I will take it back along with the "Parts Cleaning Brush, suitable for use with most solvents" that melted in a tub of Australian Export degreaser!

Gotta love the Chinese. They can copy anything, except Quality.
Fitness for purpose? We can but hope.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I haven't used it twice yet! I wasn't representing that it was a reliable and well built tool - only it had worked once

If it splits after the next one we can all have a laugh

I usually buy only the best German tools - I find the Indian and Chinese stuff breaks too easy.

_________________
Regards,

Mike
"He who dies with the most toys wins."

I totally agree with the Doc

If something doesn't work or breaks - TAKE IT BACK.

There is too much of cutting costs and importing rubbish by the big chains. Selling us rubbish knowingly is the same as stealing.

Mike

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Actually this isnt as true as you might think. I have some clients with vastly more $$ than I have. We had a conversation about this exact subject (started by me talking about the cheapo aluminium rads you can buy on the net)
And with a great deal of experience I was informed that the Chinese produce some of the highest quality products in the world and some of the poorest, our perspectives are skewed to how much $$$$ we have payed.
If you buy a reproduction tool at 1/5-1/3 its normal value and expect it to be as good as the original.. khhht/come in planet earth.../over

Its annoying to have cheap crap break.. but serves us right for buying it in the first place! And on that note I have a garage full of cheap crappy tools that I HATE! But given I cant afford the same amount of tools in decent quality then I just have to suck it up and get over it.

As for what the Chinese make the best of, I dont want to know as I couldnt afford it anyway

PS* I ended up getting a local firm to make me a single core aluminium radiator as I was unhappy with the *look* of the bottom tank of the ones on ebay and I wanted to support local business. It cost me $420 but I can live with that as it gives a guy a job that lives 3 suburbs away.
**And I can burn his house to the ground if its shonky

I have worked in China. I helped set up a manufacturing plant in Chengdu.
Yes, the Chinese make some good stuff. For example their military do not have to put up with the cheap crap tools and equipment that we do.
And overseas companies that set up over there (eg VW) generally make good products, but they achieve this by having their own people there to drive and maintain the Quality System.

But there is far too much rubbish made there and exported based purely on price.
R&D for these products = make it cheaper, not make it better.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Ok, after taking back the split splitter to Supercrap and getting a store credit for $29.99 because I didn't keep the receipt I went to Repco to see what they had. They had the same splitter in a similar pack with a different brand stuck on it for $45.99 (But they were on sale this week for $24.99.)

I learned a valuable lesson, I should have returned the broken Supercrap one to Repco and made a $16 profit.

So, where do I get a good quality one? It seems that all the tool suppliers use the same crap one with different packaging, I have seen it with three different brands at three different stores.
Try ebay and I still only find the crap one in Australia but in the USA and UK they have a choice and some quality brands. Looks like I am going to have to import one.

Rather than buy a cheap splitter from one of the usual outlets and returning it if it doesn't work or breaks, can someone recommend a brand and source of a trade quality tool? I'll need one sometime soon and, like spanners, sockets and other tools I'd rather pay the extra to get one that I know will do the job without injuring me or damaging components.

(I note Morris 1100 has beaten me to it with this question)

I wonder what Link, Mini King, etc. use in their workshop?

Mines an SP. I've had it for about 20+ years now. I think they are still the same today. Most decent tool stores don't keep them but will get them in. Not sure on the $$ but I don't think it would be $24.......

I've also got a 'fork' type with a long 'handle' that I got from K-mart (also about 20+ years ago), which is very easy to use (was only about $12), but it does ruin the dust rubbers, so it is OK for dismantling if your (at least) fitting new rubbers.

I reckon certainly if you don't mind the extra. A high quality steel with a similar quality bolt would go a long way.

I know mine is always on borrowed time for the price I picked it up for, so I tighten the bolt down as much as I think is reasonable, and if it doesn't move I give the joint a rap the old fashioned way to give it something to think about. With the pretty extreme pressure already on the nose, it will drop away in a hit or two..four years out of this one so far, and a lot of use...but still not a shadow on the businesses however..

Morris, my trick when I lose the receipt is to go buy another identical one and bring the broken bit back the next day

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

That is what I usually do but in this case I didn't want another dodgy splitter and the store credit can wait till the Aussie Export Degreaser is on special again.

I've just answered my own question (well, sort of). I looked in the factory workshop manual and there's a picture of service tool 18G 1063 - Steering Arm and Swivel Hub Ball Pin Remover. So I think I'll just trot down to my local BMC dealer and get one.

Next question. Does anyone know where I find a BMC dealer?

Turkey.

I Googled 'ball joint separator' and found that Tridon Aust. sell the UK Sykes-Pickavant range of tools. I purchased a few Pickavant tools for my Mini back in the 1970's (flywheel puller, rubber cone compressor) and they were good quality. I still have them.

http://www.tridon.com.au/Products/Produ ... 22&P=68825

It doesn't have prices though. Have a look at the hydraulic version.

... and here's the Sykes-Pickavant website where you can download their Suspension Tools Catalogue.

http://www.sptools.co.uk/Catalogue/tabi ... fault.aspx

... and here's the splitter on eBay UK for AUD$36 plus postage.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SYKES-PICKAVANT- ... 56364c4047