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Obviously the majority of us have some mechanical aptitude, or else we would not have joined this forum. But, do you want to reveal your degree of "fix-it" skills on the ladder to the rest of us?

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd say I'm about a six and one-half, or seven when it comes to working on powered equipment. A level one can barely check the oil, level two can change the oil, level three can change the oil and sharpen the blade and replace the spark plug, level four can do all that and rebuild the carb and make adjustments, level five can diagnose most minor problems and fix them, up to level ten, the tradesman who can rebuild small engines, do welding, even design and build his own equipment. I am trying to be honest here about my abilities, once I get a welder for Christmas (hopefully) I can scrape the bottom rung of level 8....I WISH !!!

Come on, don't be ashamed if you can barely find the dumbstick, er, dipstick to check your oil. At one time I was that mechanically hopeless too...which is why my first mower died of engine failure....

Probably 7-8, I do weld & make some attachments, etc, but don't get into engines farther than carb. work. ~~ grnspot110

I have been very fortunate and have been around machinists and great metal workers almost all my life...
Plus I have always enjoyed anything mechanical, I have owned several good lathes and mills... I would place myself... Just Very Lucky... :smile:KennyV

KennyV said:

I have been very fortunate and have been around machinists and great metal workers almost all my life...
Plus I have always enjoyed anything mechanical, I have owned several good lathes and mills... I would place myself... Just Very Lucky... :smile:KennyV

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Luck isn't so much a factor, nobody LEARNS by being lucky, you just applied yourself when the opportunity presented itself. :thumbsup:

I would say I am in the 9-10 range. Do minor welding, Briggs and Stratton master service technician, factory authorized to warranty kohler, briggs, tecumseh, honda, yardman, yard machine, troybilt, poulan/poulan pro, murray, dolmar, solo, efco, wen, karcher, faip pressure washers, briggs pressure washers, mcculloch, rolair air compressors, brute products by briggs,

I guess I'm about a seven -- but I can upgrade myself if I have a good manual.:wink: I'm a firm believer in getting proper documentation, reading it carefully and doing the job correctly.

I've also been learning to weld recently.

Two-Stroke said:

I'm a firm believer in getting proper documentation, reading it carefully and doing the job correctly.

I've also been learning to weld recently.

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Always try to get a manual on everything you have...
Oh, I have been learning welding for the last 40 years:laughing:... Everytime I weld something I learn something... :smile:KennyV

I wish I could say a 10, or even a 6, but while I can run and handle most anything once shown, the fixing it challenge keeps me at about a 3.

Driller said:

I wish I could say a 10, or even a 6, but while I can run and handle most anything once shown, the fixing it challenge keeps me at about a 3.

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I have a favorite saying..."Everyone is talented, but with different abilities, while everyone is ignorant, but on different subjects". While it is true many of us are mechanically inclined, (myself included) I have no ability at all to play golf, or a piano. Guy I used to work with was a very good golfer, but he had a mechanical ability that didn't pass 2 on my scale.

Had I applied myself to golf, or he to fixing things, both of us may have surpassed our current skills at golf or fix-it tasks. The only way to learn is by doing...he didn't want to get his hands dirty, and I thought chasing a ball was a waste of my time.

As mentioned earlier, having good manuals for repair work is a great help, but despite having a manual, there is no substitute for common sense. I have a Chilton service manual for my Yukon XL, in the maintenance section it tells you to grease the suspension fittings. But WHY can't the freaking manual show you a diagram of where they are? Is it so hard to tell a buyer of the manual there are four fittings on the ball joints, none on the U-joints, etc? Most manuals are pretty much worthless because so much information is generic...and the expensive factory manuals are way, way too detailed for most home mechanics. I have an OEM factory manual for our two ATV's, I recently rebuilt the carb on one. The manual says "remove the carb heater connection" does it illustrate WHERE to remove it? If you try to remove it at the carb itself it will break off and be worthless. Instaed you have to remove it at a tiny plastic snap lock buried under right side panel...is it so hard to tell the reader WHERE to find the connection?

And don't get me started on those worthless, CD based manuals, no way I am going to take my $800 laptop to the barn and use one of those CD's.. CD manuals are simply WORTHLESS, give me a paper print one any day, as useless as they are...they are some help.

I'm a 5 in a 10's body! :laughing:

I'm between 4 and 5 But I'm confident about climbing up the scale the moment I gain more than 20 hours operating a lawn mower.

Guess I'd have to be a 5... now that I've joined this forum, I'm sure I'll make it to level 10 in no time. Looking forward to chatting with you all...

eeguns said:

Guess I'd have to be a 5... now that I've joined this forum, I'm sure I'll make it to level 10 in no time. Looking forward to chatting with you all...

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WELCOME TO LMF, heck, had I known I could have been an instant "10" upon joining, I would have done it sooner...:laughing:

I would guess I am an 8 but not any higher than that. People would expect me to know somthing.:biggrin:

I would have to say I am about a 3, I am still learning and hope to someday be able to do all my own repairs.

monica123 said:

I would have to say I am about a 3, I am still learning and hope to someday be able to do all my own repairs.

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Only one way to learn, and that is by watching someone do it, or doing it yourself. The great thing about doing it yourself, if you do it right you gain experience and confidence that you can learn more. The bad thing about doing it yourself, if you (bleep) up, you can't blame it on anyone else.

Yes, despite my current abilities, I bleeped up my share of times working on things. Don't ask, because I will not tell.

I guess I would put myself at a solid 5. Really good in some areas but poor in others. And I agree manuals are a big plus, but come short on some things. Manuals translated from another language can be really challenging.:biggrin: Dusty

How adept am I mechanically? I guess using you scale I'd come in at a 4 to 5, but isn't this kinda of a shade tree mechanic thing View attachment 808

I would say I am about a 5 as well. Some things I can do well without help and others I have to hire to get done because I am scared I will screw it up.

I would rather not discuss it. I think I am probably more negative than positive. Everything I have tried to do I have always ended up making worse, it infuriates me.

JD, I tend to agree with you because it is human nature to want to blame others when things go bad but the good thing about doing it yourself is the only person left to blame is YOU!

My score would be on the negative side too; at times I lack the patience to sit back and watch. I prefer to get a manual and go through it slowly.

man i would not put myself over a 5 or i would be braging but i will say i have not had to pay for a lawn mower repair in over 30 years but i grew up watching and helping the old pros that never would buy anything they would make it.

my knowledge is higher than physical abilities, that being said,i was changing plugs on the mini van last week and could not get my hands and fingers to get the back 3 plugs out,my hands/fingers dont work like they did in my younger years. And to think that years ago i use to regularly work "behind and under" dashboards of cars, now-a- days i can maybe needle nose a fuse out of the panel box. a month ago i had a heck of a time changing paddle bolts on a ss snowblower.. my mind says yes and my worn out hands /fingers say no. also i have seen pros screw up a job by being careless and rushing a job

I retired in '05 as a 39 year journeyman Aircraft tool builder/tooling machinest (soft and hard tooling). About 10 years of that was a tooling sequence planner for complete fabrication of large jigs and fixtures. I've also worked in aircraft assembly and as a aircraft 'field mechanic' which is the same as a flight line mechanic, only without the A&P.
I'm a old guy that as a married kid with kids, I had to do all of my repair on my old '50s and '60s trucks/cars which included engine/manual tranny overhaul (kids are hard on clutches/drivelines and counter gear sets in those old manual trannies). At one time I was the neighbor hood guy that would overhaul the old quadrajet carbs and other carbs for his buddies.
I've also completed a small engine repair program from a tech school in '95. I was 55 and boy was the class room part hard. :confused2:
I still enjoy tinkering and fixing the mechanical things that break or need replacing but the electronic CM/computer and their systems have passed me.

I was about a 7-8 most of the time some years back but many days now I drop to a 3-4.

I graduated a 2yr votech course with 1400+ hours of classroom and hands-on instruction on Farm Eq. Repair in 1966. Went to work at a Eq. dealer as a welder, moved up to mechanic on FE, asked for a raise of 25cents, got a nickel to $2.75. Stuff that, the wife (and I) (+ the 8mo old) moved to Mississippi. Went to work there for $2.15 an hour, could work all the hours I wanted (no OT). Since then, we have raised 2 kids (no college),while working in the national service departments of 2 major FE manufacturers, several dealerships, a major trucking Co.,and I currently assemble machinery in a manufacturing plant; 13 years ago I started my own business-repairing mowers- on the weekends & weekday evenings. During the layoff in 09 & 10, it became full time for 15 months. Contracted out some repairs to 3 other guys doing it part-time who also weren't working.

I define being mechanically adept as: 1. Knowing when you don't have the knowlege or ability;stopping and asking someone who does. 2. Learning something new every day; even that you were wrong about something counts.

I have never done anything in my life that I didn't think someone else could do better; I would give myself a 6 or 7 overall.

P.S. I was lucky enough to receive some formal vocational training and those two years set the course for my life. I am now training young men at the plant, passing on the benefit of that experience.

smitty6398 said:

I graduated a 2yr votech course with 1400+ hours of classroom and hands-on instruction on Farm Eq. Repair in 1966. Went to work at a Eq. dealer as a welder, moved up to mechanic on FE, asked for a raise of 25cents, got a nickel to $2.75. Stuff that, the wife (and I) (+ the 8mo old) moved to Mississippi. Went to work there for $2.15 an hour, could work all the hours I wanted (no OT). Since then, we have raised 2 kids (no college),while working in the national service departments of 2 major FE manufacturers, several dealerships, a major trucking Co.,and I currently assemble machinery in a manufacturing plant; 13 years ago I started my own business-repairing mowers- on the weekends & weekday evenings. During the layoff in 09 & 10, it became full time for 15 months. Contracted out some repairs to 3 other guys doing it part-time who also weren't working.

I define being mechanically adept as: 1. Knowing when you don't have the knowlege or ability;stopping and asking someone who does. 2. Learning something new every day; even that you were wrong about something counts.

I have never done anything in my life that I didn't think someone else could do better; I would give myself a 6 or 7 overall.

P.S. I was lucky enough to receive some formal vocational training and those two years set the course for my life. I am now training young men at the plant, passing on the benefit of that experience.

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I like that definition -- that ties in with using a manual whenever possible. Somehow, I have a feeling that you're more than a 6 or a 7, smitty6398.:thumbsup:

Good thread.

I enjoy repairing almost anything I can pick up, Lawnmowers, weed whackers, fans, heaters, microwaves, lamps, you name it.

Good manuals are important, and I've got a few.
My favorite is an old hard bound training manual from the 60's or 70's on small engine repair. I go back to it often.

I look forward to learning /sharing things with you guys on this forum.

I train others at my factory, where we make paper cups.
I would probably rate myself a 5.

I recently learned how to repair my washing machine clutch.

I like this forum.
Thanks,
Gary

I guess a 7-8. Ive done it all, repair man, troubleshooting, welding, rebuilds, fixed torn apart and all of the above.I have repaired anything refrigeration related, also cars and anything i can get ahold of that needs fixin or a redneck mod .I am the man to do anything, using one of my own redneck mods. I love doing things like this. especailly garbege picking every day you find something new. Sometimes something that you have never worked on before. I love fixing things and always have, its all i have ever known. I started fixing stuff on my own,with no help what so ever, my first mower was an F series Lawn-Boy that I knew nothing about except that it had set for many years. I am always amassed that I can do things like this because my father knows nothing about engines or any thing shop related. So I guess I learn soundly from genetics. I have never been taught anything. Just alway figured it out on my own. Stihl is my fav. brand of small lawn equipment. I do not have much experience with fixing these, because I have never had to. they always seem to work great. Cheers Guys

five, maybe six? I don't know how to weld, but I know how to sodder :biggrin:

20 year sr high small engine / fab teacher here.

Not sure how you'd rate a guy like me. I can diagnose most problems that come into the shop but the real issues come when I have 30 grade 10 kids tearing down 15 engines.

Its not what's wrong with the engines that become the problem, its what they break beacause they won't ask questions or I can't get to them in time.

Did you know that a flywheel won't come off even if you use a three jaw puller and an impact if you don't take thje flywheel nut off first?

Anyway, looking forward to chatting with all you wrench pullers, inexperience dor not.

We aren't quite ready for mowing up here just yet. We still have three feet of snow, but the weather guy is calling for warmer weather soon.

mumptia said:

20 year sr high small engine / fab teacher here.



...
Did you know that a flywheel won't come off even if you use a three jaw puller and an impact if you don't take thje flywheel nut off first?

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Yep, Ha haha ... IT is all about learning to pay attention to the details... we all have gone through that (some times over & over & over again)...
GOOD to have you here... and we are all looking forward to warmer weather... :smile:KennyV

I think I am at 8 or 9 on your scale. I went to a collage in North Dakota and hve a dgree in small engines, so I think I can do most of what is need to fix a lawnmover, motorcycle, boat ect. And I'm not to bad at weldind either. I like to working in my shop fixing things....

ncc-1701 said:

I think I am at 8 or 9 on your scale. I went to a collage in North Dakota and hve a dgree in small engines, so I think I can do most of what is need to fix a lawnmover, motorcycle, boat ect. And I'm not to bad at weldind either. I like to working in my shop fixing things....

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Welcome to LMF, your experience will be VERY valuable to us here. Thanks for joining!!!

JDgreen said:

Obviously the majority of us have some mechanical aptitude, or else we would not have joined this forum. But, do you want to reveal your degree of "fix-it" skills on the ladder to the rest of us?

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd say I'm about a six and one-half, or seven when it comes to working on powered equipment. A level one can barely check the oil, level two can change the oil, level three can change the oil and sharpen the blade and replace the spark plug, level four can do all that and rebuild the carb and make adjustments, level five can diagnose most minor problems and fix them, up to level ten, the tradesman who can rebuild small engines, do welding, even design and build his own equipment. I am trying to be honest here about my abilities, once I get a welder for Christmas (hopefully) I can scrape the bottom rung of level 8....I WISH !!!

Come on, don't be ashamed if you can barely find the dumbstick, er, dipstick to check your oil. At one time I was that mechanically hopeless too...which is why my first mower died of engine failure....

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According to your scale, I am a 10. Electrician by trade, I have taken 2 push mower engines and put them together to make 1 work. I have restore a JD H tractor and rebuilt the engine, engineered and welded a hydraulic front blade for the same tractor. Ran a mill and lathe and welded a new front end for my MTD. Change spark plugs and brakes, rotate tires and even change the timing belt on my car. Lived on a farm all my life, learned how to improvise when needed. Do I think I am a 10, no, there is always something new to learn and always fun learning it. Wife says I am a good husband and father so I guess thats all you can ask for.:thumbsup:

I can honestly say I can do more on my own this year than I could last year, thanks to this forum. I am quite comfortable changing oil, spark plugs and other stuff and have even rebuilt my own mower.

It's been about 9 years since I've worked on any equipment, but in the past I would do anything needed on small engine equipment... maintenance, fluid changes, belts, blades, tires, etc. I pulled apart several engines and put them back together, often cleaned or rebuilt parts as needed. I never tackled any big projects or restorations but with the combination of this forum and TBN would be comfortable tackling a project like that. It's amazing how much knowledge there is and how willing others are to help each other complete their projects. It almost makes me want to get back in the shop for the fun of it. :biggrin:

bret said:

I can honestly say I can do more on my own this year than I could last year, thanks to this forum. I am quite comfortable changing oil, spark plugs and other stuff and have even rebuilt my own mower.

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I remember my first overhaul. I thought my chest was gona bust:biggrin:

Its a cool thing to have motors on your yard knowing you can fix them. Now, having the time is another thing.............

Best thing about being a home owner mechanics is that you don't need a full box of "maybe" tools. A standard set of wrenches up to an inch or 24mm and a 3/8 drive socket set will usually do the trick.

bakerg said:

According to your scale, I am a 10. Electrician by trade, I have taken 2 push mower engines and put them together to make 1 work. I have restore a JD H tractor and rebuilt the engine, engineered and welded a hydraulic front blade for the same tractor. Ran a mill and lathe and welded a new front end for my MTD. Change spark plugs and brakes, rotate tires and even change the timing belt on my car. Lived on a farm all my life, learned how to improvise when needed. Do I think I am a 10, no, there is always something new to learn and always fun learning it. Wife says I am a good husband and father so I guess thats all you can ask for.:thumbsup:

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Wow, all those abilities and if your dog and/or kids love you that means you are just a superior human being...!!!!:laughing: :thumbsup:

JDgreen said:

Wow, all those abilities and if your dog and/or kids love you that means you are just a superior human being...!!!!:laughing: :thumbsup:

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I only have to cure my diabetes and bad back and I could be Superman.:laughing::laughing::laughing:

I am probably an 8 or 9 on your scale. Been a mechanic all of my adult life. Worked on everything from lawnmowers to jet engines. I won't claim a 10 simply because there is always more to learn.

I am very envious of all of your experience. I hope I can learn more and be able to fix more than I can now. I have started for myself, I can only build from here.

Hello guy's I'm new to this forum. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd say not to brag I'm a 1 if you show me where to check the oil. WAIT OIL!! whats that?? Found out that over the years the more I learned the less I know. And by saying I'm a 1 when I try to help someone out and I give the wrong advice they can say WELL he's only a 1. have a GREAT day:confused2:

I'm around the 7-8 mark I would say as I was an armourer in the Royal Air Force and an engineer after that. In my specialised field I'd probably be a little higher but I've largely retired from anything overly physical now!

I'd rate myself in a 8-9 range. I've rebuilt alot of stuff and been known to make parts when something is no longer available, mainly because that was how I was raised.

I guess I'm somewhere near 5, there was a time when I wanted to be better than that but as I age I find I'm actually satisfied with where I'm at.

If i say i have not come across too much i could not build,rebuild, fix or repair(unless it wasn't worth it)
In what level would that put me?.

I've repaired and maintained my own equipment for 40 yrs,i buy only used and never bought new.
DIY on everything but grinding a crankshaft.:smile:
I have a well equiped farm shop with a lathe,press,welders and what not.
I go to dealers only if i need parts,that includes for my vehicles.I never bought a new car or truck either :thumbsup:

I still learn something new daily though,cause i never seem to come across the same problem twice.:wink:

10, no problem. I will work on anything. I work as an auto tech for my career. I don't cut corners on any work I do, and I also do some welding.

Don't know a number. When i was 14 i went to AMF's pinspotter mechanic school for 2 weeks and got my pinspotter mechanic certificate and worked 4 years of high school at my uncle's bowling alley. At 15 i pulled the 352 engine out of my Galaxie 500 and did a full rebuild. Ate drank and breathed cars all through high school. After 3 years doing intelligence gathering for the NSA in Berlin i spent 40 years as a field service rep fixing machines every day. Been working on mowers and such since i was 10. Still trying to figure out which end of the screwdriver to hold.

Truly it doesn't matter what "number" you are, as we all can learn from each other no matter what it is. I love learning different ways of doing things. Doing a job correctly is what matters.

According to the last survey done down here
95% of male drivers consider them selves to have above average driving skills
62 % of women drivers consider them selves to have above average driving skills

Good one. 95% consider themseves above 50%. Love to see the math behind that. You are on dangerous ground talking about men and women drivers my friend. LOL.

Thses type of surveys that ask you to evaluate yourself at anything are always fun when the results come in

Don’t really think it is important on how you evaluate yourself, but how other people evaluate you. When your8n business I feel this is more important.

bertsmobile1 said:

Thses type of surveys that ask you to evaluate yourself at anything are always fun when the results come in

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Back in 2009 the company reassessed the technician pay scale and all of a sudden i was over the max. My reward for 30 years of excellent reviews. We had to do self evaluation every year before our merit review. Mine said "walks on water and God asks me questions." Manager said that was not acceptable. I said what are you going to do? Not give a raise? Manager changed it to some corporate babble. I got a glowing review and a pat on the back.

My favorite is 'The Far Side' comic of a classroom where the teacher is pointing to a drawing of a screw driver and screw on the board. The title is "class for the mechanically DEclined".

Well I can honestly say that on a "scale" of 1 to 10 I'm 185 lbs.

Somewhere between 1 and 10

Probably a 3. I do some carb work and other minor things, especially electrical.

I think I'm a 1 sometimes. Other times I'm patting myself on the back.

Was out of work for a month once when i broke my arm patting myself on the back once.

I don't know where to put myself on a numerical scale, but I've been working on all sorts of mechanical things since I was a kid. Started out on bicycles, and still tinker with those for fun. I've always done my own maintenance on vehicles. Was a certified auto mechanic, but I've let that lapse as I haven't done it professionally in many years since I became an engineer. I've worked on motorcycles, mowers, Jeeps, tractors, cars, and whatever. Saved myself a lot of money over the years by not paying myself labor. Of course as a homeowner you get to work on all sorts of other mechanical systems as well.

This year marks the first time in my life I've ever bought a brand new mower. This Cub Cadet is replacing a 91 Simplicity Broadmoor which I'm retiring because the deck is getting to be too far gone with rust. I'll be doing all the maintenance on it myself.

I just moved myself up from a 1 to a 3 today.
Repaired a craftsman blower carb yesterday. It was actually too old to mess with. But I wasn't busy.
Anywho, customer brings it back today and says "It won't start."
I primed, it, choked it and pulled it. Cranked first pull.

Talk about lucky.

what did the customer say?

He thought is was his fault. His kids made fun of him.