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PP4620AVX
#1
PTmowerMech
PTmowerMech
I'm about to take a sledge hammer to this and this darn screwed up routing for a throttle cable. I finally figured it out. Gonna charge the customer an extra 1/5 hr for bringing it in already disassembled. He's probably thinking I'm gonna give him a 1/2hr discount.
That is all.
Tourette syndrome really kicked in on this one. UGH!!!!!!
That is all.
Tourette syndrome really kicked in on this one. UGH!!!!!!
#2
Scrubcadet10
Scrubcadet10
I bet the swear jar is overflowing.
?
?
#3
Hammermechanicman
Hammermechanicman
One of those cockroach poulans.
You ALWAYS charge the time it takes figure out the jigsaw puzzle THEY took apart and then brought you. I had an older gentleman bring me a Stihl MS440 in a box. It had a scored cylinder and his son disassembled the saw and never got around to trying to finish it. 3 other shops refused to work on it. I got a P&C kit and assembled it for him. A few hundred dollars to fix a $800 saw.
You ALWAYS charge the time it takes figure out the jigsaw puzzle THEY took apart and then brought you. I had an older gentleman bring me a Stihl MS440 in a box. It had a scored cylinder and his son disassembled the saw and never got around to trying to finish it. 3 other shops refused to work on it. I got a P&C kit and assembled it for him. A few hundred dollars to fix a $800 saw.
#4
PTmowerMech
Sometimes dads will pay extra for stuff like this, just to remind the son how much it cost to fix his screw up.
BTW, if anyone has a 530036098 (trigger lock), I can use one. This one was missing that. It's obsolete and can't find one on ebay or amazon.
PTmowerMech
One of those cockroach poulans.
You ALWAYS charge the time it takes figure out the jigsaw puzzle THEY took apart and then brought you. I had an older gentleman bring me a Stihl MS440 in a box. It had a scored cylinder and his son disassembled the saw and never got around to trying to finish it. 3 other shops refused to work on it. I got a P&C kit and assembled it for him. A few hundred dollars to fix a $800 saw.
Sometimes dads will pay extra for stuff like this, just to remind the son how much it cost to fix his screw up.
BTW, if anyone has a 530036098 (trigger lock), I can use one. This one was missing that. It's obsolete and can't find one on ebay or amazon.
#5
StarTech
StarTech
I actually charge extra for having to undo others work and that include units that are disassembly. I have done every since a customer brought in his Murray rider into the shop in several boxes and he bitched because I charged him $50 for a days reassembly. I should had charged him for the 8 hrs it took and I so told him the repair bill should have been $240 at the time. My rates are higher now. What it initially would have been 1 hr job to replace the drive belt.
As for the throttle lock out it is NLA and you will probably just remove the broken part. Yes I understand it is a safety device but when you can't get it, it is a have to case to bypass it or kill the whole saw.
As for the throttle lock out it is NLA and you will probably just remove the broken part. Yes I understand it is a safety device but when you can't get it, it is a have to case to bypass it or kill the whole saw.
#6
PTmowerMech
I never charge a customer extra for things I don't know. If I had done one of these before, chances are I'd know how the throttle cable was routed. I can't charge for the two guesses I made before getting it right.
PTmowerMech
I actually charge extra for having to undo others work and that include units that are disassembly. I have done every since a customer brought in his Murray rider into the shop in several boxes and he bitched because I charged him $50 for a days reassembly. I should had charged him for the 8 hrs it took and I so told him the repair bill should have been $240 at the time. My rates are higher now. What it initially would have been 1 hr job to replace the drive belt.
As for the throttle lock out it is NLA and you will probably just remove the broken part. Yes I understand it is a safety device but when you can't get it, it is a have to case to bypass it or kill the whole saw.
I never charge a customer extra for things I don't know. If I had done one of these before, chances are I'd know how the throttle cable was routed. I can't charge for the two guesses I made before getting it right.
#7
StarTech
StarTech
Some customers will take advantage of this as they are repeat offenders.
But I understand not knowing exactly how goes together which it is much easier if I or you do it to get the real problem. I am disassembling a Stihl 009 to the ignition coil high tension lead. Its quite involved and service manual hits the high points. Looking to take a half day just to get it done.
But I understand not knowing exactly how goes together which it is much easier if I or you do it to get the real problem. I am disassembling a Stihl 009 to the ignition coil high tension lead. Its quite involved and service manual hits the high points. Looking to take a half day just to get it done.
#8
PTmowerMech
I'm grateful for those that have that kind of patience. It's a win win for us both.
PTmowerMech
Some customers will take advantage of this as they are repeat offenders.
I'm grateful for those that have that kind of patience. It's a win win for us both.
#9
Hammermechanicman
Hammermechanicman
Don't think that because you take time to put a jigsaw puzzle back together that you did not take apart that you need to give a customer a discount on your time. Just remember that they do not have the skillset or the time to do it themselves and they should be expecting to pay to have someone figure it out. ALL of your time is worth something. I have lots of tools to make me faster. Customers need to pay for those tools and those tool come out of your labor. Some folks think $98/hr dealer labor is too much and some folks think my $40/hr is too much. Some folks don't want to pay for troubleshooting time. Repair shops don't need these people. Don't take money out of your pocket to be a nice guy for a normal customer. Always fun to have someone refered to you because you are supposed to be cheap and when you tell them $40/hr and they act like you accosted their daughter. You have a nice day sir. I have screwed up and had to redo things and that time is on me.
#10
Hammermechanicman
Hammermechanicman
Yes you can. You didn't take it apartI can't charge for the two guesses I made before getting it right.
#11
R
Rivets
R
Rivets
PT, when you learn that your time is money, no matter what you are doing for the customer, you will have far fewer headaches. People thought because I taught engine repair I knew about how to fix every engine. i always charged for the time I spent troubleshooting, which might have included, phone calls, reading manuals, plus trial and error. If I think that a customer is going to raise a fit because I’m having a problem, I call them first with an updated estimate. Some say stop and others say do what you have to do. People who don’t realize that we don’t know everything and our time is just as valuable as their money, don’t come back. Because I’m proactive in dealing with customers, I’m normally busy throughout the year and have lots of customers who date back 30 years. I’ve also learned that money from labor puts food on the table, parts and equipment buy the the table.
#12
PTmowerMech
I completely understand. And when I get even close to your skill and experience level, I'll do just the same. But things like not knowing how a throttle cable is routed, I just consider my lack of experience.
I had morons at the dealership fix my dodge once. I'm guessing the head gasket was leaking. The bill was about $2300. $300 more than the extended warranty company would pay. They took a month fixing this thing. Luckily, I was a truck driver and wasn't home but a couple of times out of that month.
When I went to pick up the truck and see the situation, I was pissed.
The bill showed two heads R&R's, plus the machine work. Also two intake gaskets, two head gaskets, two oil changes and way too much labor.
I'm not a mechanic, but I could tell they were just guessing at which head gasket was leaking. Why else would their be two oil changes?
Well, the bill got paid, and within a couple of weeks, the truck started doing the same exact thing. So I took it to a shade tree mechanic who fixed it right the first time. All he did was replace the intake gasket.
Long story short, I called the shop manager at the dealership and told him what was going on and that the bill was under $300. He asked "Why didn't you bring it back?" LMAO.. I told the guy "You had it for a friggin month. Guessing at the problem at every turn. You and your mechanics are stupid if you think I'm gonna bring another vehicle to you."
So ever since then, I'm been this way. On things that I know about, that take me longer, I'll charge every minutes I can. But I just don't think it's right to charge someone $50hr for guessing.
I'll get there. Just wanna do it without feeling like a crook.
PTmowerMech
PT, when you learn that your time is money, no matter what you are doing for the customer, you will have far fewer headaches. People thought because I taught engine repair I knew about how to fix every engine. i always charged for the time I spent troubleshooting, which might have included, phone calls, reading manuals, plus trial and error. If I think that a customer is going to raise a fit because I’m having a problem, I call them first with an updated estimate. Some say stop and others say do what you have to do. People who don’t realize that we don’t know everything and our time is just as valuable as their money, don’t come back. Because I’m proactive in dealing with customers, I’m normally busy throughout the year and have lots of customers who date back 30 years. I’ve also learned that money from labor puts food on the table, parts and equipment buy the the table.
I completely understand. And when I get even close to your skill and experience level, I'll do just the same. But things like not knowing how a throttle cable is routed, I just consider my lack of experience.
I had morons at the dealership fix my dodge once. I'm guessing the head gasket was leaking. The bill was about $2300. $300 more than the extended warranty company would pay. They took a month fixing this thing. Luckily, I was a truck driver and wasn't home but a couple of times out of that month.
When I went to pick up the truck and see the situation, I was pissed.
The bill showed two heads R&R's, plus the machine work. Also two intake gaskets, two head gaskets, two oil changes and way too much labor.
I'm not a mechanic, but I could tell they were just guessing at which head gasket was leaking. Why else would their be two oil changes?
Well, the bill got paid, and within a couple of weeks, the truck started doing the same exact thing. So I took it to a shade tree mechanic who fixed it right the first time. All he did was replace the intake gasket.
Long story short, I called the shop manager at the dealership and told him what was going on and that the bill was under $300. He asked "Why didn't you bring it back?" LMAO.. I told the guy "You had it for a friggin month. Guessing at the problem at every turn. You and your mechanics are stupid if you think I'm gonna bring another vehicle to you."
So ever since then, I'm been this way. On things that I know about, that take me longer, I'll charge every minutes I can. But I just don't think it's right to charge someone $50hr for guessing.
I'll get there. Just wanna do it without feeling like a crook.
#13
R
Rivets
R
Rivets
I understand what you are saying and I would have reacted the same way. But you have to get paid for your time, and the best way to do that is to communicate with the customer, when you feel it may get pricy, when you run into a problem. Your communication skills before you take a job in, until the job is completed, will build your business faster and better, than just being a good mechanic who charges less. Ex. This morning I had a call about fixing a Simplicity Legacy tractor with a hydraulic problem and a Cub Cadet tractor which has an electrical problem. Both units may end up being cheap fixes or expensive repairs. After I gave him an estimate on both units, with the Legacy being cheap than the Cub, I told him he might be better off taking the Legacy to the dealer because hydraulics are not my strong suit and it could get very expensive if I did it, because of the extra time I might have to put into troubleshooting. He stopped over to drop both units off, bet just left the Cub because he respected my honesty and was taking the other to the dealer. Did I lose some money today, YES. Will it cost me money down the road, NO. Because I communicated my knowledge to him and he understood why I suggested this, my reputation is still intacted. Finally read my signature.
#14
StarTech
StarTech
Mentioning dealer mechanics not knowing what they are doing. I have ran into two here with Tri-Green John Deere and Stihl dealer.
One case was when I taking of my mother with dementia which I was needing to provide 24/7 care. My customer was needing a hydrostatic fan replaced. The dealer charged him for over 8 hrs of work because they had a trainee working on the mower. Since I knew the local manager I called him to fight for my customer about the over charge for a 30 minutes job. I was able to get the customer nearly a full credit for the repair.
The second time was when I was dealing with them on Stihl warrantied hedger repair. The tech didnt even know what a pressure/ vac test or even know how to preform it. Well long story short they keep the hedger for three weeks and returned it with no problem found. Since I knew how it was acting when I carried it in I took it out for a test run. Right off the bat it hit one time only mainly they didn't reconnect the spark plug. Second the original problem of run away acceleration was still there.
So I returned to my shop and connected a tach to it. When it was in run away mode there was no spark. It turned out to be a defective spark plug cause the hedger to diesel. Replaced the spark plug and problem was resolved.
Anyway no wonder why my customer with the new Z950M will not let them touch his mower. The same dealer told him that his engine on the Z925A had no oil pump and to just ignore the flashing oil pressure light. If the tech had only looked up the engine he would have seen the oil pump shown.
One case was when I taking of my mother with dementia which I was needing to provide 24/7 care. My customer was needing a hydrostatic fan replaced. The dealer charged him for over 8 hrs of work because they had a trainee working on the mower. Since I knew the local manager I called him to fight for my customer about the over charge for a 30 minutes job. I was able to get the customer nearly a full credit for the repair.
The second time was when I was dealing with them on Stihl warrantied hedger repair. The tech didnt even know what a pressure/ vac test or even know how to preform it. Well long story short they keep the hedger for three weeks and returned it with no problem found. Since I knew how it was acting when I carried it in I took it out for a test run. Right off the bat it hit one time only mainly they didn't reconnect the spark plug. Second the original problem of run away acceleration was still there.
So I returned to my shop and connected a tach to it. When it was in run away mode there was no spark. It turned out to be a defective spark plug cause the hedger to diesel. Replaced the spark plug and problem was resolved.
Anyway no wonder why my customer with the new Z950M will not let them touch his mower. The same dealer told him that his engine on the Z925A had no oil pump and to just ignore the flashing oil pressure light. If the tech had only looked up the engine he would have seen the oil pump shown.
#15
B
bertsmobile1
B
bertsmobile1
Like the others I alway add a couple of hours to a "box of bits " repair
In many cases the customer either takes their box of junk & walks away or tells me I can have it & walks away .
This is fine by me, I don't need headaches and the nearest other shop will not take in a box of bits repair.
When people complain I take them into the back of he workshop and show them the camera on a tripod.
Now I use this or making videos, but I tell them I use this when disassembling unknown equipment as the ORDER of replacement is very important & I have no idea about their box of bits till I start putting it back together.
Double posative on this one.
Customer realizes I am not God and can have just as much trouble rebuilding his stuff that he did
And second I don't end up wasting time & money fixing a throw away only to find the customer refuses to pay for it or pick it up.
Stuff in the latter catagory ends up in the loaning pool .
In many cases the customer either takes their box of junk & walks away or tells me I can have it & walks away .
This is fine by me, I don't need headaches and the nearest other shop will not take in a box of bits repair.
When people complain I take them into the back of he workshop and show them the camera on a tripod.
Now I use this or making videos, but I tell them I use this when disassembling unknown equipment as the ORDER of replacement is very important & I have no idea about their box of bits till I start putting it back together.
Double posative on this one.
Customer realizes I am not God and can have just as much trouble rebuilding his stuff that he did
And second I don't end up wasting time & money fixing a throw away only to find the customer refuses to pay for it or pick it up.
Stuff in the latter catagory ends up in the loaning pool .
#16
PTmowerMech
I've turned down a few jobs that I knew right off the bat were going to be extremely time consuming. One that sticks out was this passed summer. I even made a thread about it, and some of you guru's advised to just turn down the job or price it accordingly. And that's why I did. Customer wanted me to do a rigger nig on an existing electrical nightmare.
I still slip now and then. As in the Raven I took in a few months ago.
I suppose, some of you fella's who've been in this business for 15+ years still run into stuff you don't know for sure about. I was amazed last year when @bertsmobile1 posted a question.
PTmowerMech
I understand what you are saying and I would have reacted the same way. But you have to get paid for your time, and the best way to do that is to communicate with the customer, when you feel it may get pricy, when you run into a problem. Your communication skills before you take a job in, until the job is completed, will build your business faster and better, than just being a good mechanic who charges less. Ex. This morning I had a call about fixing a Simplicity Legacy tractor with a hydraulic problem and a Cub Cadet tractor which has an electrical problem. Both units may end up being cheap fixes or expensive repairs. After I gave him an estimate on both units, with the Legacy being cheap than the Cub, I told him he might be better off taking the Legacy to the dealer because hydraulics are not my strong suit and it could get very expensive if I did it, because of the extra time I might have to put into troubleshooting. He stopped over to drop both units off, bet just left the Cub because he respected my honesty and was taking the other to the dealer. Did I lose some money today, YES. Will it cost me money down the road, NO. Because I communicated my knowledge to him and he understood why I suggested this, my reputation is still intacted. Finally read my signature.
I've turned down a few jobs that I knew right off the bat were going to be extremely time consuming. One that sticks out was this passed summer. I even made a thread about it, and some of you guru's advised to just turn down the job or price it accordingly. And that's why I did. Customer wanted me to do a rigger nig on an existing electrical nightmare.
I still slip now and then. As in the Raven I took in a few months ago.
I suppose, some of you fella's who've been in this business for 15+ years still run into stuff you don't know for sure about. I was amazed last year when @bertsmobile1 posted a question.
#17
StarTech
StarTech
PT, there will always be some piece that either haven't seen before or in a long time especially if you are independent small shop. Electrical is always a nightmare after someone hack the system. I have over 40 yrs in electronics so electrical is not a problem as long as I can find the schematic. I do tell it is a lot easier for me to repair electrical or mechanical problems if they don't let an inexperience person work on it before they bring the equipment to me. They are also are informed on those jobs that someone else have already messed with will cost more as I got the induced mess first before I find the original problem. See I got a lot of DIYers here that tends to screw things up quite regularly.
I had one customer to spend over $300 trying to fix his mower when it was only a fifty cent wire terminal. Still ended up costing another $50 but now he brings all his equipment to me when it break down with trying to fix it himself.
I had one customer to spend over $300 trying to fix his mower when it was only a fifty cent wire terminal. Still ended up costing another $50 but now he brings all his equipment to me when it break down with trying to fix it himself.
#18
PTmowerMech
When it comes to electrical, I explain right off the bat, that if I check the right bad part or wire first, then the cost will be a lot less expensive, than if it's the last out of several things I check first. No one knows exactly where to start, unless it happens to be obvious.
In a perfect world, people who do their own maintenance would just replace parts, instead of trying to find another way.
PTmowerMech
PT, there will always be some piece that either haven't seen before or in a long time especially if you are independent small shop. Electrical is always a nightmare after someone hack the system. I have over 40 yrs in electronics so electrical is not a problem as long as I can find the schematic. I do tell it is a lot easier for me to repair electrical or mechanical problems if they don't let an inexperience person work on it before they bring the equipment to me. They are also are informed on those jobs that someone else have already messed with will cost more as I got the induced mess first before I find the original problem. See I got a lot of DIYers here that tends to screw things up quite regularly.
I had one customer to spend over $300 trying to fix his mower when it was only a fifty cent wire terminal. Still ended up costing another $50 but now he brings all his equipment to me when it break down with trying to fix it himself.
When it comes to electrical, I explain right off the bat, that if I check the right bad part or wire first, then the cost will be a lot less expensive, than if it's the last out of several things I check first. No one knows exactly where to start, unless it happens to be obvious.
In a perfect world, people who do their own maintenance would just replace parts, instead of trying to find another way.
#19
B
bertsmobile1
PT,
Much like you I came here to LEARN about the stuff I have no idea about.
Initally it was just to acquire as many manuals & parts books as I could get.
Down here there are no hand held factories & only one ride on factory so everything here that has an old Aussie factory name is rebadged.
Ergo the Parklander which was a rebadged Swisher, never would have found out which one without the help of this forum.
I only do about 300 jobs a year so it will take a very long time before I see one of every mower / chainsaw / blower / trimmer that was made & then I have to remember what I have done which is a problem when you can not remember what you had for breakfast.
Add to that like you I am independent so no access to dealers web sites , the local web pages are nothing more than a collection of sales brochures & most US sites now geo lock.
There is a McCulloch ZM4619BF in the yard right now . I go to McCulloch.com and it sends me to McCulloch.com.au and that site has no support . Use the URL spoofer to pretend I am in the US and all I can get is the owners manual.
Trace the equivalent Husqvarna manual and I can get service manuals, owners manuals & parts manuals for all years of manufacture from the USA site.
Without the URL spoofing happening Husqvarna USA automatically send me back to Husqvarna AUS where RZ 4619BC ( which is what the mower is ) does not exist because that model was not imported here.
The person I bought the run from was a bodger of the first order so most of his repairs had more wrong parts on them than right ones.
Prior to fixing mowers, he ran a auto wreckers and he treated the mower repairs the same way.
Now the work he did was good & everything worked properly but it was a nightmare for me as 1/2 of them were Fraken mowers & I did not know what actually should have been there and what was a substitute part.
FWIW I am still on about 30 forums , but only post to 5 of them and spend most time on this one.
The others + motorcycle forums + the engineering forums + the foundry forums are what I do in the evening because I only turn the TV on for 3 hours a week to watch some gardening shows .
The information & tips I give to you are particulary good for you because we are substantially in the same boat and everything I have learned, you will have to learn & hopefully pass on to others in good time.
B
bertsmobile1
I've turned down a few jobs that I knew right off the bat were going to be extremely time consuming. One that sticks out was this passed summer. I even made a thread about it, and some of you guru's advised to just turn down the job or price it accordingly. And that's why I did. Customer wanted me to do a rigger nig on an existing electrical nightmare.
I still slip now and then. As in the Raven I took in a few months ago.
I suppose, some of you fella's who've been in this business for 15+ years still run into stuff you don't know for sure about. I was amazed last year when @bertsmobile1 posted a question.
PT,
Much like you I came here to LEARN about the stuff I have no idea about.
Initally it was just to acquire as many manuals & parts books as I could get.
Down here there are no hand held factories & only one ride on factory so everything here that has an old Aussie factory name is rebadged.
Ergo the Parklander which was a rebadged Swisher, never would have found out which one without the help of this forum.
I only do about 300 jobs a year so it will take a very long time before I see one of every mower / chainsaw / blower / trimmer that was made & then I have to remember what I have done which is a problem when you can not remember what you had for breakfast.
Add to that like you I am independent so no access to dealers web sites , the local web pages are nothing more than a collection of sales brochures & most US sites now geo lock.
There is a McCulloch ZM4619BF in the yard right now . I go to McCulloch.com and it sends me to McCulloch.com.au and that site has no support . Use the URL spoofer to pretend I am in the US and all I can get is the owners manual.
Trace the equivalent Husqvarna manual and I can get service manuals, owners manuals & parts manuals for all years of manufacture from the USA site.
Without the URL spoofing happening Husqvarna USA automatically send me back to Husqvarna AUS where RZ 4619BC ( which is what the mower is ) does not exist because that model was not imported here.
The person I bought the run from was a bodger of the first order so most of his repairs had more wrong parts on them than right ones.
Prior to fixing mowers, he ran a auto wreckers and he treated the mower repairs the same way.
Now the work he did was good & everything worked properly but it was a nightmare for me as 1/2 of them were Fraken mowers & I did not know what actually should have been there and what was a substitute part.
FWIW I am still on about 30 forums , but only post to 5 of them and spend most time on this one.
The others + motorcycle forums + the engineering forums + the foundry forums are what I do in the evening because I only turn the TV on for 3 hours a week to watch some gardening shows .
The information & tips I give to you are particulary good for you because we are substantially in the same boat and everything I have learned, you will have to learn & hopefully pass on to others in good time.
#20
PTmowerMech
Don't sell yourself short, my friend. You're a guru at this. It sounds like you came by it the hard way. I can't imagine all those frankenmowers you started out on.
There's a couple of good facebook pages that are solely small engine techs. They don't really allow questions like "My mower only turns 1/2 way then stops." If someone posts that, they'll be told pretty quick to take it to a small engine shop. Simply because most of us have shops. And DIY's, are a double whammy. They either fix their own stuff. Or they screw it up so bad, that many shops won't even touch it without charging full price for every minute.
BTW, that whole "forgetting what you had for breakfast" thing. Yup, happens all the time. I think I spend more time looking for something I just laid down, then I do actually fixing things. At least it seems that way sometimes.
PTmowerMech
PT,
Much like you I came here to LEARN about the stuff I have no idea about.
Initally it was just to acquire as many manuals & parts books as I could get.
Down here there are no hand held factories & only one ride on factory so everything here that has an old Aussie factory name is rebadged.
Ergo the Parklander which was a rebadged Swisher, never would have found out which one without the help of this forum.
I only do about 300 jobs a year so it will take a very long time before I see one of every mower / chainsaw / blower / trimmer that was made & then I have to remember what I have done which is a problem when you can not remember what you had for breakfast.
Add to that like you I am independent so no access to dealers web sites , the local web pages are nothing more than a collection of sales brochures & most US sites now geo lock.
There is a McCulloch ZM4619BF in the yard right now . I go to McCulloch.com and it sends me to McCulloch.com.au and that site has no support . Use the URL spoofer to pretend I am in the US and all I can get is the owners manual.
Trace the equivalent Husqvarna manual and I can get service manuals, owners manuals & parts manuals for all years of manufacture from the USA site.
Without the URL spoofing happening Husqvarna USA automatically send me back to Husqvarna AUS where RZ 4619BC ( which is what the mower is ) does not exist because that model was not imported here.
The person I bought the run from was a bodger of the first order so most of his repairs had more wrong parts on them than right ones.
Prior to fixing mowers, he ran a auto wreckers and he treated the mower repairs the same way.
Now the work he did was good & everything worked properly but it was a nightmare for me as 1/2 of them were Fraken mowers & I did not know what actually should have been there and what was a substitute part.
FWIW I am still on about 30 forums , but only post to 5 of them and spend most time on this one.
The others + motorcycle forums + the engineering forums + the foundry forums are what I do in the evening because I only turn the TV on for 3 hours a week to watch some gardening shows .
The information & tips I give to you are particulary good for you because we are substantially in the same boat and everything I have learned, you will have to learn & hopefully pass on to others in good time.
Don't sell yourself short, my friend. You're a guru at this. It sounds like you came by it the hard way. I can't imagine all those frankenmowers you started out on.
There's a couple of good facebook pages that are solely small engine techs. They don't really allow questions like "My mower only turns 1/2 way then stops." If someone posts that, they'll be told pretty quick to take it to a small engine shop. Simply because most of us have shops. And DIY's, are a double whammy. They either fix their own stuff. Or they screw it up so bad, that many shops won't even touch it without charging full price for every minute.
BTW, that whole "forgetting what you had for breakfast" thing. Yup, happens all the time. I think I spend more time looking for something I just laid down, then I do actually fixing things. At least it seems that way sometimes.
#21
B
bertsmobile1
Not a Guru, just standing on the shoulders of others.
Just about everything I have posted I have learned for some one else and have found they worked .
Yes I sat for hours watching Taryl & Donny Boy from video no 1 all the way through to where they were
Then there was Joe Pace for cube carbs, Dirt Drive way mechanic, shade tree mechanic and a few more I have forgoten
I have a problem with Steve's Saloon cause booze & wrenching don't go together
AS for forgetting where you lay things down, you say "the carb is on the ( mill table , whatever ) " as you put it down and you will remember where you left it.
Better if said aloud but only if you are by yourself at the time .
B
bertsmobile1
Don't sell yourself short, my friend. You're a guru at this. It sounds like you came by it the hard way. I can't imagine all those frankenmowers you started out on.
There's a couple of good facebook pages that are solely small engine techs. They don't really allow questions like "My mower only turns 1/2 way then stops." If someone posts that, they'll be told pretty quick to take it to a small engine shop. Simply because most of us have shops. And DIY's, are a double whammy. They either fix their own stuff. Or they screw it up so bad, that many shops won't even touch it without charging full price for every minute.
BTW, that whole "forgetting what you had for breakfast" thing. Yup, happens all the time. I think I spend more time looking for something I just laid down, then I do actually fixing things. At least it seems that way sometimes.
Not a Guru, just standing on the shoulders of others.
Just about everything I have posted I have learned for some one else and have found they worked .
Yes I sat for hours watching Taryl & Donny Boy from video no 1 all the way through to where they were
Then there was Joe Pace for cube carbs, Dirt Drive way mechanic, shade tree mechanic and a few more I have forgoten
I have a problem with Steve's Saloon cause booze & wrenching don't go together
AS for forgetting where you lay things down, you say "the carb is on the ( mill table , whatever ) " as you put it down and you will remember where you left it.
Better if said aloud but only if you are by yourself at the time .
#22
Scrubcadet10
Scrubcadet10
The 10mm socket always disappearsDon't sell yourself short, my friend. You're a guru at this. It sounds like you came by it the hard way. I can't imagine all those frankenmowers you started out on.
There's a couple of good facebook pages that are solely small engine techs. They don't really allow questions like "My mower only turns 1/2 way then stops." If someone posts that, they'll be told pretty quick to take it to a small engine shop. Simply because most of us have shops. And DIY's, are a double whammy. They either fix their own stuff. Or they screw it up so bad, that many shops won't even touch it without charging full price for every minute.
BTW, that whole "forgetting what you had for breakfast" thing. Yup, happens all the time. I think I spend more time looking for something I just laid down, then I do actually fixing things. At least it seems that way sometimes.
#23
Hammermechanicman
Hammermechanicman
Ain't that the truth?The 10mm socket always disappears
#24
StarTech
StarTech
I have to disagree with this especially when it comes to my glasses. I lay them down and sometimes I only remember where I put them when I hear the crunch. I have lost several pairs that way. Now I always keep a second pair in a secure location as I am legally blind without them. But they are too strong for up close work and the 10x loupe is a manual version that I use for inspections.AS for forgetting where you lay things down, you say "the carb is on the ( mill table , whatever ) " as you put it down and you will remember where you left it.
#25
B
bertsmobile1
B
bertsmobile1
The usual reason why you forget when you put some thing right now is your mind was fully occupied with some thing else .
That is why the addressing where you put them works and why it works best if you vocalize it .
This assuming that your short term memory is in fact funtioning.
It is a teaching trick that Tarly often uses when he has conversations with tools or other objects
So when he says hello to Mr 10 mil that is fixing the fact that you need a 10mm in your mind
I noticed it in one video , I think it was doing valve lash on a Vanguard where the adjuster is Metric not Unified because it was designed in Japan, a metric country .
That is why the addressing where you put them works and why it works best if you vocalize it .
This assuming that your short term memory is in fact funtioning.
It is a teaching trick that Tarly often uses when he has conversations with tools or other objects
So when he says hello to Mr 10 mil that is fixing the fact that you need a 10mm in your mind
I noticed it in one video , I think it was doing valve lash on a Vanguard where the adjuster is Metric not Unified because it was designed in Japan, a metric country .
#26
StarTech
StarTech
Sometimes times I do get multitask overload. Working on equipment , looking up IPL and service manuals, answering the phone, and at the same time dealing with an on-site customer. That usually get beyond my doing 10 things at the same time limit.
Sometimes things do also get lost in the cobwebs of my mind as I navigate through 40+ years of repair memory. Some of those halls haven't any movement in years. I just ran into a problem I haven't seen in 30 yrs last week. Boy was I fighting those heavy cobwebs as I knew I had done repair before just finding the details was the problem.
Sometimes things do also get lost in the cobwebs of my mind as I navigate through 40+ years of repair memory. Some of those halls haven't any movement in years. I just ran into a problem I haven't seen in 30 yrs last week. Boy was I fighting those heavy cobwebs as I knew I had done repair before just finding the details was the problem.
#27
tom3
tom3
One thing I have learned over the years is to put my glasses in just certain places. Reach in the truck window and put on the dash, never anywhere out side. On the drill press beside the workbench, if under the hood they go in my pocket, and so on. Those things are expensive!
#28
PTmowerMech
Funny you should mention that. I just got back from the dollar store with a 3 pack of +1.75's because I just can't find my readers.
But now that I have 3 pair, I'll find the ones I lost before the days out.
PTmowerMech
One thing I have learned over the years is to put my glasses in just certain places. Reach in the truck window and put on the dash, never anywhere out side. On the drill press beside the workbench, if under the hood they go in my pocket, and so on. Those things are expensive!
Funny you should mention that. I just got back from the dollar store with a 3 pack of +1.75's because I just can't find my readers.
But now that I have 3 pair, I'll find the ones I lost before the days out.