Why people don't keep older equipment running

[dnw64]

^^yes...and is the nephew getting paid for his work?

I am expecting him to be. He may be young but seems to be a decent enough businessman that he realizes he needs to get paid for his work.

 

[Hay Dude]

I am expecting him to be. He may be young but seems to be a decent enough businessman that he realizes he needs to get paid for his work.

At one time, I had a great situation where I had a good apprentice mechanic working for me that could also do construction work and farming. He could quickly fix broken equipment. When not fixing, he was swinging a hammer or driving a tractor.
Then he got smart and became a full time mechanic and makes 3X what I could pay him.

 

[fried1765]

Pick your poison- repair by pro or DIY repair. Either way, you’re paying. All a man has is his time and money.
Repair work done yourself costs you time you could otherwise use to make more money and don’t forget another aspect-it can be dangerous. Seen plenty of former mechanics now working in parts or sales with a missing eye or hand.

All true when you are a working stiff!
Not true when you are retired!
I have nothing BUT time....but I rarely use it wisely anymore.
Age is the biggest problem now!
I am just getting too old do do some chit!

 

[dnw64]

Try asking a shop to turn your rotors...you will get dirty looks, mostly because techs dont know how to chuck the lathe.

The rear brakes on my wife's '15 Explorer were getting worn out so the dealer told her she needed new pads and rotors. She asked "Can't you turn the rotors?". Well, in addition to being shocked that a WOMAN even knew of such things they said "No, we don't do that any more". I talked to my brother-in-law who runs an indy repair shop about it and he said that most rotors made nowadays are made too thin to be turned.

 

[Hay Dude]

All true when you are a working stiff!
Not true when you are retired!
I have nothing BUT time....but I rarely use it wisely anymore.
Age is the biggest problem now!
I am just getting too old do do some chit!

I am amazed at your youth and exuberance!
Hoping to still be going at it like you are in my wiser years! :thumbsup:

 

[two_bit_score]

All true when you are a working stiff!
Not true when you are retired!
I have nothing BUT time....but I rarely use it wisely anymore.
Age is the biggest problem now!
I am just getting too old do do some chit!

I know the feeling! :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

I agree with what you've written, but since we're talking about money, you missed an important item. How much time did you spend repairing it and what is your time worth? Most people neglect the value of their time when it comes to repairs, but employers realize the value of time and pay for time. Only when this is done strictly on a hobby basis, then time doing repairs has no value.

I based the repair costs on paying a shop to do them. No personal time involved.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I thought parts costs were just astronomical for my Electric Gator on account of it being under their TURF equipment umbrella. Maybe all Gators?

Makes me wonder. Would I rather be RICH and totally clueless mechanicially, or POOR and able to fix some stuff on my own (less and less stuff all the time it seems). Tough call.

 

[Hay Dude]

I thought parts costs were just astronomical for my Electric Gator on account of it being under their TURF equipment umbrella. Maybe all Gators?

Makes me wonder. Would I rather be RICH and totally clueless mechanicially, or POOR and able to fix some stuff on my own (less and less stuff all the time it seems). Tough call.

Not for me. After being poor most my life and spending spare time fixing junk, Id take rich and mechanically clueless. Own everything you want and when it breaks, pick up the phone and get it back fixed? Oh yeah! :dance1:

 

[Industrial Toys]

My jury is still out on that. It would be one matter if stuff actually got fixed. "Pick up the Phone"? And talk to who, Voice mail? lol