Brett Mclean made a brush plate spring adjustment tool that is pretty darn skippy!! With his permission he agreed to let me write an article about the tool. Most of this article are his words and pictures. If you're interested then click the read more link. Enjoy and thanks Brett for letting me put this out there for others! |
Below you will see the boogered up com plate spring. You will notice that it's bent at the rivet and at the "V" of the spring.
First start at the tip of the brush spring and straighten this out first. To do this you have GOT to have a good pair of pliers with an end of less than 1/16 inch at the tip and a wood skewer. Use wood so you will not scratch the metal.
Notice below using the tool as a break and with the skewer the bend can be restored nicely.
After a little work and gently bending the spring you will see the "V" is back.
Now we have to get the metal to lay flat and provide pressure on the com brush. Slide the tool all the way to the rear ( Dirt might block the way ) then push and "pet" the flat part of tip down while raising the kink at the rivet GENTLY. (Note different chassis but a better picture)
Tool is nice and smooth but you can use a rounded bamboo skewer too. Hard to describe, but gently pet the arm, like you pet a kitten, if it arches up slip the tool under and pet the under part while you hold the V still, This should get it straight. Also it puts some spring back in the brush plate.
Turned out pretty good considering I use this chassis as my Mule to make sure the tool fits well, it's been "adjusted" dozens of times.
Thanks again Bret Mclean for sharing your TOOLtorial!!!