer_inv]

you need clothes pins from Australia, as the lifter are "down under"

I'll ask the missus to put aside some downunder clothes pegs from our washing line - happy to ship them wherever!

[Joe Flanagan]

Buggy whips can sometimes be found in people's bedroom closets. With the clothespins. They're just used for less innocent purposes nowadays.

[Don Coatney]

Buggy whips can sometimes be found in people's bedroom closets. With the clothespins. They're just used for less innocent purposes nowadays.

So Joe, how many buggy whips have you found in people's bedroom closets?????

[Joe Flanagan]

Maybe it's just the people I hang around with.

You don't see many clotheslines around anymore and you certainly don't see any buggies. Deviants? Plenty of those.

[Plymouthy Adams]

maybe a better guestion would be, Joe, how many other folk's closets are you known to be looking into? any cooking utensils?

[Joe Flanagan]

I plead the fifth. We've run Jim's thread completely off the rails and into the gutter.

[Young Ed]

I plead the fifth. We've run Jim's thread completely off the rails and into the gutter.

"we" Joe?

[Plymouthy Adams]

its shake and bake and I helped...

road trip..don't ask me where I am going but I will let you know when I get back...

[Joe Flanagan]

"we" Joe?

I knew I wasn't going to get away with that.

"Lead us not into temptation. We can find it all by ourselves."

[Don Coatney]

I plead the fifth. We've run Jim's thread completely off the rails and into the gutter.

So you also found buggy whips in the gutter too??? Do you have a "thing" with buggy whips?

[Niel Hoback]

Why the heck would you want to whip a buggy? And how far OT can we get?

[Jim Yergin]

If yer going to harbor freight just get some of these spring clamps. Lat time I was there they were 89 cents each. they should hold up yout tappets just fine.

Chinese clothespines will never hold up American iron, but these might.

Greg,

Thanks to your suggestion, I went to Harbor Freight and found spring clips just the right size at only 49 cents a piece. They worked like a charm and the cam shaft came out without any trouble.

Sorry to interupt the discussion on buggy whips, just wanted to let Greg know that his advice was much appreciated.

Jim Yergin

[Joe Flanagan]

Jim, it was my fault this thread went so far out of whack. I'm not a well man.

Anyway, I'm glad it worked out.