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Gratification via wrenching
So I picked up a crappy old F250 a few weeks ago. It needed lots of little things. It also needed some attention on the front suspension. I put in driver side ball joints just now. Wow. There is a nice payoff when things work. I feel like a bit of a genius. Didn't rip open my skin. Didn't drop a truck on my foot. A win. It has been a long while since I did some good wrenching. It was fun.
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When I had my F350, I didn't opt for doing ball joints my self. I watched while they did it at the shop & was glad I took it there. I'm shooting for doing less of that kind of thing now days. It is always a feeling of accomplishment when you do something like that yourself.
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Today I replaced a defective Duramax turbo waste gate valve . The work was not enjoyable . I had to camp out on the engine to reach the valve . Very uncomfortable . But after cleaning up and taking for a drive was bliss . So the end result was gratifying . The journey not so much .
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Do it while you can, guys... Life gets frustrating when you tell yourself you can, then the body lets you know you can't.
Good on ya, for that ball joint change... |
After driving my F150 up on ramps, I got underneath it and replaced the oil pressure sending unit last weekend It was a piece of cake. The temps were in the low 80s and I had a fan blowing. It was actually enjoyable, compared to replacing the front spindles, wheel hubs, etc. when the temperatures were in the mid 90s and high humidity.
That got me looking at the oil leak at the back of the oil pan. While laying under the truck, I watched a few videos on replacing the oil pan. Looked easy to do, so I ordered a new gasket. We’ll see how it goes this weekend… |
It is still gratifying when I complete a repair,
It has gotten less rewarding over the years, as the novelty wore off. I used to get a rush, now it is more neutral and matter of fact But, It has also gotten more stressful, as I am doing fewer repairs the last few years. Out of practice. I bite off smaller bites now, as a result. |
I still enjoy wrenching.
My favorite is fixing things that other people find unfixable... |
As a geezer, I have set my garage up to be more comfortable to work in.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695300985.JPG Heated or air conditioned, and the door on the left of the photo is my bathroom. I tend to put the car up in the air to do simple tasks. This week I will do aa transmission oil change, and through inspection before a track day at Ozarks Raceway. https://events.pca-warbonnet.org/events/fall-fun-run-2023 |
Oh it's so satisfying to repair something, even if it's minor. Bigger stuff getting a refresh, now there's some real pride. Last year I blasted and resprayed the rear reflector on my '82 to like new appearance and I felt twelve feet tall.
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I'm doing a bit of maintenance this week. Had to replace a rear wheel bearing on my 2010 Jetta Tdi wagon yesterday, not too bad of a job other than needing to buy some new sockets for the huge *triple square* bolts they use to hold on the bearing and the brake caliper bracket. Only Porsche/Audi/VW use these and I think that it's to minimize DIY repairs...to support the dealer service centers.
I'm also tackling the driveshaft on my old 1984 Mercedes-Benz w123, it has a center carrier with a bearing that goes bad and leads to vibration when it flops around. I decided to also replace the u-joint but discovered that it's not the usual set-up with circlips(?) holding the old one in...need to bring it to a shop and figure it out. :) |
Meant to include a couple of photos:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695311808.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695311808.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695311808.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695311808.jpg You can actually see in the last photo above how the u-joint is "spalled" into the joint. I can get the old one out by drilling it and destroying it but have no idea how to install new one and keep it in? The carrier bearing is a common repair that is simple if you know what you're doing but there are some pitfalls for the uninitiated. Like a lot of MB repairs, (or any other make), it's not complicated but there is opportunity to really **** it up if you are flying blind. MB balances their drive shafts, (so does everyone else), but it's a 2-piece assembly and it needs to be marked before disassembly and put together the same way or you have just introduced an imbalance with no way to fix it, if you don't know how it's supposed to be put together. You just hope that the last guy to do it wasn't some untrained monkey who changed the orientation. The factory doesn't put alignment marks on them, for some reason. They put a bunch of other paint marks that denote the model it's going in, (I think). What you want to see is previous alignment marks from another mechanic if it's been apart before or hope that it's never been apart. It's a splined fitting with a lot of potential matings: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695312794.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695312794.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695312794.jpg |
As I get older, I hire more and more stuff out to other shops.
that said, I still wrench and find pleasure in it for the sake of self-satisfiction knowing it's done right. :eek: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695313868.jpg |
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Earlier this summer I sandblasted and painted an old Dodge flathead manifold and carburetor for no good reason. I mounted on my shop wall. Now I have a Powerwall. :D http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695313989.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695313989.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695313989.jpg Currently I'm cleaning up and painting this old wooden car wheel. I don't know why, other than I want to. Quote:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1128271-up-fixing-65-vw-thread.html I'm about to start a refresh of my Speedster, pending progress on my back pain issue. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695313989.jpg |
Finishing something, a project, break/fix activity, refresh, whether on a car, appliance, house, etc... all good feelings of accomplishment. Sometimes it's almost euphoric, sometimes barely noticable. Hell, it's been so long since I did much on a car that I'm feeling pretty good to just change the oil and filters.
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I find maintaining or doing upgrades is fun.
What I find a chore is doing repairs. They often take longer and can be frustrating. Especially if there is a time constraint. |
I do enjoy tinkering on motorcycles. It used to be cars up to about seven or eight years ago when it just got to be more work than fun. So far working on motorcycles is still fun. As I have more than one motorcycle, there’s no pressure to get the one I’m working on done.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695327788.jpg |
One of my favorite things to do is fix other people's poor quality repairs. Ducati headlight wiring before and after using an H4 9003 rated ceramic socket.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695328256.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695328256.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695328256.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695328256.jpg |
Doing it right always feels good.
Replacing a check strap on my S420. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695328756.jpg |
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If it's an unexpected repair that's outside of some of the easy tasks where you've got to tackle a big and/or unfamiliar job at an unexpected time and that job has a deadline because it's on your only/main driver, that's less fun than something that you were able to plan ahead to do when it's convenient for you. Ideally, you've got an extra car that can assume driver duties if a problem pops up so you aren't stuck having to do something unexpectedly. Having to get home from work Tue night and repair something before that vehicle can be driven to work Wed morning or something like that, is the worst. I remember the missus being on the side of the road in her miata and me getting an alternator and driving 30 miles to replace the alternator on the side of the road. That sort of thing sucks too. |
Small victories…. I embrace them!
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Me and a friend have taken over the maintenance of 4 old fire trucks for our local club the Northern Historical Power Association.
First up is a 1952 IH chassis truck braking system. We disassembled the front drums, brakes, wheel cylinders, soft lines, hard lines, and master cylinder. Didn't break a bolt or fitting so were calling that a win! http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695332734.jpg |
This really shouldn't be limited to 'wrenching' on rolling stock. The repair business offers a lot of gratification. It's still twisting tools for a good part of it. I like to see broken stuff become whole again.
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Agree with above. When we lived in VA, my wife called our washing machine Lazarus because I raised it from the dead so many times. Lots of gratification in problem solving.
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All day every day for the last 35 + years, yet I still find zen at my home garage , or tinkering with my personal projects .
Ill be staying late tonight to finish sandblasting the front suspension components for my SC. No better feeling than having a bunch of shiny parts laid out on the workbench ready to install I even enjoy a lot of my day to day work, but most of it has just become a grind . |
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This extends to food. After we've harvested all we need out of our garden we open it up to friends, family, friends of family - basically anyone who can use the surplus food. I do everything I can NOT to take any purchases home in a plastic bag. I hate throwing those things away. I have a lifetime's worth of junk laying around here that other people would have pitched, but I'm hanging on to it against the off chance I ever have time to repair it. After we sold our Z-3 I had an air filter left on the shelf. It would have been easy for some people to throw it out, but I couldn't do it. I found someone who could use it and took the time to mail it out to them, just so it wouldn't go to waste. |
Yea, the waste is so overwhelming, and I hate it.
I go to a local small grocery store regularly for bananas, milk, cheese, and a few other items. The checkers are drilled to put everything into a paper bag. I always tell them I don't need a bag for a bunch of bananas and a loaf of bread. The new employees are drilled over and over to put everything in a bag. I tell them it is OK, I don't need a bag. They get fear in their eyes knowing if the manager sees a customer with no bag they will get in trouble. I tell them the manager knows me, and don't worry. When I do have enough stuff to need a paper bag, I use them. At home, we keep the old bags in a box, and when that gets full, we take them to a place that uses them in their charity. They have a large plastic bin that is waterproof, so we can dump them off when the parking lot is empty because they are closed. |
1974 I bought a 69 Opel GT while in high school. Downdraft Solex I think. Found one of the four mounting bolts were missing because the corner of the intake manifold carb base was broken off. Idle was higher than it should have been.
Pulled the intake manifold off at a snails pace. Scared to death. Drove it down to the Buick dealer in Franklin, PA and met the Opel mechanic. He went to a pile out back of Opel engine parts and pulled out a manifold and said $20. I said here you go and he said, "No, pay in there". Paid at the cash register and told the lady how much the part was. Installed it and it idled normal. I was Batman. Mentioning it because it was the first real repair I performed and it had a huge impact on how I viewed cars for the rest of my life. Meaning they are not necessarily a can of worms. |
I’ve been working on the 58 ford F100 and getting quite a bit done. Pulled the instrument cluster out and reconditioned it, repaired glovebox, ashtray, new flat glass for vent windows and doors and working on the rats nest of 60 year old original and hack wiring job. Finally got it started and smokes like hell. Engine may need rebuild but a winter project. Very satisfying working with SAE wrenches and sockets again. Work on it at my leisure a few hours a day, no pressure. Generator rebuild next. Parts are available and not to expensive, but shipping is a killer. Been fun so far. Don’t miss the Porsches I had over the years at all..
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The biggest problem I have: "Too many projects stored in my head for later". :(
My stepper foot industrial sewing machine that I built from scratch. The head, motor and marine ply were bought new but everything else is found materials. The go pedal is an old bass drum pedal that had been collecting dust for decades. I saved about $400 doing it this way. Not entirely happy so I may rebuild it at some point. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695412578.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1695412608.jpg |
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You're a rare breed! Hats off |
Yesterday I decided to do a fuel filter change on the Duramax . Awkward to get to and difficult to get any torque to break free the filter . I heard/felt something snap/tear in my left elbow 😩 . I knew right away that wasn't a good sound .
Finished the task and then did an oil and filter change . Completed that with no issues . Rewarding ? Yes . Painful ? Unfortunately yes . Probably will hurt for a week or two . |
When reinstalling the transmission in my Subaru I destroyed my wrist. Had to take a couple days off just so I could use it again. It’s been a couple of months now and it’s finally feeling normal.
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How's the elbow feeling today?
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My greatest gratification is fabrication. Riding across country the kickstand bolt fell out in South Dakota. I even know exactly where but thought I had run over a rock at an intersecton. It would have been easier to get a new factory bolt or one of the cool flat Nichols bolts but those are NLA and not being made anymore. So I decided to make my own. Thread in the kickstand mount is M12 x 1.25, fine thread, which is coincidentally the same as a 911 flywheel bolt.
Kickstand off the bik http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg Clean up with flywheel bolt http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg Will need a bushing http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg Mount media blasted, ready for the tumbler http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg The spring mechanism was plated with black zinc chromate. Stripped that and tumbled those http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg These thick washers from McMaster Carr were the perfect diameter. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg Just needed to cut the bolt head down on the lathe and then pressfit them together with the press http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg Test fit here. I froze the bolt and heated the washer up to 450ºF http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg Even frozen and expanded, it took a lot of force to press the bolt into the washer. They are definitely one with each other. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg Top and underside surfaces cut down on the lathe http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691622481.jpg |
Nearly finished. Got the sleeve bushing and light duty thrust bearings from McMaster Carr.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691710126.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691710126.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691710126.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691710126.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691710126.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691710126.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1691710126.jpg |
On the bike, I also got some 10mm 6061 rod and made a proper "through-bolt" with yellow cadmium hardware vs. the rusty Home Depot threaded rod that was in the bike.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1693086800.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1693086800.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1693086800.jpg |
I had a buddy that could fabricate. Not as good as you but I realized it’s a gift. You guys see things most people can’t see!!
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Had a call from a friend stuck in a parking lot with a no start issue. Jumped the car and it started fine. Some snafu with the key fob and it shut off. Tried to jump it again, and nada.
Had to pull the front tire and plastic bits out to get to the battery. Before killing myself trying to disconnect it and pull it out, I checked the terminals. Sure nuff they're loose. Tighten them up and zoom. Fired right up. Put it back together and enjoyed a cold beverage. Good day. |
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