Wiha High Torque Gearless Topra Ratchet

[algirdas]

Dear All:

Last weekend I did some serious wrenching on the M100 including changing the transaxle oil, coil packs, plug wires, installing Dave’s short shift kit, changing the coolant, cleaning the coolant overflow tank and getting the car ready to bleed the brakes. I realize that for most of you the things I did are no big thing, but for me it was one of my first real forays into the bowels of the beast.

After spending nine hours and ninety dollars on new tools trying to reinstall the bolt that holds in the speedometer cable, I came away with the inescapable conclusion that these cars are assembled in some very special, highly ordered manner and that working on these cars necessarily involves determining the reverse order of assembly for disassembly and then reversing the order again for re-assembly. Needless to say, I was discovering these procedures on a trial and error basis service manuals notwithstanding. I am also convinced that having the right set of tools will making living with these cars long-term a less painful experience (after nine hours of trying to re-install that speedo takeoff bolt, my hands look as if I went a full ten rounds fighting Enright’s kitten-and ending up losing the fight!).

One tool that really saved my bacon last weekend was my Wiha High Torque Gearless Topra Ratchet. The black shaft is a flexible shaft with a spinning collar at the end. It enables you to hold the socket over the bolt and then bend the shaft for better access. The handle is very comfortable and allows you to impart up to 200 inch-pounds of torque. The handle contains a gearless ratchet which makes turning bolts real easy and you can choose forward, reverse or locked. Slightest bit of movement and the bolt is turning and single handed operation is especially easy.

For more information, see:

http://www.wihatools.com/pro_TOPRA.htm

Works like a charm. Made in Germany and available pretty much everywhere. Around $40 for a basic set. Be careful and don’t make the mistake of only buying the ratcheting handle.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Ekapol]

Whoa. That was quite some list Thinking about it I also did exactly almost the very same thing. So much fun changing the transmission oil. I even had the coat-hanger bent for hanging the fluid container to the bonnet as the oil slowly flowed down the gear box.

A neophyte at best, I have nothing to brag about. Slowly attack little project one at a time

Thanks for sharing. I remember using all socket extensions I have with a lot of good thought to whoever designed it. Hope it will get easier next time with better tools.

[algirdas]

Dear All:

Here are some pictures of the gearless ratchet I am talking about.

I can't say enough good things about it as far as making working on an M100 easier.

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Enright]

Nice pics. Looks useful.

after nine hours of trying to re-install that speedo takeoff bolt, my hands look as if I went a full ten rounds fighting Enright’s kitten-and ending up losing the fight!

I still have no idea what that was all about though...

[algirdas]

Dear Neil:

Didn't you once have a run-in with your kitten and your gonads? Or did I misunderstand that posting?

Sincerely,

Algirdas

[Enright]

Cor that took some finding!

When I typed "kitten" and "enright13" into the search function it only returned one thread - the "Joke of the Day" one. Suspicious.

6 pages back I found a certain story that I had read and posted - here.

I understand now why you thought that. I didn't edit it at all (and the post titles are easy to miss). But just to clear things up, I've never had a kitten, and my gonads are fine thank you!!!

[GeoffSmith]

It wasn't anything to do with your "scalded cat" signature was it? That had a lot of people confused!

[Dave M]

But just to clear things up, I've never had a kitten, and my gonads are fine thank you!!!

I forgot about that story. Priceless.