Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: dimwittedmoose51 on December 20, 2013, 05:27:59 PM

Title: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on December 20, 2013, 05:27:59 PM: Picked this up in the huge stash of stuff a month ago and finally unearthed it/. It says"T-1 Made in USA DC-86 MAC TOOLS " across the top. It likely compresses something like a really large snap ring or spring, but I can't find anything on the web or the MAC pdf tool catalog. Can anyone help with this strange but potentially useful tool?

Thanks

DM&FS
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: Bill Houghton on December 20, 2013, 08:02:15 PM: Can't help, but...it doesn't just compress it, it then holds it in place against serious pressure to turn it loose (thus the Vise-Grip type arrangement). That inclines me to think that you're right about the thing being compressed being a spring.

I'll follow along on this one, waiting to find out what it is. For bellows springs on a pipe organ...or the front axle hairpin spring on a 1938 Henway Light Four...or something like that.
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: Lostmind on December 20, 2013, 09:16:35 PM: Parking brake spring? So you can insert the cable in the pivot?
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on December 20, 2013, 09:56:51 PM: Now I'm curious as to what MAC says it is, assuming they respond to my email inquiry and photos I sent of it....maybe find out by the first of the year.

DM&FS
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: lauver on December 23, 2013, 07:34:14 PM: DWM,

I checked the 1952 MAC catalog and could not find that part number. Nor could I find any tools with a DC prefix.

But it looks like it could be a valve spring compressor. And, it looks like it could hold the spring compressed while you installed or removed the keepers. Just a thought...
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on December 23, 2013, 08:09:22 PM: Good timing there Lauver!! MAC responded via email today and that tool is a "dust cap/grease cap" remover, presumably from a recessed location. Hence the DC before the 86. They said they quit making the tool in 2002 and replaced it with a pair of pliers that does the same thing. One more mystery solved before Santa comes!!!

DM&FS
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: Nolatoolguy on December 23, 2013, 09:51:14 PM: I never knew there was such a tool.

I guess one more tool to add to my wishlist of tools. I mean eventually I gotta have one of every tool. LOL
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: oldtools on December 24, 2013, 03:26:02 AM: Wow!! never would have guessed that! still can't see how it would be used to remove dust caps by compressing?
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on December 24, 2013, 12:21:51 PM: I can only relate to VW style dust caps, but it wouldn't work for that applicaiton. The tips have a slight recess in them and I could see where that would help extract one that was in a recess somewhere.

DM&FS
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: skipskip on December 24, 2013, 08:20:21 PM: we usually think of vise grip as squeezing tight.

Perhaps these are so you squeeze 'just enough' and no more, keeping you from crushing the tin cap.

Skip
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: rusty on December 24, 2013, 09:00:38 PM: >squeeze 'just enough' and no more

Don't overlook the possability that it didn't work very well, it was, after all, replaced with a different design....

Search this tool on ebay and see all the people confidently claiming it to be what it is not ;P
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: mvwcnews on December 24, 2013, 09:45:08 PM: For another take on a dust cap removal tool, look at ( http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=2266511&typeCode=0 ). Only the user's brain coordinating with hand strength to control how much "squeeze" that one applies.
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: Bill Houghton on December 25, 2013, 12:19:59 AM: Quote from: mvwcnews on December 24, 2013, 09:45:08 PM
For another take on a dust cap removal tool, look at ( http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=2266511&typeCode=0 ). Only the user's brain coordinating with hand strength to control how much "squeeze" that one applies.
that looks a lot like the tools I used to be familiar with from my days as a grease monkey.
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: oldtools on December 28, 2013, 06:27:58 PM: Quote from: Bill Houghton on December 25, 2013, 12:19:59 AM
Quote from: mvwcnews on December 24, 2013, 09:45:08 PM
For another take on a dust cap removal tool, look at ( http://www.datamp.org/patents/displayPatent.php?number=2266511&typeCode=0 ). Only the user's brain coordinating with hand strength to control how much "squeeze" that one applies.
that looks a lot like the tools I used to be familiar with from my days as a grease monkey.

Ditto!! that or a slip jaw water pump pliers...
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on December 28, 2013, 06:33:29 PM: The slipjaw was what we used on the front wheel bearings on the VW's, after geting the micro cotter pin free of the speedo cable nub protruding on the driver's side front wheel.....my old Porsche was the same way.

YMMV

DM&FS
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: oldtools on December 28, 2013, 06:47:04 PM: OK!.. now I see.. first glance looks like tips were flat, but closer look I see a worn lip that could fit in the cap gap to pull it off.
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: Jacques on March 06, 2014, 11:45:15 AM: I have one of these tools-bought it back when they were being made. So, I let someone borrow it, they broke the teeth by over tighting it... I was on the net looking for replacement teeth & found your post. Just wondering if; while you were searching if you found how or where to get replacement parts. If so, please let me know.
Thanks, J
Title: Re: It's A MAC Tool. But It Doesn't Seem To Exist......
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on March 11, 2014, 03:22:25 PM: Not sure about replacement teeth, but if your MAC truck guy can't fix them, he should give you a new tool I would think, unless of course you have something in your stash to swap me for the whole tool. I doubt I'll be pulling many grease cap tips in my remaining years on the planet....lol

pm if you need to chat further

DM&FS