DIY a dying breed

[rdln]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( cuz I was foolish enough
to buy a BMW )</font>

I heard something about the hood was locked on those and only dealers had the password!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[rdln]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( cuz I was foolish enough
to buy a BMW )</font>

I heard something about the hood was locked on those and only dealers had the password!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I was foolish enough to buy a BMW (my first and last) )</font>

Me, too, but mine was a motorcycle. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I heard something about the hood was locked on those and only dealers had the password!! )</font>

My brothers used to own a garage, and besides being mechanics themselves, had other mechanics hired, and one of them once told he, that you learn real fast to not even let a BMW in the door. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I was foolish enough to buy a BMW (my first and last) )</font>

Me, too, but mine was a motorcycle. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I heard something about the hood was locked on those and only dealers had the password!! )</font>

My brothers used to own a garage, and besides being mechanics themselves, had other mechanics hired, and one of them once told he, that you learn real fast to not even let a BMW in the door. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[RobertN]

Yes and no. I think the concept is like a fluid motion.

Some things are complicated by the fact many things are cheap throw-aways now. TV's, VCR's, DVD players. Radio Shack sure isn't like the old days, when you could get fun kits to build stuff.

Other things have big followings. Look at the Rockler woodworking catalog or web page. Someone mentioned the big box stores for home improvement.

Some things have changed in other ways. I have always been interested in Harleys. I remember watching a neighbor do customization back in the 70's. It was either stock, or you made most stuff yourself. Now days, you can buy all the custom stuff and bolt it on. Sure, there are custom builders, but most peoples stuff is bolt-on's.

It's fluid; it changes course with peoples whim's, technology, and thier mood at that specific point in the space time continuam /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[RobertN]

Yes and no. I think the concept is like a fluid motion.

Some things are complicated by the fact many things are cheap throw-aways now. TV's, VCR's, DVD players. Radio Shack sure isn't like the old days, when you could get fun kits to build stuff.

Other things have big followings. Look at the Rockler woodworking catalog or web page. Someone mentioned the big box stores for home improvement.

Some things have changed in other ways. I have always been interested in Harleys. I remember watching a neighbor do customization back in the 70's. It was either stock, or you made most stuff yourself. Now days, you can buy all the custom stuff and bolt it on. Sure, there are custom builders, but most peoples stuff is bolt-on's.

It's fluid; it changes course with peoples whim's, technology, and thier mood at that specific point in the space time continuam /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[john_bud]

Ha! Good discussion.

Couple weeks ago, our water heater was intermittent in firing up the gas. The glow plug would glow white hot, but no gas. I rapped the gas valve a few times and it worked for a week then died. (Wife didn't like her cold shower).

So, I took apart the control box that all the wires go to. Not much in there, but 3 relays and a few resistors and junk like that. I looked at the front for broken components and the BACK side of it for broken solder joints. Found one bad solder joint on the relay that had wires going to the gas valve. 2 min of soldering and the joint was good. Taped it back together (it's non-serviceable and can't be opened without breaking tabs off) and screwed it back on.

It's been working ever since.


Point of the story? A service tech would have charged $100 to walk in the door and $200 for a new control box, maybe an additional $150 for a gas valve and probably $100 for labor. No way I would pay that! It's like my momma said, "Son, you might be slow and dumb, but you're not good looking". Words to live by.

A couple months ago I had a hydraulic cylinder rebuilt for a Backhoe. Picked it up and had to suck a nitro pill when they handed me a bill for over $400. I went home and ordered a spanner wrench, found sources online for packing and have done 6 other cylinders for about $160 TOTAL for all packing and stuff plus another $35 for the wrench.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that many easy things get tossed out as people are too afraid to even try and tackle the repair. Most things are far easier than you might imagine. But nothing is easier than tossing it out or more fun than buying a new one. Except the feeling of accomplishment you get from fixing it yourself....

jb
<font color="red"> </font>
Boondox wrote:
So here I am with all sorts of advanced degrees, the ability to use some of the most advanced enterprise planning software in the world...and I'd give much of it away for the knowledge it takes to rebuild an engine!

Pete
<font color="red"> </font> <font color="black"> </font>

Hey Pete, I have a couple engines that need rebuilding. Wanna come out to Wisconsin? You provide the parts and I'll teach you all there is to know.

jb

 

[john_bud]

Ha! Good discussion.

Couple weeks ago, our water heater was intermittent in firing up the gas. The glow plug would glow white hot, but no gas. I rapped the gas valve a few times and it worked for a week then died. (Wife didn't like her cold shower).

So, I took apart the control box that all the wires go to. Not much in there, but 3 relays and a few resistors and junk like that. I looked at the front for broken components and the BACK side of it for broken solder joints. Found one bad solder joint on the relay that had wires going to the gas valve. 2 min of soldering and the joint was good. Taped it back together (it's non-serviceable and can't be opened without breaking tabs off) and screwed it back on.

It's been working ever since.


Point of the story? A service tech would have charged $100 to walk in the door and $200 for a new control box, maybe an additional $150 for a gas valve and probably $100 for labor. No way I would pay that! It's like my momma said, "Son, you might be slow and dumb, but you're not good looking". Words to live by.

A couple months ago I had a hydraulic cylinder rebuilt for a Backhoe. Picked it up and had to suck a nitro pill when they handed me a bill for over $400. I went home and ordered a spanner wrench, found sources online for packing and have done 6 other cylinders for about $160 TOTAL for all packing and stuff plus another $35 for the wrench.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that many easy things get tossed out as people are too afraid to even try and tackle the repair. Most things are far easier than you might imagine. But nothing is easier than tossing it out or more fun than buying a new one. Except the feeling of accomplishment you get from fixing it yourself....

jb
<font color="red"> </font>
Boondox wrote:
So here I am with all sorts of advanced degrees, the ability to use some of the most advanced enterprise planning software in the world...and I'd give much of it away for the knowledge it takes to rebuild an engine!

Pete
<font color="red"> </font> <font color="black"> </font>

Hey Pete, I have a couple engines that need rebuilding. Wanna come out to Wisconsin? You provide the parts and I'll teach you all there is to know.

jb

 

[BobRip]

I think you have to be willing to do the following (at least in the beginning).
0. Find a mentor
1. Research
2. Study
3. Make mistakes
4. Try again
5. Have patience
6. Ask questions
7. Make more mistakes.

I have done all of these many times (particularly make mistakes). There is a pile of stuff that I did not fix, and maybe a bigger pile that I have fixed (or is it the other way around).

It is still possible to fix stuff but there is pain involved. Keep trying and good luck.
There are of course many good responses here and some applicances have parts prices that are so high they are not work fixing. Also I always brag about the things that I fixed and don't talk much about my failures. Expect failures and keep trying.

Bob Rip

 

[BobRip]

I think you have to be willing to do the following (at least in the beginning).
0. Find a mentor
1. Research
2. Study
3. Make mistakes
4. Try again
5. Have patience
6. Ask questions
7. Make more mistakes.

I have done all of these many times (particularly make mistakes). There is a pile of stuff that I did not fix, and maybe a bigger pile that I have fixed (or is it the other way around).

It is still possible to fix stuff but there is pain involved. Keep trying and good luck.
There are of course many good responses here and some applicances have parts prices that are so high they are not work fixing. Also I always brag about the things that I fixed and don't talk much about my failures. Expect failures and keep trying.

Bob Rip