Tractor repairs are a breeze. Try working on a motorcycle to prove the point

[Cougsfan]

I think everything is getting harder to work on. I have a Ferguson TO35; An absolute piece of cake to work on. I have a New Branson 4720CH; not so easy to work on, everything is hidden, common sense is harder to apply. I also have a '78 BMW R80; again it's a piece of cake to work on. And finally my '17 Triumph T120; so incredibly complicated to work on.

 

[TCJatko]

If you're 66, born in '50 or 51, how did you get your license in 1965. You would have been 14 (or 15 depending on when your B'day is). Are there states that issue licenses at 14,15?

When I lived in Texas many years ago it was possible for those as young as 14 to get a license; of course there were limitations such as daylight hours only, etc.

 

[ch1ch2]

If you're 66, born in '50 or 51, how did you get your license in 1965. You would have been 14 (or 15 depending on when your B'day is). Are there states that issue licenses at 14,15?

I live in Texas and I got my license when I was 15. I even ran a stop sign while taking the test. Nice DPS officer let it slide.

 

[hawkeye08]

I drove near the farm starting at 12, was driving water truck ('37 International with 500 gal) to the hay cuber after school at 14, got my license a few months after my 16th birthday. I still do all my own maintenance and yes, sometimes wonder why something is engineered the way it is.

I need to service my zero turn mower tonight. I am wondering why the oil drain and oil filter don't have a better solution. It is gonna make a mess for sure.. I like the big flat catch pans since you never know exactly where it will come out..

 

[3930dave]

I drove near the farm starting at 12, was driving water truck ('37 International with 500 gal) to the hay cuber after school at 14, got my license a few months after my 16th birthday. I still do all my own maintenance and yes, sometimes wonder why something is engineered the way it is.

I need to service my zero turn mower tonight. I am wondering why the oil drain and oil filter don't have a better solution. It is gonna make a mess for sure.. I like the big flat catch pans since you never know exactly where it will come out..

I remember a LEO pulling over a big combine that the neighbour's 12 yo son was driving down the road - the Mom was right there, as she was driving the pickup following it. She told the LEO "That 12 yo can drive that combine way better than I can, so unless you plan on climbing up there to drive it, we'll leave it parked in the middle of the road". 12 yo son continued to drive it (well) all the way home.....

I was camping at a heavy truck show a few years back, and got chatting with the guy camped beside me. He and his Dad worked on all their own trucks. One of the first things he said when their sales rep dropped by to ask how they liked their latest Class 8 was "Why do I have to go out and buy a bunch of fittings to re-direct the sump oil drain from splashing all over the place after hitting a cross member, on a $zxy,xxx truck ?".

Most design today relies heavily on computer modeling. Some things aren't modeled well, or at all. Physical evaluation sometimes has to wait for customer "feedback". Customers work for free, mostly Test Engineers do not....

Rgds, D.