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Oceancrazy
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Jul 19, 2021, 5:59 AM
Post #1 of 9
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How did you Start?
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Hey all, I just wanted to know how some of you started out in either becoming a mechanic. At 41 I know it’s not too late to get into it, but where I am currently living and working, I might just have to go through forums and YouTube.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 19, 2021, 6:52 AM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: How did you Start?
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I started fixing lawn mowers at 12 years old and went to trade school shortly after.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Oceancrazy
New User
Jul 19, 2021, 7:22 AM
Post #3 of 9
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Nice, I have an old 5 KVA generator that has no run since 2013. I was thinking of tinkering on it, I did notice water from its oil tank though.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 19, 2021, 7:29 AM
Post #4 of 9
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Make sure it's not seized and parts are readily available before starting.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Oceancrazy
New User
Jul 19, 2021, 7:38 AM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: How did you Start?
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Will do, I will just take it apart first and spend a bit at getting to know the different parts well.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 19, 2021, 8:05 AM
Post #6 of 9
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"41" - Not too late if motivated YOU'LL make it happen.
The start for me was surreal young! Broken mowers, bicycles, wheels on things fallen off and the ongoing "flat tires." Mind you "radial" tires were NOT prevalent in the US nor "tubeless" tires.
Tools available: Lots of "S" wrenches open ended or box, a good bench vice, electric grinder, adjustable wrenches, basic screwdrivers etc.
4 seasons where I am and was so a place imperative by chance plenty.
# 1 needed a dependable bike probably free and useless made it all good to go as I'd need mostly stuff found at hardware stores were much more comprehensive with what was there. Common tires, belts, chains, wood, metal and parts to repair tire tubes, spoke of wheels then along come engines - crude but were mowers of all sorts always broken with some basic direction get going and make it work.
Onward to schools: 3 years of HS had an automotive program so took all of it exposed to all the tools I'd never seen, lifts, jacks, electrical testers for assorted needs the basics of which are still everywhere.
About same age as Hammer Time it was getting serious mowed lawns for a few bucks for things you just can't make or dump pick for! Miss that royally still.
Step 2 take the sciences of how things are and behaviors of metals, materials of all sorts taken on to split vocational college after the classroom off to a closed vocational high school set up for the insanely serious about the trade. Best or mandatory you already had a car junky or better some donated to practice with.
Luck would have it 3 teachers (overtime for them) take the trade on to highly motivated students most retired from the trade also supported by the US car makers and need to mention Snap-On Tools, an alignment machine then state of the art I think "Bear" was a brand name?
Just keep going on my own picking freebie wrecks of vehicles but fixable and flip those over for the next is where having room for this junk mattered in my case end up with two over the one that was mechanically perfect.
Done with training and off for real world work OMG what a switch. Time and speed mattered and problems you didn't run across now newer things (cars) rely on the basics you had learned. First shop had co-workers a tad uncooperative for the newbie when things were NOT working out usually lack of proper hand tools mechanics are expected to have not the shop!
That's the all time killer the cost of tools wipes out most discretionary money. Today you can rent some items or lots depends on where you are if you need them a lot time to own them.
That's about as concise as I can be (not known for that) on how I started and ended up able YOU didn't ask to actually do the work/repair in need.
Smile: Still do just nothing like that time and energy goes with probably too much all at once when I did!
Tom
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 19, 2021, 8:11 AM
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In this business you NEVER stop training and learning.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 19, 2021, 8:36 AM
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That's the understatement of a millennium! Tom !!
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Oceancrazy
New User
Jul 19, 2021, 8:37 AM
Post #9 of 9
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Oh wow, now that is just awesome. I can get the tools here, it’s just the parts that is going to be a bit of a challenge, as like quality parts. Most sold here are the cheap ship to Africa Chinese brands, not the quality ones they ship to first world countries. I do appreciate the time you guys took to let me know how to go about it.
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