Ever try to put a real long serpentine belt on by yourself? I've had great luck using them to hold the belt on the pulleys you already have it on till you get to the last one where some of them seem like you need four hands! I like the more springy ones for this as they can reach further to the open hood (make sure hood is secured open as they hurt if pulled down on your head!) if needed and holds the belt before you need bad language to start over again ... smile.

The stiffer black rubber ones are great and cheaper but great for holding up a brake caliper so the weight is not on the flex hose (NOT GOOD!) while you work on those.

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I've had to work alone and come up with some tricks, hope it can help you,
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

Another valuable tool is a wire coathanger. I learned that trick from an old Harley guy while adjusting the pushrods on my bike. They kept the pushrod tubes up and out of the way. I have used them to support brake calipers so they don't hang from the hose, I have used them under the hood too for several applications.. They can be cut to size too w/ a good pair of cutters. And, the age old use for a wire coat hanger is to wire up that muffler because the mounts have rusted through.

Keep up the good site!! I am loving it!! Thanks!
Ben

Coat hangers are also cheap brazing rods.


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Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds

Wow! Great idea. I never thought to use bungee cords for a belt. Just wish i'd have ended up here a few days earlier. My knuckles are just starting to scab over from a van's belt i did friday

Just don't forget to use a solid prop for the hood - my head still hurts! Old thread cpaine - back to about a month after this format of site opened!

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

That is a good trick for the serp belt. Will surely give it a try next time as I have plenty bunggies sitting around. I use mine primarily to hold medium sized items out of the way for valve cover and intake jobs. Good tip Tom!

Jeff

btt
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston