Did you ever have one of those mornings?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 5,964
Likes: 37
From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Car: 90 RS 'Vert, 88 IROC-Z, 88 Firebird
Engine: 305 ci tbi, 305 ci tpi, 350 ci tpi
Transmission: WC-T5, WC-T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.27, 3.27
Did you ever have one of those mornings?
The latest news from Top-Down Solutions:
Last week I ran into a snag on the TTA version of the brace. It requires better tooling to hold the end pieces in place prior to bending the angle. I had set that project aside to complete another new product that requires track testing this weekend. I finished them yesterday, so I was able to get back to the steering braces. It warms up enough this morning to head out to the workshop to get back on the Steering Brace construction. I started to use my 1/4 die grinder to take a little off some tooling that was giving me fits. The quick coupling comes out of the end promptly. Grab it and tighten it back into the grinder with a wrench. It's tough to tighten it all the way due to the exhaust port getting in the way. Less than 2 seconds later off it comes again! This time I take it into the garage and use a deep socket to tighten it with the grinder mounted in the vise. OK, that's not coming off again. Safety glasses, hearing protection, dust mask al back on. Start grinding. This time I'm holding the coupling to take any effect of vibration off it. Poof! Off the coupling comes again. Only this time the female coupling came apart rather than the male coupling coming free of the die grinder. So the search begins for the 3 ball bearings that are required for the QC. One found, then the second. The third eludes me. My project stalled for lack of a stupid ball bearing (there I go assigning intelligence or lack thereof to a ball bearing). So, I'm off to Home Depot for a new quick connect coupling.
It looks as if I'm about a week delayed from my original estimate. I just wanted to give you guys an update. I felt I had to share.
Lon
Aka Top-Down Solutions
Last week I ran into a snag on the TTA version of the brace. It requires better tooling to hold the end pieces in place prior to bending the angle. I had set that project aside to complete another new product that requires track testing this weekend. I finished them yesterday, so I was able to get back to the steering braces. It warms up enough this morning to head out to the workshop to get back on the Steering Brace construction. I started to use my 1/4 die grinder to take a little off some tooling that was giving me fits. The quick coupling comes out of the end promptly. Grab it and tighten it back into the grinder with a wrench. It's tough to tighten it all the way due to the exhaust port getting in the way. Less than 2 seconds later off it comes again! This time I take it into the garage and use a deep socket to tighten it with the grinder mounted in the vise. OK, that's not coming off again. Safety glasses, hearing protection, dust mask al back on. Start grinding. This time I'm holding the coupling to take any effect of vibration off it. Poof! Off the coupling comes again. Only this time the female coupling came apart rather than the male coupling coming free of the die grinder. So the search begins for the 3 ball bearings that are required for the QC. One found, then the second. The third eludes me. My project stalled for lack of a stupid ball bearing (there I go assigning intelligence or lack thereof to a ball bearing). So, I'm off to Home Depot for a new quick connect coupling.
It looks as if I'm about a week delayed from my original estimate. I just wanted to give you guys an update. I felt I had to share.
Lon
Aka Top-Down Solutions
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 5,964
Likes: 37
From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Car: 90 RS 'Vert, 88 IROC-Z, 88 Firebird
Engine: 305 ci tbi, 305 ci tpi, 350 ci tpi
Transmission: WC-T5, WC-T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.27, 3.27
As I was carrying the air pistol I've borrowed back to it's storage spot it dawns on me. BB, Ball Bearing, hmmm, about the same size. Yep, after two tries to reassemble it I got the quick-coupling back together. No trip to Home Depot necessary after all. Swedish innovation in action! Lon
Supreme Member
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
From: Woodland Hills, CA USA
Car: Yes...
Engine: Last time I checked...
Transmission: See "Engine"...
I've been having one of those days. 
A little creative head-butting with my supervisor.
On the bright side, if it were easy, then everyone would be doing it.
A little creative head-butting with my supervisor.On the bright side, if it were easy, then everyone would be doing it.
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