Respect for mechanics...

N8N · 11-10-2013, 08:56 AM

I've spent the last five working days acting as a professional mechanic, as my friend's best tech was on vacation, I'm not working at the moment, so it theoretically worked out for both of us... I still think i'm a damn good wrench and better than most pros in terms of quality work, but still...

1) I don't enjoy it. It's hard work.

2) The investment in tools required is amazing. I have what I think it a truly extensive collection of tools, built up over the last 15 years of working on cars as a hobby and/or necessity (although no air tools) that literally filled up the back of my Jeep Cherokee when I moved everything over to my friend's shop. I was *constantly* borrowing tools that I didn't have from others. (e.g. I had to do a tuneup on a Chevy Trailblazer with the 4.2 straight six; I found quickly that my cheap spark plug socket with the rubber insert was unsuitable as it hadn't been used much and gripped the plug too tightly and therefore every time I put a new plug in I'd lose the socket because it'd come off the extension. A magnetic socket like the Schwaben N54 one would have been much better. I also had to borrow an extension as I needed one an exact length, within half an inch, to clear the valve cover and the cowl simultaneously.)

3) Your average person has no idea what's going on under the hood of their car, nor do they care - as evidenced by the astonishing number of cars coming in with stuck hood latches, nonfunctional gas cylinders, etc. Even more astonishing is pointing out things like leaky calipers - and showing people while their vehicle is on a lift and pointing a flashlight right at the issue - and them not having kittens and insisting that it be fixed on the spot.

4) Air tools are very important. Speed counts.

5) I got funny looks when I'd run the lug nuts on with the air gun on "ultra low" and then finished with my torque wrench. I don't care, I know that's not How It's Done, but years of German car ownership have conditioned me that there is a right way to install wheels and dammit, that's how I'm going to do it.

A week's enough for me... I might show up for "guest appearances" occasionally but as a career I can't do it. I did in fact beat my minimum for the week even given a couple damn near dead days, so I can be proud of that I guess.

amanda hor$t · 11-10-2013, 12:48 PM

reminds me of the book where the guy has a different job every week for 2 yrs

pacman.defense · 11-10-2013, 01:59 PM

once the tesla no-maintenance model becomes popular, most mechanics will be out of jobs, whether it be 2 or 3 decades from now.

pacman.defense · 11-10-2013, 02:00 PM

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...uired-actually

pacman.defense · 11-10-2013, 02:01 PM

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...in-my-business

TrevorM3 · 11-10-2013, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacman.defense

once the tesla no-maintenance model becomes popular, most mechanics will be out of jobs, whether it be 2 or 3 decades from now.

Everything needs maintenance, i don't care what it is.

amanda hor$t · 11-10-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacman.defense

once the tesla no-maintenance model becomes popular, most mechanics will be out of jobs, whether it be 2 or 3 decades from now.

maybe just more firefighters

N8N · 11-10-2013, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevorM3

Everything needs maintenance, i don't care what it is.

This. Mechanics are just going to have to learn new skill sets and buy some new tools, much like they did when carburetors were supplanted by EFI, then port injection was supplanted by direct injection.

Now I still can muddle my way through rebuilding a carburetor, which is something I doubt many real pros today can do, but I can't do much with most because I find that pretty much any (save for brand new Holleys, Edelbrocks, etc.) need to have the throttle shafts rebushed to idle correctly.

Colt · 11-10-2013, 03:41 PM

I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my mechanic of over 15 years. Be getting ripped off at every indie shop more than likely.

Cuz5150 · 11-10-2013, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosster hymen

maybe just more firefighters

^^^^Hilarious^^^^

ROTF

great one

Ehwnnc · 11-10-2013, 07:05 PM

Did it for years and still help out my old shop from time to time. I do not miss it at all. It makes you age very fast, always busting ass to make time, never a steady pay check, oh and of course the massive amount of tool debt.

N8N · 11-11-2013, 09:46 PM

Well I rode in with the owner today to a) check all the fluids in my Jeep which I left at the shop and b) clean and pick up my tools.

Of course, since it was a holiday, everyone and their brother needed an oil change so I did neither, and we left the shop around 8 PM. If you'll excuse me, I need a nice little lie down. We'll try that plan again tomorrow...

11-10-2013, 08:56 AM	#1
N8N Lieutenant Colonel 179 Rep 1,843 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Berwyn Heights, MD iTrader: (2)	Respect for mechanics... I've spent the last five working days acting as a professional mechanic, as my friend's best tech was on vacation, I'm not working at the moment, so it theoretically worked out for both of us... I still think i'm a damn good wrench and better than most pros in terms of quality work, but still... 1) I don't enjoy it. It's hard work. 2) The investment in tools required is amazing. I have what I think it a truly extensive collection of tools, built up over the last 15 years of working on cars as a hobby and/or necessity (although no air tools) that literally filled up the back of my Jeep Cherokee when I moved everything over to my friend's shop. I was constantly borrowing tools that I didn't have from others. (e.g. I had to do a tuneup on a Chevy Trailblazer with the 4.2 straight six; I found quickly that my cheap spark plug socket with the rubber insert was unsuitable as it hadn't been used much and gripped the plug too tightly and therefore every time I put a new plug in I'd lose the socket because it'd come off the extension. A magnetic socket like the Schwaben N54 one would have been much better. I also had to borrow an extension as I needed one an exact length, within half an inch, to clear the valve cover and the cowl simultaneously.) 3) Your average person has no idea what's going on under the hood of their car, nor do they care - as evidenced by the astonishing number of cars coming in with stuck hood latches, nonfunctional gas cylinders, etc. Even more astonishing is pointing out things like leaky calipers - and showing people while their vehicle is on a lift and pointing a flashlight right at the issue - and them not having kittens and insisting that it be fixed on the spot. 4) Air tools are very important. Speed counts. 5) I got funny looks when I'd run the lug nuts on with the air gun on "ultra low" and then finished with my torque wrench. I don't care, I know that's not How It's Done, but years of German car ownership have conditioned me that there is a right way to install wheels and dammit, that's how I'm going to do it. A week's enough for me... I might show up for "guest appearances" occasionally but as a career I can't do it. I did in fact beat my minimum for the week even given a couple damn near dead days, so I can be proud of that I guess.
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11-10-2013, 12:48 PM	#2
amanda hor$t Banned 87 Rep 208 Posts Drives: a380 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: ny ny iTrader: (0)	reminds me of the book where the guy has a different job every week for 2 yrs
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11-10-2013, 01:59 PM	#3
pacman.defense Enlisted Member 0 Rep 32 Posts Drives: 2002 330i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	once the tesla no-maintenance model becomes popular, most mechanics will be out of jobs, whether it be 2 or 3 decades from now.
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11-10-2013, 02:00 PM	#4
pacman.defense Enlisted Member 0 Rep 32 Posts Drives: 2002 330i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...uired-actually
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11-10-2013, 02:01 PM	#5
pacman.defense Enlisted Member 0 Rep 32 Posts Drives: 2002 330i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...in-my-business
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11-10-2013, 07:05 PM	#11
Ehwnnc Second Lieutenant 107 Rep 243 Posts Drives: 11 335i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	Did it for years and still help out my old shop from time to time. I do not miss it at all. It makes you age very fast, always busting ass to make time, never a steady pay check, oh and of course the massive amount of tool debt.
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11-11-2013, 09:46 PM	#12
N8N Lieutenant Colonel 179 Rep 1,843 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Berwyn Heights, MD iTrader: (2)	Well I rode in with the owner today to a) check all the fluids in my Jeep which I left at the shop and b) clean and pick up my tools. Of course, since it was a holiday, everyone and their brother needed an oil change so I did neither, and we left the shop around 8 PM. If you'll excuse me, I need a nice little lie down. We'll try that plan again tomorrow...
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