GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: b4rks on 24 October 2007, 19:31
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Story so far:
*Have zero mechanical know how.
*Bought a mk2 8v
*Have got it booked into the garage on Friday to have everything serviced/looked at/fixed etc... and have budgetted a grand so hopefully it should be sweet when it's back.
*Realised this can't continue!
*Bought a Haynes manual
*Introduced myself to a neighbour who until know i've never spoken to who is always tinkering with his Celica GT4 - (he showed me round it and literally EVERYTHING on it has been replaced - it's immaculate!!)
So ambitious as it may be I'm hoping with a bit of common sense, and the ability to read I should be able to start learning about my golf properly.
Here's where I need your help mechanical chaps, can you give me a reasonably concise list of the essential car related tools I'm going to need.
To give you the picture - I have NONE! well bar a sh!t screwdriver and a drill for putting up shelves. What should I get? Including things like I dunno - axle stands, or a jack???
Cheers fellas
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axle stands and a jack are a good start
if you want good but cheap (ish) tools you can't go far wrong with the halfords professional range
well made, good quality and a lifetime guarantee.
get yourself a socket set, oil filter wrench, oil catch tank, multimeter (not essential but good for electrical problems- try maplins for cheap ones), set of screw drivers
it is down to personal preference at the end of the day and depends on what jobs you are going to be doing
for std servicing and repair then the above should be ok.
welcome to mk2 ownership - a very rewarding car to own.
post up some pics
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great post and idea... am pretty much in the same boat with my mk3 :smiley:
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would reccomend the halfords proffesional range, good tools
make sure you get a 1/4", 3/8" and a 1/2" drive ratchets, and if you can get a felixible head ratchet instead of, or if your budget stretches, as well as. its surprising how handy they come.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_173083_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_76863_crumb_33958-31562-76859_parentcategoryrn_76863#
something like that would be a good start, but you would definately need to add to it
a set or 2 of mole grips always comes in handy
if you do buy a set of spanners, get another aswel as there are often times when you need 2
a decent set of allen keys, or even a set that goes onto the ratchet
if i think of anything else i will let you know :smiley:
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I have some Halfords proffesional tools, some snap-on, and other stuff like Mac tools and got the Halfords proffesional set.
I would say for a enthusiast the Halfords pro is fantastic, they will take a beating and seam to last very well.
Lifetime guarantee, nothing has broken on me yet, 2 years down the line, can't say a bad word against it
You would also require a few extras such as:
Deeper sockets
Breaker bar
Longer extensions etc
Sukhi.
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lots of WD40 and a tub of copper slip
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lots of WD40 and a tub of copper slip
That should read Plusgas :cool: :cool:
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im a mechanic by trade and use snap on stuff, i then got this set when it was on offer £120, its my "spare" set but its good enough to be my first i managed to get hold of another to give to a friend who loves to tinker and learn... ok its only a 3/8 set and times you mite need bigger or smaller but for generall use it is very very good...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Snap-On-77-Piece-3-8-Drive-Service-Socket-set_W0QQitemZ320173445563QQihZ011QQcategoryZ30917QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
P.S i have no idea who the seller is im not advertising on behalf or anything just telling you what i know :smiley:
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lots of WD40 and a tub of copper slip
That should read Plusgas :cool: :cool:
They both have there advantages, up until recently i have only ever used wd40 then about 3 weeks ago i bought some plusgas and have found it better on some things although still prefer wd40 for others
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Thanks everyone that replied - off to Halfords we go at the weekend.
Just one little question - what's copper slip?
welcome to mk2 ownership - a very rewarding car to own.
post up some pics
(http://www.b4rks.me.uk/images/1.JPG)
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(http://www.b4rks.me.uk/images/2.JPG)
^ My baby :)
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I would say you need a small trolley jack and at least one pair of axle stands.
Set of metric combination spanners from 8mm up to 20mm.
3/8 and 1/2 drive sockets of the same range, and an assortment of extensions. Any bigger ones you need, buy as and when you need them.
Set of good quality metric allen keys.
Small and medium size hammers.
Set of screw drivers which should include No.1 philips, No.2 philips and an assoartment of flat blade screw divers. And No.2 dumpy philips and straight.
Set of punches.
Spark plug socket.
Wire snips, normal pliers, long nose pliers and medium size vice grips.
This lot should get you started. Anything else you need you will find out as you go along. Specialist tools are not worth buying unless you know you will need them again. Engine tuning equipment depends on how confident you are on doing the job. Its pointless buying things like timing lights, CO meters etc unless you know what you are doing.
No need to buy new all the time. There is alot of use equipment out there in the small ads that can be good quality.
Hope this helps.
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Story so far:
*Have zero mechanical know how.
*Bought a mk2 8v
*Have got it booked into the garage on Friday to have everything serviced/looked at/fixed etc... and have budgetted a grand so hopefully it should be sweet when it's back.
*Realised this can't continue!
*Bought a Haynes manual
So ambitious as it may be I'm hoping with a bit of common sense, and the ability to read I should be able to start Cheers fellas
Sounds like you & I have an awful lot in common!
Good post and thanks for all the helpful replies.
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Just one little question - what's copper slip?
It's copper grease mate :smiley:
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if you live in the midlands, use click and collect on the halfords website, as it is normally about 10% cheaper. Plus it will be ready to collect when you arrive. Well it always is in my store.
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get a girlfriend that works in the local halfrauds... or as i have done, get a girlfriend and a sister to work there! trade and staff discount... amaaazing!
another thing to buy is some engine cleaner, so when you have the bits off, give them a clean as you go along...and some carb cleaner...oh oh oh! and some kitchen roll...infact, Sh*t loads of kitchen roll... and if you have a garage, and dont already have a work surface, build one!
but, imo, the best thing to do, once you have all the tools... is keep them all organised! make sure everything has its place, buy storage equipment, and kepp it neat, at the end of every little tinker, have a tidy around! nothing like getting half way through a job, and not being able to find the 12mm spanner!
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^^^ cool, looks like tom26's car before i got my hands on it! :evil:
copper slip is usefull for putting on bolts etc, where you don't want corrosion. its cheap so buy a pot of it and slap some on your wheel bolts and where the wheel touches the hubs etc etc etc. it'll save time and stop damaged hands next time you undo something that was previously coated in the stuff.
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A torch
Wd40
a large hammer
are in my top 10 essential's
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get a girlfriend that works in the local halfrauds... or as i have done, get a girlfriend and a sister to work there! trade and staff discount... amaaazing!
Your girlfriends your sister.... :lipsrsealed:
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torque wrench
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who needs a trade discount when you know the guy on the till.
And your total is £3.99 :grin:
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Wire brush for rusty nuts and bolt heads
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Small Hammer. Medium Hammer. Bigger Hammer. F**K me thats a big hammer.
Breaker bar, medium breaker bar, Scaffolding pole.
Decent socket set + deep sockets in 13mm 17mm and 19mm
Short medium and long extension bars for your sockets.
13mm 10mm and 17mm spanners x 2
Copper grease, white grease, silicone spray
touch up paint for when you drill holes in the bodywork
nitrite or latex gloves
cable ties
gaffa tape :laugh:
Thats about my toolbox short of the sparking stuff!
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Tut tut....How could you forget Mole grips? :laugh:
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nooo ma gf aint ma sister, i dont live down south ya know! not inbread round here!
...joe, was you referring to my car? if so, excuse the alloys and the wing mirrors, mirrors have been changed and alloys are soon to go!
also get a good stanley knife! always handy and when your depressed you can cut yourself cos apparantly this solves it according to emo's...
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Inspection lamp with rough service bulb :laugh:
11mm brake spanner :smiley:
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...joe, was you referring to my car?
nah i don't know what happened there? my post was the first on the second page talking about the grey golf. how the hell have these posts got mixed up?!
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buh?! forum pixies i blame...
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Hahaha... or your name is Mr Blue and you actually WORK on Halfords tills!
Cheers for the discount today Blue. Nice one! :smiley: