I recently bought a set of cool red anodized lugnuts for the Blaster.
The problem is, the finish is applied on top of chrome, so it is thin and easy to damage during installation. I needed to come up with a way to tighten the lugnuts without tearing up the finish on the very first install. Here's the easy way to do it, with no special tools required:
Get an old cotton rag. This is an retired tank top, but a torn-up T-shirt or pillowcase, etc, will work fine as well. Whatever you use, be warned that this method will put holes in the fabric, so don't use something you plan on wearing again.
Pick out a socket one size LARGER than is required to fit the nut. You have to leave space between the nut and socket for the rag. These nuts take a 14mm socket, so I grabbed a 15mm.
Fold the rag in half. Set the rag on the nut, push the socket down around it, and be sure the socket is gripping the nut securely. If it slips, you've damaged the finish, so be sure the socket is secure. Now, using a manual ratchet or torque wrench, tighten the nut down.
Slide the rag off, go to the next nut, and repeat the procedure. Depending on the thickness of the rag, you can often get four layers of material in between the nut and socket. The more cloth you can get in there, the better the protection you'll have. DO NOT USE AN IMPACT WRENCH FOR THIS JOB!! You WILL damage the lugnuts.
Here's the end result:
Enjoy! I'm not much of a redneck engineer, but this works too well not to share, and doesn't cost a dime if you already have the tools and a rag.
The problem is, the finish is applied on top of chrome, so it is thin and easy to damage during installation. I needed to come up with a way to tighten the lugnuts without tearing up the finish on the very first install. Here's the easy way to do it, with no special tools required:
Get an old cotton rag. This is an retired tank top, but a torn-up T-shirt or pillowcase, etc, will work fine as well. Whatever you use, be warned that this method will put holes in the fabric, so don't use something you plan on wearing again.
Pick out a socket one size LARGER than is required to fit the nut. You have to leave space between the nut and socket for the rag. These nuts take a 14mm socket, so I grabbed a 15mm.
Fold the rag in half. Set the rag on the nut, push the socket down around it, and be sure the socket is gripping the nut securely. If it slips, you've damaged the finish, so be sure the socket is secure. Now, using a manual ratchet or torque wrench, tighten the nut down.
Slide the rag off, go to the next nut, and repeat the procedure. Depending on the thickness of the rag, you can often get four layers of material in between the nut and socket. The more cloth you can get in there, the better the protection you'll have. DO NOT USE AN IMPACT WRENCH FOR THIS JOB!! You WILL damage the lugnuts.
Here's the end result:
Enjoy! I'm not much of a redneck engineer, but this works too well not to share, and doesn't cost a dime if you already have the tools and a rag.
