Tools, Service and Tool shops

[Mark Sierant]

Part of the pleasure of Old Trucks is owning and operating a vast variety of tools. Collecting the tools to do the job in my books is as much fun as doing the job, until one of them lets you down.
Well after 20 years of service my favorite gear puller failed in the thread, I was sad to say goodbye but it had been a good relationship.

Ha the replacement, went out to Gasweld a chain of tool stores here in Australia and bought a new 6" gear puller that I was told was "tade quality never had one come back" salesmans words.

Went home to work pulling the timing gear of the crank from the Toydodge. Now this is were the relationship started ended and went downhill. The new pullers arms bent out and the threaded shaft buckled, NOT Happy at this point, borrowed a mates puller of came the gear.

Back to Gasweld, walked in the door let the salesman know about the tool and presented the 2 day old docket. I asked to see his best quality gear puller and out came a nice Hydrolic unit. He left me to look it over, I could not get the ram to work so I asked for assistance.

This is what I got from Mr Salesman"YOU HAVE BROKEN IT THAT IS ANOTHER TOOL I CANNOT SELL".
I bit back very loudly at this point so that the entire shop new what I thought about him and quality of his merchandise.

Things went downhill even further when he said I would recieve no Refund on my bent puller, Well I yelled at this "ARSEHOLE" AT GASWELD a little more untill I vented my spleen to the value of the tool. I plan to go back next Saturday a let him and his customers view this quality item again.

How do other restorers find the quality of tools in their location, a lot of tools now are made in Tawain or China. No longer can you find Australian Made, Made In Great Britt or the USA. Even when you go to Trade shops the old brand names are now made somewhere in SE Asia. I just want quality that lasts even if I have to pay twice the price I know that it will work when I need it.