Re: Let it fly

Posted by Billy NY on October 17, 2008 at 06:33:01 from (64.12.117.74):

In Reply to: Re: Let it fly posted by Lanse on October 16, 2008 at 17:24:54:

You got to give yourself a lot of credit here, first you dive into something you don't have much experience with, so don't beat yourself up and expect more than your ability right now. At the same age I can recall having similar problems and frustrations when doing mechanical work like what you are doing with that tractor. Even the simplest things you have work on will test you every time, so slow down, think things out and roll with the punches, if you get ticked off, you cannot win a fight in anger or frustration, take time out and figure out your moves, there is no time limit on something like this. Learn anything you can from more experienced people and when you just don't know what to do, or how to resolve something, don't make it worse by pounding through it aimlessly, go to or take the part or problem to someone who does know or has the experience, and anytime things get real frustrating WALK AWAY, and do something else, trust me, you'll think and work better when you are fresh. Also another set of eyes, hands will see things in a way you don't. Always think out what you are doing, consider all possibilities, but remember, at your age and level of experience, you won't figure out every problem, you will need a little help or advice, don't be afraid to ask or take the time to find someone to help or research something, every one of us has different levels of knowledge of methods, materials, tools etc., it does not come overnight and you never stop learning. You use your knowledge accordingly, when it comes to working on mechanical things, learn from previous mistakes and try not to repeat them.

This is good experience if you like working on tractors and similar things, and what you learn will be very helpful later in life, although things like modern vehicles, may be out of reach for most to work on when it comes to things beyond maintenance, due to how complex they are today, the general mechanical knowledge you learn will still be helpful in many areas, the more things you learn in life the more self sufficient you will be, the stronger you will be, so have at it, do as much as you can as best you can and know when to draw the line, if you demand to much from yourself, it will work against you and tarnish your attitude towards things. Nothing worth doing is ever easy, just the way it is.

I've got our small loader tractor apart right now, replacing a water pump and you have to take off all the tin, remove the radiator etc. etc. I've been back at our place,(horse farm) trying to get some things straightened out, having been real frustrated and walking away from it 3 years ago due to idiots for help and people that can't get out of their own way, family business and they asked me to help out again, you realize the world is full this so again you have to roll with the punches, had I stayed involved things would not have gotten so far behind, well at least we now have 2 good people there, but one, older than I, does not have a lot of technical or good mechanical ability, I realize I am a lot more capable so I help him anyway I can, and does try and will follow what you can teach him he does what he can, so you work together and work with what you have, sometimes it is really frustrating, have to re-do things, but walking away due to aggravation really is not the answer and does neither of us any good. They never did any maintenance on this tractor, it was new in '03 and I kept up on it until '05, when I left, in frustration, a real shame, but this is why things like water pumps, $212.00 worth, plus fluids, new belt (might as well while it is apart) fail prematurely. Radiator fins plugged tight etc. etc. 3 hours to take apart and about the same probably to put back together, not easy to work on either, but if hired out would have been $500 in labor easily, + parts and trucking, that is where having some mechanical experience pays off a little, I'll get it done and done right, better than hired out would give me for the same job, all the little things will get done. One of the differences between myself and the one hired hand, is that when I found the nuts on the tin support frame work, getting stiff, threads messed up a little, he'd just jam those bolts in there and leave ones out that strip, I would (am still trying to locate the correct metric tap) chase out the threads and try to clean them up so they don't strip and and I can put the tin back on the way it belongs, it's good to be detailed orientated and meticulous about ones work, though the knowledge of details is not something anyone learns overnight, a job well done is the ultimate goal, many people just don't take it to that level, this is why what you are doing at your age is great experience, and you have done exceptionally well without having years of experience, so give yourself credit where it is do and see that tractor to completion, you will be real proud of the accomplishment later on.

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