"Repairs"??

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Dog here,
Why do some folks even TRY to "REPAIR" their Model A's?? Some exhibit not even one iota of curiosity, research, or any amount of physics or mechanical skills that surely could have been picked up by accident through their years. It's great fun to figure out some stuff on your own!
Ol' Bill DIDN'T approve this thread, so I might in HOT water or DEEP POO POO! (HELP!) Buster T.

[jmeckel]

When you find out let me know!!!

[eagle]

It is amazing how some people that wouldn't even have a clue how to change their own oil want to fix their A. More power to them but I don't see it. I've worked on engines, etc since I was old enough to walk. Don't get me wrong, its great, but kind of dumbfounding.

[jkeesey]

Those kinda people keep me in business.

[CarlG]

I don't consider myself to be a "master" mechanic, but I do know my way around when it comes to mechanical things. My first car was a Model A and I had to "fix" it or walk.

The most important thing is that I know when to ask for help from those that are the "Masters". Back then it was my Dad, now it is friends in the club, along with the expert advice I can get from the many generous guys on this site. Body work, I won't even touch.

Buster T, you would be welcome anytime.

[Mike V. Florida]

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Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Dog here,
Why do some folks even TRY to "REPAIR" their Model A's?? Some exhibit not even one iota of curiosity, research, or any amount of physics or mechanical skills that surely could have been picked up by accident through their years. It's great fun to figure out some stuff on your own!

It's a man thing!

As "simple" as these cars are any man should be able fix it!

[MikeK]

I would venture that at least 50% of A owners are neither near a local club nor any repair place that can work on a car without a diagnostic connector.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

I think that it's easier to ask, then to try and figure it out on your own. I have always enjoyed troubleshooting, which is why I picked the career I have. Chuck

[Geo. H]

I think it's partly a generational thing. Us old guys learned to work on cars that were simple. Youngsters grew up in an era where cars were like an appliance. Mostly they didn't break, and when they did you only installed new assemblies.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by jkeesey

Those kinda people keep me in business.

That is partially true with me but I never forget that the guy who's car I'm fixing may be a brain surgeon and I might need him some day.
Everyone has a specialty.

[700rpm]

Sometimes I ask a question just to get other views, and to confirm or refute my diagnosis. I know a thing or two about Model A's, but I shore don't know it all, and the experience of others often shows me a new way to approach a problem.

And sometimes my comments are corrected, and I learn from that. Much of what I know I learned by experience, and the solutions are not always the best or most up-to-date. These corrections help me understand my cars and also enrich my knowledge and experience, and this is what makes the Barn such a valuable resource.

[QGolden]

Originally Posted by Pete

That is partially true with me but I never forget that the guy who's car I'm fixing may be a brain surgeon and I might need him some day.
Everyone has a specialty.

True, My motto has always been, "we are all different kinds of people with different skills, that is why we need each other".

It takes different skills to be a community, if we were all mechanics, who would design? Who would build?

[Richard Wilson]

I am sure that anyone can learn to work on Model A basic repairs to some degree. What surprises me the most is that many are to CHEAP to buy a repair manual for $35. They expect others to either fix, often for free, their Model A or want someone to tell them step by step how to fix it. I would have given almost any price for one of the new shop books when I started working on my first Model A forty years ago. Not much around back then except an owners manual and a 1920's Victor Page book. Trial and error ain't necessarily the cheapest way to go in restoration.

[Rowdy]

Dog, it has always amazed me how people that won't even open the hood of their modern vehicle buy an A or simular old car and all of the sudden think they can fix it. I think it is because their Dad or Grandpa always fixed the ones they had, they suddenly think they are as smart as they were. Rod

[RichPA]

Just think, there are a lot more people that buy a big Snap On box and go to work in a garage or dealership that don't have a clue either.

[Rowdy]

Very true, I work with those type every day. Of the 3 people on the maintenance crew I am on, I am the only one that passed the test to get there. One of the others got on maintenance before they initiated the test and the other works in maintenance, but at a much lower pay scale. Both are good people and try hard, but lack in some areas that it would be nice not to have to deal with over and over with them. Rod

[luckyal]

and when these people are finished they call it rebuilt or restored when they put it up for sale. The terms mean very different things to different people !
Great question from the DOG !
Al

[whirnot]

I actually graduated from and Automotive and diesel college, just to find out it was tough to make a living.

Moving to other things, the cars got more complicated, and computer controlled, and all throw away parts.

Trying to repair them just got frustrating.

When I got my A it was like a breath of fresh air! Now a car that makes sense, and is easy to fix. It just makes it fun!

[marc hildebrant]

Buster T,

I see things different. Our hobby should welcome and help new members with learning the way mechanical things work. It's always easy to be snarky and show how much better "us" guys are because we grew up with working on cars.

Today's "future" Model A owners may have trouble with an ignition system using points and condensor, but, they can create an application for the smart phones and have no trouble around hi-tech computers. How many "hands on" mechanical people can replace the C drive in their computer ?

I learned the in's and out's of cars in the past because I had to. I didn't have the money to pay someone.

Let's find a way to help the future members of the Model A club.

Marc

[Rowdy]

I agree to an extent, but there are some that should never pick up a wrench as bad things always seem to come of it. Rod