Preferred Tools for Volvo Maintenance Seeking Expert Advice

[wheelsup]

Thanks.

The Harbor Freight 301 piece mechanic's set is very impressive. Looks like you get a lot for $150.
I occasionally break stuff. I take it these tools are not warrantied.

All their hand tools have a warranty but I believe if you read it you actually have to mail the piece back to them...so add in shipping and the downtime and it will get old. Sears? Just stop in and swap it out.

Is there a similar Sears set that contains the necessary tools? Do I need the SAE or am I being short
sighted in thinking I'll only be working in the metric system?

The one I linked to is the one I've used, first set I ever got, and it's done everything from brakes to PCV to just pulling the motor/tranny.

I'll have to buy one of those Sears tool chests on wheels to store my new toys.

The sears set actually comes in a nicely organized box. If you want to spend the $$ on a roller go ahead but that is not needed.

I will look more at the Harbor Freight site. It's hard to believe you can buy a torque wrench
for $19 that actually works. Do you need to calibrate this every year or so?

I have a cheapie torque wrench and every time I've used it to put on bolts other than my lug nuts I end up snapping them off or close to it.

Just don't do it. Craftsman torque wrench on sale around Thanksgiving is the best bet.

In terms of chemical tools what do folks prefer for freeing up bolts? PB blaster? And then there's anti
seize spray that has been suggested for plugs. And lock-tight to keeping bolts secure. Haven't looked
for these yet - are these obvious brands or is there quite a varied selection of these chemical tools.
And the carb spray - I've read this is use to detect vacuum leaks. Any others?

Thanks

I never had luck with that carb cleaner trick. But it's a good cleaner. PB Plaster is good. Anti-seize is more like a paste. Autozone, Advance Auto, and Wal-Mart carry the cleaners, I think I got my anti-seize at a NAPA or Advance Auto.

[EddieH]

Thanks.

The Harbor Freight 301 piece mechanic's set is very impressive. Looks like you get a lot for $150.
I occasionally break stuff. I take it these tools are not warrantied.

Is there a similar Sears set that contains the necessary tools? Do I need the SAE or am I being short
sighted in thinking I'll only be working in the metric system?

I'll have to buy one of those Sears tool chests on wheels to store my new toys.

I will look more at the Harbor Freight site. It's hard to believe you can buy a torque wrench
for $19 that actually works. Do you need to calibrate this every year or so?

My PCV kit arrived today from FCP Groton. I believe it has the Volvo style clamps. Are these the best
clamps to use? They seem like a pain to deal with but I suspect they are more reliable if you have the
right tool to install/remove them.

Plan to start collecting tools and begin my PCV project once I'm fully stocked with tools. If my car doesn't
explode after the PCV job I'll tackle the timing belt, water pump, thermostat, and coolant hoses next.

In terms of chemical tools what do folks prefer for freeing up bolts? PB blaster? And then there's anti
seize spray that has been suggested for plugs. And lock-tight to keeping bolts secure. Haven't looked
for these yet - are these obvious brands or is there quite a varied selection of these chemical tools.
And the carb spray - I've read this is use to detect vacuum leaks. Any others?

Thanks

Check out the post from wheelsup at the top of this page with the link to the Sears site. I'm of the mindset that you get what you pay for. While HF may be good for some things, I personally would buy the Craftsman set and have the lifetime warranty and not worry about something breaking. As for frozen or hard to remove bolts/screws, PB blaster is good. AeroKroil, if you can find it, is better in my opinion. I use it quite often at work, and it is good stuff.

Eddie

[rjaywhit]

I've got to give a 'shout out' to PB blaster. I used it on everything during my head gasket job. I was very anxious about getting the exhaust manifold off. I let the manifold nuts soak with PB blaster overnight and the next day the nuts came off like butter. Amazing stuff. Just remember to give it time to work.

[cn90]

For the serpentine belt tensioner, no need to buy the IPD tool or using coins etc. Here is the $1.00 solution.

1. Go to any hardware store and buy 2 metal plumbing plugs with the square head being 5/8" or 3/4". This is usually the 1" plumbing plug (1" means the threaded portion has 1" in diameter, but the square part is smaller).



2. The reason for 2 metal plumbing plugs is that:
- one for glovebox (in case you need it thousands of miles away from home) and
- one for your garage's toolbox.

3. Grind opposite sides of the plug threads flat with either:
- Bench Grinder
- File (yes you can file by hand)
- Belt Sander (turn the belt sander upside down for ease of use).

4. Then use this tool with an adjustable wrench.
It works every time for me.
And the fit is perfect in that square hole.

Here is what it looks like. Hope this helps:

[wheelsup]

genius

[matthew1]

If you guys want to buy using this link I get 6-7% of your purchase.

MVS-Amazon Craftsman link

Wheelsup's 260-pc Craftsman is currently out of stock at Amazon, but they have numerous other Craftsman sets. I have a pretty substantial Craftsman 3/8th socket set metric/SAE, I got about 10 years ago, and I guard it jealously. It's been nothing but dependable.

I put it in the trunk on long trips just in case. I bought a big socket for lug nuts a la carte and keep that in the case.

My mom told me "buy the best and you'll never be disappointed" and I try to follow that advice.

At the very least it's fuel for the quality!-vs-cheap! fights I have with my wallet.

[1997volvo850]

Matthew,

I went to Sears to look around and the 300 piece mechanics set seems to have everything I need plus
a heck of a lot of things I will never use for $499. The 260 piece set is in stock and on sale.

The Harbor Freight 301 piece set seems very similar to the Sears set. I suspect the quality is a little
different? The warranty is.

I am still trying to decide what to do. To buy a huge set or to buy piecemeal. I did most of my air pump
job with a 10mm and a 12mm. I'm worried 90% of one of these large sets will never get used.

Are the deep sockets a real good idea? Both the Harbor Freight and the Sears 300 piece collections have
a pretty good sampling of these. Plus the Torx sockets. I will have to compare the 260 set to the 300 piece set.

I'll have to start making a list of the tools I use when working on my 850. Might help the future 850 person.

Sears also has the 3 ton car jacks, a jack, and the wheeled cart for working under the car. Sounds like I need
at least the car jacks. Can probably get by with my car's jack to get her up - but a little bit of a pain turning the jack.

If I go with the Sears tools I will buy using the link you provided.

Quick question, may warrant another thread, but do you see the 850 disappearing over the next several years?
I continuously see posts about cars ruined due to timing belts, turned into parts cars, etc. You've been doing this
for a while so I thought I'd ask.Has activity/interest in the 850 been declining or increasing over the years? I might
think interest would increase as folks try to take care of their cars better and possibly decrease as people get rid
of the cars. Do you see a lot of 850's heading to the parts bin? I'd like to keep mine going for the next 10 years if
I can. This site could definitely help any 850 owner that knows about it keep their car going a lot longer.

Thanks

[XxJenoxX]

We've got a few regular MacGuyvers around here!

[wheelsup]

After buying the 260 piece set I need to buy torx and hex sockets, a craftsman universal joint set, along with other minor tools. They were relatively low in cost (I bought the torx and hex sockets from harbor freight for <$8 per set). $500 for a "mechanics" tool set is a bit much for my blood. For half that you can have the 260 piece set along with other needed sockets and tools like vice grips from Lowes.

As for jacks/jackstands I hear the harbor freight jacks leak over time. Might be better off going Craftsman with that. I do have a harbor freight engine hoist though and so far (3 lifts) so good. Also get a set of ramps, I love dropping those down and driving up on them. So easy. My wife bought them for me for my birthday for $40 from pepboys on sale. I believe she got the 6000# version, they were wider and studier than the smaller ones.

[wheelsup]

Quick question, may warrant another thread, but do you see the 850 disappearing over the next several years?
I continuously see posts about cars ruined due to timing belts, turned into parts cars, etc. You've been doing this
for a while so I thought I'd ask.Has activity/interest in the 850 been declining or increasing over the years? I might
think interest would increase as folks try to take care of their cars better and possibly decrease as people get rid
of the cars. Do you see a lot of 850's heading to the parts bin? I'd like to keep mine going for the next 10 years if
I can. This site could definitely help any 850 owner that knows about it keep their car going a lot longer.

Thanks

Personally I don't think you will have any issues obtaining parts in 10 years. Look at the 240's out there, 20+ years old. And they sold less of those. The 850 was an iconic car for Volvo that was extremely popular (as far as Volvos go). Interest will decrease as people get rid of them, that is just how the world works. I'm proud to say I have the only 850's in my 220 unit subdivision. What can I say I like being different.