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rockerarm Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2009 Posts: 3552 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 6:30 pm Post subject: When did you learn the value of a good mechanic? |
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Awhile back the Snap-On Tool trucks had a banner on the rear of their trucks showing a young boy with a wagon, or tricycle, with a wheel off. There was a statement to the effect of "When did you learn the value of a good mechanic?"
With that, I poll the masses, whether one is a pro-auto tech, part time, or a consumer.
Bill. |
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rockerarm Samba Member
Joined: December 16, 2009 Posts: 3552 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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My influence dates back to High School in Redondo Beach, Calif. I had taken as many industrial arts courses as allowed and wanted to become an automotive engineer, with an interest in domestic muscle cars. My senior year in high school auto shop a new instructor was a former VW dealer tech. He saw something in me and confronted me with a proposition to allow me to work on teachers personal cars in lieu of the junk in the shop. My simple mind wanted to only work on domestic V-8's,and for me to "lower myself" to work on VW's was an insult, but did it anyway. I evolved into something that when I was close to graduating high school was given more and more responsibility with teachers personal cars. I was even allowed to leave the campus and walk down the street to South Bay VW, a dealership where Loren Pearson, WCM fame, was a parts counterman, and purchase needed parts. Upon high school graduation, this auto shop instructor gave me the incentive to apply at the VW dealership in Torrance, Russ Thor VW, and subsequently became a VW lube tech the day after high school.
This instructors name is Mr Russ Parkinson, who passed away some time later. He taught me the value of a good mechanic, and the rest is history. Thank you sir. |
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hitest Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008 Posts: 10296 Location: Prime Meridian, ID
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:51 am Post subject: |
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My comparison of good to bad dates to when I was 14 and test riding touring bikes. I was comparing a Miyata 610 at one shop (that was set up well) to a Raleigh Alyeska at another in 1982 (before indexed shifting). When I took off on the Alyeska and shifted down from the big ring to the middle, it threw the chain all the way off in the stay, locked me up instantly and I went over the bars. I walked the bike back in to the shop, blood pouring down a leg and dirty head to toe. The salesman looked up without paying real attention and said, "Well how was it?" _________________
EverettB wrote: |
I wonder what the nut looks like.
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'62 L390 151, '62 L469 117, '63 L380 113, '64 L87 311, '65 L512 265, '65 L31 SO-42, '66 L360 251, '68 L30k 141, '71 L12 113, '74 ORG 181
FU#5 |
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jspbtown Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5156
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 9:10 am Post subject: |
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I learned it when I was a kid and my family couldn't afford a mechanic to fix their cars. Since I had an interest I started to read...and read...and read. And we are talking old school reading! Taking books out of a library to understand how things worked.
Slowly over time I have progressed from oil changes & exhaust work to brakes, and finally with my own scanner.
The last time a car in my extended family was in the garage was when my son blew his head gaskets on his 3000gt. I could have tackled it but did not have the time. |
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pyrOman Fire Master
Joined: July 21, 2003 Posts: 12406 Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 9:32 am Post subject: |
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Right after rebuilding my first engine, going around the block, then seizing the main bearing! _________________ Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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Mr Mike Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2004 Posts: 766 Location: washington state
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:11 am Post subject: |
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Ha, Gotta smile at this. I first truly learned the value of a good mech while serving with the U.S. Navy as a member of attack squadron 25 in 1957 when that squadron was based at NAS Alameda. I got to fly in the back of an aircraft I'd worked on the day prior plus performed the pre-flight inspection on that morning. A Douglas AD-5 skyraider. Makes a believer out of ya!! |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76897 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:28 am Post subject: |
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I learned back in 1969 what the only one you can trust is yourself. Ever since then i am very leery of having someone else work on my VW or my bicycles.
My daily driver i'm not concerned about, but i'm very OCD and anal about my hobby vehicles. And when I find a good mechanic, i use them exclusively. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32574 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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MacLeod Willy Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2014 Posts: 933 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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Back in '68 bought a 59 Chev 4dr at 14 yrs old. Ran the fields and bush for a year, but walked home plenty of times. That started it all. VW's were plentiful back then and we went through lots of them. We did things on the back roads that would get you an overnighter in jail now. Straight down the hwy to get to the other side road was common practice.
Went into the high school tech program because I new this was the field I was heading into. Started my apprenticeship at a Ford dealership the day I graduated. In 77 I started at an independent shop and gained enough knowledge on other vehicles that I hung out my own shingle in 83.
In 89 I suffered a spinal cord injury at C6 that left me an incomplete quadriplegic. After a year of rehab, I went back to running the shop again until 2008 when I sold it to one of the guys I had trained over the years. I still have those guys do the work Im not able to do physically.
This career made me a lot of friends, lot of good connections, lot of grey hair and some cash.
BEST JOB I EVER HAD!!! |
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kamesama980 Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2014 Posts: 323 Location: Columbus, IN
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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I worked in a shop then a dealership while going to school. I realized I'd never trust anyone else to work on my stuff again, dealership included. _________________ -Russell
"You don't get to blame me for how I fix what you break"
1970 VW Beetle
1994 Pontiac Firebird
2001 BMW R1200C
2003 Subaru Baja |
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Harris Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2004 Posts: 1317 Location: Texas
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 9:48 pm Post subject: When Did You Learn The value Of A Good Mechanic |
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pyrOman wrote: |
Right after rebuilding my first engine, going around the block, then seizing the main bearing! |
pyrOman hits the nail on the head. In 1958 I rebuilt my first engine, a 1953 Olds V-8, in Dad's shop. It was my car and I worked on it after work. John Hayes the forman of the shop and my boss offered help and advice. I refused. I was a smart kid and knew everything. Weeks later after working nights I finished the engine. Back in the car I started it up. It ran great so I shut it off. Mr. Hayes casually ask if I had installed keepers on the rod nuts. I didn't remember, so I had to pull the pan and check. This involved loosening 2 motor mounts and jacking the engine up to remove the pan. I had not installed the keepers. Got everything back together and was about to start it up and Mr. Hayes ask if I had placed the rods on the crank so the oil holes lined up. I couldn't remember. PULLED the pan again. I had one wrong. Corrected it. While I was under the car this time I asked Mr. Hayes if there was anything else. He said only one thing. Until you know everything take advice and help if it's offered. I found out later he had checked my work every morning before I arrived and knew where I screwed up. The value of a good mechanic and friend was Mr. Hayes. He taught me a lot after I learned to listen. |
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ach60 Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2001 Posts: 4139 Location: Santa Maria
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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Glenn wrote: |
I learned back in 1969 what the only one you can trust is yourself. Ever since then i am very leery of having someone else work on my VW or my bicycles.
My daily driver I’m not concerned about, but I’m very OCD and anal about my hobby vehicles. And when I find a good mechanic, i use them exclusively. |
For me it was the Summer of '83.
I should have fixed my Squareback’ s clutch myself, but I decided to have "XXXX's Old Volks Home" do it.
I dropped the car off on a Monday, I realized that I forgotten something in the back of the car,
so I went back to the shop to get it on Tuesday, and discovered the car was gone.
I was not happy, but "maybe the car was fixed already, and out on a test drive.
I checked back the next day, and no the car wasn't fixed, but at least it was back at the shop.
I went to get the item I'd left in the car, and discovered someone's golf clubs in the back seat, and the keys in the ignition.
I tossed the golf clubs out of the car, and drove the poor Squareback with a blown clutch out of XXXX's shop.
I do all my own work on hobby cars now, and for daily drivers, when I find a good mechanic, I use them exclusively.
In the last thirty years, I have only used three shops, but they have done a lot of good work for me! _________________ Good Luck
Al |
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Jon Schmid Samba Member
Joined: May 29, 2012 Posts: 2038 Location: Southern California
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 9:43 am Post subject: When did you learn the value of a good mechanic? |
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Since I'm in constant fear of violating the Hippocratic oath, if I don't feel comfortable working on something I find someone I can trust to do it right. |
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Bret2094 Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2012 Posts: 665 Location: Linden, Texas or College Station Texas
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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2011 when I got a local mechanic to change the clutch out on my first vw. When i got it back , the exhaust had been crushed from the mechanics pullling on the engine to remove it. Been doing it myself ever since. When i get stumped , or the book seems kinda confusing, I just ask on here and then go do it myself. Everyone I know sees it as black magic and thinks i'm an actual mechanic....lol changin sparkplugs to the uneducated is rocket science. I really get strange looks when people ask what i'm going to school for. I tell em to practice medicine and the jaws drop..shit lemme go give that broke jaw a tune up.
Bret _________________ 1959 baja beetle ragtop( going back to Full body)
1959 beetle
1960 Beetle frame Custom buggy
1962 Karmann Ghia
1967 beetle( august 66, first car)
1967 beetle (parts car)
1977 Westfalia Camper
1972 Plymouth Duster
Just another 22 year old jackass who caught the bug, and lives by the motto " NO fatchicks allowed" , I've got too many cars as is (buses N/A) |
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mark tucker Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23937 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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I have trust issues...I was also rebuilding gocart engines at 6.Ive seen somuch effed up stuff in my like and all the $$$ wasted on it.and perfectly good expensive parts turned to junk is a very short time.so...yup I do almost everything.I nolonger have some of the machines I had a few years ago,but I make due with out them,I mainly miss my balancer. I have a sunnen rod machine,sunnen hone,2 mills,seat&guidemachine,lathe,mig,blaster,press,electrick tubing bender,jetclean, valve guide liners,seat&valve grinder and a messs of jigs&other things.so there isant much I cant do, but spin balance.a and that is realy hard to send off. |
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