The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum :: Steve's rules for mechanics.

Quote:

2) If you spend more time looking for a tool than using it, it's time you tidied your tools up!

If I followed that rule I'd spend my entire life tidying up. My ability to put down a tool I'm in the middle of using then not be able to find it again is legendary among my friends. Example- half inch spanner in each hand but find I need a half and a 9/16. Walk 3 metres to toolbox, collect 9/16, return to car and look down to find there's only the one spanner in my hands. Spend next 4 hours searching for half inch despite no recollection of putting them down. Rarely if ever is it just a case of returning to the toolbox. You might think it is simply a case of retracing your steps but oh no. When I'm focussed on a job I'm like a demon Paul Daniels. In the boot of another car, yes. Garden shed, yes. Fridge, yes. Somewhere logical, never. Tools lost in this manner can stay lost for weeks.

Author:	Carledo [ Wed Feb 19, 2020 11:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Steve's rules for mechanics.
A few of you will have heard of my "rules" for successful spannering, for those who haven't, or haven't heard them all, here they are! 1) Never trust someone else's diagnosis! 2) If you spend more time looking for a tool than using it, it's time you tidied your tools up! 3) Never EVER trust someone else's diagnosis! 4) If it lasts longer than a week, it's not a bodge, it's an engineering solution! 5) Remember the KISS principal and keep it wholely! 6) You can have a busy workshop, or a clean one, but not both, they are mutualy exclusive! Thank you and goodnight! Steve

Author:	dollyman [ Thu Feb 20, 2020 12:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
1) Never trust someone else's diagnosis! Steve [/quote] Surely this doesn't apply to your good self Steve? How are you coping with retirement? Tony.

Author:	matt of the vivas [ Thu Feb 20, 2020 1:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
This sounds like an excuse to have a messy workshop.... never any excuse for that kind of slackness!

Author:	Carledo [ Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
Quote: 1) Never trust someone else's diagnosis! Steve Surely this doesn't apply to your good self Steve? How are you coping with retirement? Tony. [/quote] Naw! It says "someone else's!" But if I had a quid for every time someone has come to me with "I think it's this" or "the AA man says it's that" or "Joe Bloggs down the pub reckons it's the oojamaflip", let alone a diagnostic computer, well, I could have retired years ago. I'm not saying no-one else is competent but me, I don't have that kind of vanity! What i'm trying to say is, engage your own brain before deploying the spanners or buying in expensive parts. Be sure IN YOUR OWN MIND that what you are doing is right and confirm (or deny) a diagnosis yourself. A case in point, a couple of weeks ago a lady came to me with a brake problem on an 07 Corsa, the brakes were noisy and pulled to the left badly. She showed me a note from another mechanic who had condemned the n/s/f caliper carrier and the o/s/f caliper and flexi hose. So she had bought and supplied me with the relevant parts. I inspected the n/s first and found no fault save the disc backplate/dustshield was bent and rubbing on the disc which I corrected. On to the o/s and inspection showed a high level of corrosion in the caliper body and carrier but no obvious fault. So I removed the caliper and disconnected the flexi from it, to be rewarded with absolutely nothing, no fluid came out of the open flexi at all! So I moved on to the metal pipe/flexi joint above it, suspecting a damaged flexi (after all "someone else" had condemed it!) but no, no rush of fluid there either! So I traced the metal pipe back back to the ABS block and removed the pipe from it, still no rush of fluid. At this point, just to confirm, I started the engine and stood on the brake pedal HARD. Not only did no fluid come out, but the pedal was firm and high! So the ACTUAL fault was a duff ABS block (seized solenoid in all likelihood) and a bent backplate. Incorrect diagnosis 3 for 3! This had not happened overnight either, she had been experiencing symptoms for months, but being old school (like me) she is quite sparing with the brakes and had somehow managed to survive several months with one front caliper completely inoperative. I think it was only a recent emergency stop that convinced her to take action! Retirement is pretty much what I expected from listening to the experience of others, I'm busier now! Steve

Author:	dollyman [ Thu Feb 20, 2020 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
Had a similar thing on a Hillman Avenger, RAC man said clutch gone, the guy who owned the car was a regular and i knew he wasn't heavy on clutches. Turns out it was the diaphram in carb. One highly delighted customer. I know what you mean with the retirement Steve Tony.

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Author:	bazyerma [ Fri Feb 21, 2020 2:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
Dont forget, Every job needs a hammer!

Author:	Carledo [ Fri Feb 21, 2020 11:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
Quote: Dont forget, Every job needs a hammer! I should have included that one, My grandad always told me "A hammer is a precision instrument in the hands of a skilled man" Don't believe me? Watch a good panel beater in action, there are hundreds on youtube! Another favourite is "If you can't fix it with a hammer, it must be an electrical problem" Steve

Author:	Carledo [ Sat Feb 22, 2020 12:12 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
On the subject of hammers, I have to confess to a certain degree of OCD when buying! I will swing every (visually identical) hammer in the rack trying to guage it's balance before choosing one. It sounds silly but an unbalanced hammer is bad for your health and your work. If you are always hitting your hands (or bolt threads) it's probably a lousy hammer! (and no cracks about a bad workman blaming his tools please) One of my most prized possessions is a panel beater's planishing/pick hammer. On the face of it, it's nothing special, it came as part of a cheap Sealey set of 3 hammers and 4 dollies that cost about £15 when Noah was a lad. The rest of the kit is long lost but the pick hammer remains and now sports a £30 Snap On hickory shaft. Why? Because you can hit a headless nail with the pointed end EVERY time! It's that perfectly balanced! Sheer fluke probably, I doubt another similar one from the same maker would work as well. Steve

Author:	trackerjack [ Sat Feb 22, 2020 10:01 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
Quote: A few of you will have heard of my "rules" for successful spannering, for those who haven't, or haven't heard them all, here they are! 1) Never trust someone else's diagnosis! Steve I built an engine for a chap who then sold it to someone and some time later the new owner of said engine said he had started it up and water was coming out of the plug tubes!!! and steam in the exhaust. Hmmm all his workmates said I built a crap engine and the head gasket was blown. Have you checked the inlet gasket and did you use sealant round the water port? says I. Not only had he not used sealant but it was on finger tight! So if you don't know what you are doing pass it to someone who does.

Author:	tinweevil [ Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
Quote: 2) If you spend more time looking for a tool than using it, it's time you tidied your tools up! If I followed that rule I'd spend my entire life tidying up. My ability to put down a tool I'm in the middle of using then not be able to find it again is legendary among my friends. Example- half inch spanner in each hand but find I need a half and a 9/16. Walk 3 metres to toolbox, collect 9/16, return to car and look down to find there's only the one spanner in my hands. Spend next 4 hours searching for half inch despite no recollection of putting them down. Rarely if ever is it just a case of returning to the toolbox. You might think it is simply a case of retracing your steps but oh no. When I'm focussed on a job I'm like a demon Paul Daniels. In the boot of another car, yes. Garden shed, yes. Fridge, yes. Somewhere logical, never. Tools lost in this manner can stay lost for weeks.

Author:	Carledo [ Thu Feb 27, 2020 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
Quote: Quote: 2) If you spend more time looking for a tool than using it, it's time you tidied your tools up! If I followed that rule I'd spend my entire life tidying up. My ability to put down a tool I'm in the middle of using then not be able to find it again is legendary among my friends. Example- half inch spanner in each hand but find I need a half and a 9/16. Walk 3 metres to toolbox, collect 9/16, return to car and look down to find there's only the one spanner in my hands. Spend next 4 hours searching for half inch despite no recollection of putting them down. Rarely if ever is it just a case of returning to the toolbox. You might think it is simply a case of retracing your steps but oh no. When I'm focussed on a job I'm like a demon Paul Daniels. In the boot of another car, yes. Garden shed, yes. Fridge, yes. Somewhere logical, never. Tools lost in this manner can stay lost for weeks. I don't tidy up in the middle of a job (and not that often at the end if another job is waiting) I have the same uncanny ability to totally lose something for hours that i've had in my hand 30 seconds earlier. And don't even get me started on where my fags/lighter/phone/keys/wallet have got to this time! It's a bloke thing, usually, whatever it is I have been seeking was right under my nose all along! D'OH! Steve

Author:	dollyman [ Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:26 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Steve's rules for mechanics.
I usually find what i lost in a rag in my pocket Tony.

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