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Everything posted by kenk
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Paper Or Plastic - It used to be paper, now it's plastic.
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
Just goes to show that it's not just automobiles that have changed, but just about everything, if you have the memory for it! -
North vs. South - A battle not between the states but a battle it is
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
rust never rests, so the war goes on and on! -
Of Mice And Men - Plans and results... sometimes don't go together
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
it's amazing what folks go through just thinking they might save a few dollars. If they approached it from a different point of view, like what could go wrong by doing it this way, they be making better decisions and saving money in the long run! -
One Piece At A Time - - - redesigning the designs
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
Once I heard an engineer say why they make car so difficult to work on. He said they are built from the standpoint of assembly, so that they are built to keep assembly and part cost down. Repairing them is not a concern, at least not initially! -
The Refrigerator Light - explaining intermittent diagnostics
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
gonzo: I wish intermittent problems would be as simple as diagnosing a refrigerator light that does not come on all the time! -
My All Time Worst Spark Plug R&R's --- simple job turned impossible.
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
gonzo: Over the years one of my considerations in owning a vehicle was how easy it is to change spark plugs. One thing they have improved on that you did not mention is on newer vehicles you see "Iridium" type plugs being used, good for over 100,000 miles, at least that's the claim! So you don't have to do it as much. If your in the business of reparing cars, I don't know if that's a good thing, but for the automobile owner I guess it is. Also, what about the vehicles that used "wasted spark" This meant you had to change two spark plugs per cylinder. Gonzo, I bet you could come up with stories just on this one , trying to explain this to customers why a 4 cylinder needs 8 spark plugs replaced! -
On-Demand/In-Demand Everywhere you turn...there's a different demand
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
gonzo: well said and let's hope we will be in demand, else some of us will have to find another career! -
Rude or Incompetent - Point and counterpoint...
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
Wonder that they would say if you told them I will look at your vehicle tell you what's wrong for free. Would you allow me to do that, without questioning me? -
Mechanics Need Not Apply - So, everybody is a mechanic?
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
Reminds me of those signs you see in small towns "Mechanic on duty" Oh is that so and how good are you!anyone can put up a sign like that! -
And Now, A Word From Our Sponsors... - Customer beware....
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
gonzo: I guess your talking about "snake oils" and such. Yes, you can only buy them on late night tv. I did at one time see them in the back of magazines like popular science. Remember Slick 50? -
Diagnostics Fee or Free - rerun article but a good one.
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
Gonzo: A technician should be paid for his time regardless of how much time it takes to either diagnosis and or repair. Anything else is marketing or selling and should be considered advertising to justify the cost! -
gonzo: that's pretty much how most of us got started in our field of work. Hobbies lead to interest and we decided maybe I could do this for a living and in my case I did. That was a time when electronics really came on strong in the industry. It was just before personal computers came on and just after the first micro chip the 8080 cpu was born!
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Speaking of talent, I can say there were many in my place of work that had it. Most are gone now for various reasons,(retirement, moving on to other more challenging jobs,etc) the business changed over the years, which I am sorry to say. Boy,I can say we had some talent back in the day. There were guys that could take a piece of crappy working equipment, modify it and make it work much better. Yes that was in the day when the company designed their own equipment, now everything is pretty much bought off the shelf!
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We have some DIY'rr's in electronics repair. The worse ones try to strip down some piece of equipment and do what I call is an "autopsy" of the thing and just send back the parts, when they give up! They are looking for something they just can't find!
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Abbreviations - OMG cars are bad enough... now texting?
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
maybe if they used old fashion email they would not abbreviate so much or something older like a phone they would not have to abbreviate! -
I Must Be Insane - - It's my excuse for being a mechanic
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
There is still some sanity in the things i still repair, mainly because most of insanity items we used to work on (the stuff that drives you crazy) is gone and I no longer have to work on them. -
Sounds, Gone But Not Forgotten - somethings aren't seen, but heard
kenk replied to Gonzo's topic in AutoShopOwner Articles
Gonzo: the same could be said of some of the early computers and line printers, and disk drives, I worked on over 20 years ago. They made distinctive sounds as you powered them up. today most computers are very quiet and you just don't hear much and like in autos much of the stuff has gone away!