MK3 Spit switches tool

[Velocita Rosso]

On the MK 3 Spitfire ,the dash switches are held on to the wood facia with circular,`indented` locking nuts
These are quite difficult to either undo or worse still ,tighten ...which allows them to be tightened correctly without them coming loose
Does anyone know of a bespoke tool that was used/produced for this particular job?

[piman]

Hello V.R.,

one source, http://www.holden.co.uk/displayproduct.asp?sg=3&pgCode=095&sgName=Maintenance&pgName=Tools&agCode=0796&agName=Problem+Solving+Tools&pCode=095.193, but being Holden's it is not cheap.

Relatively simple to make if you can find some suitably sized tube.

Alec

[Richard B]

Yes :)

I've seen them advertised somewhere, maybe Vehicle Wiring Products or some similar automotive electrical supplier.

Looks like a tube with two small lugs to engage the ring.

Also used on electric  guitars so as not to damage the wood.

[rotoflex]

Things like this appear from time to time on US ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200760031442

That auction has ended, but it might be worthwhile to contact the seller to see if he's got more.

[Velocita Rosso]

Thanks all ........pointing me in the right direction
However Holden.......lovely picture of the T handle.........not the important end
E mailed the deep south ,,

[Rumpith]

The difficult part is getting a hand with a spanner round the back to hold the nut!

[GT6 M]

Here what ye doo, simples,and wuks a treat.
1,   get some masking tape,and tape all round the item to be loosend
2,   take off the nobb bit, wee hole under neath, press some thing up,and pull off
3  , tape up ,or cover in grease, the inner bits / shank
4,   get a deep socket, or a length o pipe, that will fit owa the thing with at least an 1/8th to spare
5,   grease up the nut part too, Last  2 VVV important, honest it is. :)
6,   mix some Bod,ee filla up
7,   bung all around the outer nut
8,   bung some into socket, which should also have a smear o grease on it, not needed for pipe.
9,   push socket owa the nut
10, let bod,ee filla set a bit, and pull off
11, pare away excess bits
12, you now have a ready made  Thingy A Majig, which will doo whats needed.

made quite a few  speacial tools this way.

M

[Velocita Rosso]

796 wrote:

Here what ye doo, simples,and wuks a treat.
1,   get some masking tape,and tape all round the item to be loosend
2,   take off the nobb bit, wee hole under neath, press some thing up,and pull off
3  , tape up ,or cover in grease, the inner bits / shank
4,   get a deep socket, or a length o pipe, that will fit owa the thing with at least an 1/8th to spare
5,   grease up the nut part too, Last  2 VVV important, honest it is. :)
6,   mix some Bod,ee filla up
7,   bung all around the outer nut
8,   bung some into socket, which should also have a smear o grease on it, not needed for pipe.
9,   push socket owa the nut
10, let bod,ee filla set a bit, and pull off
11, pare away excess bits
12, you now have a ready made  Thingy A Majig, which will doo whats needed.

made quite a few  speacial tools this way.

M

Oh I do love British ingenuity........and as far putting a hand behind to grab nuts ....Im a bit puzzled
The bezel nut is on the front...you know, the chrome one with 6 slots
$12.99 from the states
Holden, not exactly the right one........and double the cost
Thanks all

[GT6 M]

Above was only if you canno get it off with some long nosed pliers.
if off, then its a doddle.

Keep in a Tin that says, Special Tools,   :) :)

M

[junkuser]

Heating the end of a piece of plastic electrical conduit till soft and pushing it onto the nut, molds the end to make a suitable tool also a way suitable for many designs of those nuts.
This one for Spitfire 4 but have used the same method for Zephyr ones.
Putting a hose clip around the end of the conduit before softening can help get a better result with the molding.

[Velocita Rosso]

Amazing what ingenuity we can portray .........
Just imagine if we were all shipwrecked together on a desert island.....we could build a Triumph out of a palm tree in four days ;D

[GT6 M]

OK the I,ll Capo, what you going to doo

1, try it with loong nosed pliers, and mark the dash,   :) :)
2, make a tool,  and get it off
3, go buy a one, at great cost.
4, cadje one

Spill the beans.   ;) ;)

M

[ferny]

michael_charlton wrote:

Amazing what ingenuity we can portray .........
Just imagine if we were all shipwrecked together on a desert island.....we could build a Triumph out of a palm tree in four days ;D

But who would you eat first...

[smithy]

[ct members only]

[Velocita Rosso]

ferny wrote:

But who would you eat first...

You could be the Admirable Crichton and we `d go hunting Scotsmen....or people who could not value cars properly
........and the tool is on its way from South Carolina........long nosed pliers indeed !