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Too many wrenchers only know about replacing parts.
Thanks.
During my entire stay with Datsun,
I NEVER saw a "New" Carburetor,
Master or Wheel Cylinder Short or long block engine. head etcI even
repaired windshield wiper motors.
We rebuilt everything, my "Bench was 16' long, and underneath were masses of extra "you-name-it" parts.
Now us "old" mechanics call today's "Technicians", "parts-replacers"
Swap parts till the symptom goes away.My Mentor, Jimmy, was a Citroen, Lotus, Maserati and Lamborghini mechanic at Atlanta Gaddis, in downtown Atlanta Ga.
He was so sick of Atlanta that he quit a $45/hr job in 1971 to come work on Foreign cars at a Datsun dealer in NW Ga.. We'd work on ANY foreign car that did NOT have a local dealership.
When the Dealer closed, we had 4 hrs notice.
I spent my last paycheck, some $275~ on Datsun parts.
They sold them to us for some pittance, I forget, maybe 2-5 cents on the dollar, I forget.
After that I'd work at "Your-Home", tune-ups, head gaskets, didn't matter, I had parts
and a good reputation.
My Dad worked at Berry College, one professor told him, Quote:
"Your Boy is a little high on his tune-up's, but when he's done, it runs Right"
I told Pop, most shops called a "tune-up", points, plugs and "maybe" timing.
Our Dealer did those of course and these in addition
Valve-Adjustment [DUH, who doesn't?]
Clutch adj
Brake adj
Door Lube
Carb Adj, check Choke dashpot etc
Lube Vent Window
Fan Belt adj
Coolant and Vacuum Hoses check
All Fluids checked & filled
The car felt "New" again with quiet doors, full brake pedal, proper parking brake, clutch releasing near the bottom, not at the TOP, etc..When I started there in 71, I had already worked on many engines at home.
Rebuilt my VW Beetle engine many times
[the thermostat "is" REQUIRED on VW's BTW, or rebuild every 50k mi]
Plus 2 years at a lawnmower shop,
9 months at a Chainsaw shop.
TWO years at Auto Tech Trade School, "free" work for pals, and Mom & Pop of course.
About my 4th year at Datsun, a light bulb went off over my head.
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I had been building engines, carburetors, tune-up's, brakes, electrical work, stereo's, TV repair, etc for some 5~yrs or so,
Fact of the matter, I was dumber than the dirt between the tread of the vehicle I was working on. Why ? because I THOUGHT I knew something.
At THAT Exact Point, I "Began" to learn, to pay attention to minute details, to listen to even the "village idiot" who one time actually had a good idea, to sit back and think, before jumping in.
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My 1st year Instructor, at Auto School taught me the single most valuable lesson.
"When you're stuck on a problem, NOTHING you try works, Nobody knows how to help,,
Just STOP!
Quit what you're working on, do another job, FORGET about your problem. Albert Einstein did the same, except he took a nap. He never slept all night, only "cat-naps" He kept a pen and paper by the bed, upon awakening, often he'd resolved the issue.
Anyone who watches the show, "the Big Bang Theory" may have seen Sheldon resolve his perplexing issue by taking a menial job so his mind could rest and work out the issue.
One guy who'd seen my mechanical & electronic "fixes" at Southern Company, made a comment. Quote:
Quite a compliment considering the brilliance of the source.
Thanks for attempting to decipher this mess, maybe the NSA, CIA, TSA or Homeland Security can assist.
from a Very
Rusty Wrench
thanks
Transfer
