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Author Topic: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools  (Read 28485 times)

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Offline bonneyman

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My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« on: June 23, 2014, 05:54:08 PM »
HeelSpur sold me a BlueBird #14 pliers he picked up in a lot. That now goes with the company's #20 spreader pliers and #21 terminal puller I had. And Papaw was kind enough to make me a hard copy of a Bergman tool catalog he had, so, now I know what Blue Bird made.

Here's the centerpieces of my battery tools, with the other odds-and-ends I have.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2014, 08:23:43 PM by bonneyman »
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Offline HeelSpur

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2014, 06:05:27 PM »
Nice job on the pliers, sure am glad they straightened out.
Great start on the Bluebirds, I'll keep an eye out for others.
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Offline Nolatoolguy

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2014, 08:07:54 PM »
Nice start, keep us posted if you get more.

Thanks for sharing,
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Offline Lostmind

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2014, 08:19:23 PM »
Unusual collection nice start , thanks for sharing the photos
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Offline Ken W.

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2014, 08:49:40 PM »
BlueBird were made here in Buffalo.I've been finding more and more of them recently. Nice set there.
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Offline lbgradwell

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2014, 08:52:22 PM »
Very cool!  :smiley:
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Offline bonneyman

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2014, 10:08:38 PM »
Quote from: Ken W. on June 23, 2014, 08:49:40 PM
BlueBird were made here in Buffalo.I've been finding more and more of them recently. Nice set there.

Thanks all!

More of a collector thing. Though useable on my 80's truck, these top-post battery tools are kinda obsolete on today's side-post batteries.
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Offline oldgoaly

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2014, 10:28:57 PM »
Nice tools! Have you a battery service tray (carrier)?
Something to look out for make a neat display with the tools

but I have to disagree on the top post battery, I just replaced my 2001 e150 Ford motorcraft battery, almost a full 13 years with out a problem, the Wife's 1999 f150 went out in 2011. both are top post batteries made in the USA!
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Offline Chillylulu

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2014, 10:36:42 PM »
Quote from: bonneyman on June 23, 2014, 10:08:38 PM
Quote from: Ken W. on June 23, 2014, 08:49:40 PM
BlueBird were made here in Buffalo.I've been finding more and more of them recently. Nice set there.

Thanks all!

More of a collector thing. Though useable on my 80's truck, these top-post battery tools are kinda obsolete on today's side-post batteries.

My 2005 Ford F150 is top post, as is my sons 2010 Chevy.

My experience is that I rarely see side post on contemporary vehicles.  My last one was a 1972 Chevy van. 
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Offline bonneyman

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2014, 10:00:33 AM »
Really? Both my 04 van and 02 Buick have side posts.
Very little room to do anything on the van. i tried cleaning and repainting the battery cradle while it was out. Just couldn't get all the fasteners off to do that outside the truck, so, I taped off stuff and sprayed it while still in the truck.
« Last Edit: June 24, 2014, 04:23:56 PM by bonneyman »
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Offline Chillylulu

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2014, 10:59:55 AM »
Are the side posts the type where s 3/8" bolt us threaded in?  Supposedely a GM thing, that is what was on my van.

In 1987 I was on a jobsite in the middle of winter.  It was bitter cold.  We had a scissor lift that was giving us problems.  One of the guys took the top of the battery off to check the acid level.  He couldnt see inside, so instead of grabbing a flashlight this guy goes for his lighter.  The big battery exploded. He's lucky he didnt burn his eyes because the acid was all over his face.  We got it flushed off immediately,  and the burning ended up being minor. He really dodged a bullet.

Chilly
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Offline oldgoaly

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2014, 12:24:40 PM »
s/s clamp terminals I only cleaned them once,  When I did service work the vans ate batteries! I got 4 years out of a lifetime battery and was happy! 
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Offline bonneyman

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2014, 04:18:28 PM »
Quote from: Chillylulu on June 24, 2014, 10:59:55 AM
Are the side posts the type where s 3/8" bolt us threaded in?  Supposedely a GM thing, that is what was on my van.

In 1987 I was on a jobsite in the middle of winter.  It was bitter cold.  We had a scissor lift that was giving us problems.  One of the guys took the top of the battery off to check the acid level.  He couldnt see inside, so instead of grabbing a flashlight this guy goes for his lighter.  The big battery exploded. He's lucky he didnt burn his eyes because the acid was all over his face.  We got it flushed off immediately,  and the burning ended up being minor. He really dodged a bullet.

Chilly

I think it was a 5/16" hex bolt attachment. I pulled out an old DUNLAP ratcheting box wrench so I could get the swing I needed.
And where the battery sits, everything that drains off the windshield collects in this side channel which funnels all the leaves and crap right on to the top of the battery! I should probably make a "cover" of sorts out of a piece of plastic tarp or something.
Though I might like to, I don't think going to a top post would really be any better - the NEG post is buried back in the fender area.
« Last Edit: June 24, 2014, 05:55:08 PM by bonneyman »
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Offline HeelSpur

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2014, 04:32:38 PM »
Bluebird NO. 52


« Last Edit: June 27, 2014, 04:34:10 PM by HeelSpur »
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Offline bonneyman

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Re: My growing set of Blue Bird battery tools
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2014, 07:15:17 PM »
I believe those are the "high-leverage" pliers? Not knowing much about BlueBird tools leaves me guessing.
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