How many of you work on your own stuff?

[Vendzilla]

Simple put, do you work on your own car, fix things around the house yourself?

Do you actually own the tools to do those things?

Yesterday, I replaced the read tire on my Harley, I took off the rear wheel, took it over to a Bike Mechanic who replaced the seals, put on a new tire (White Wall), replaced the inner tube with a new one that had balancing beads in it so the wheel doesn't need any weights on it for balancing. $335 later, I put the wheel back on, made a gauge to measure from the swing arm pivot bolt to the rear axle bolt to make sure my wheel was properly aligned. Used a gauge to measure proper tension on the drive belt at 10 lbs, then used a torque wrench to set the rear axle nut to 65 lbs which is according to the manual I downloaded to be the proper setting.

Next week, I got a check engine light and bought a blue tooth transmitter to plug into my truck to find out I need to replace my spark plugs and coils. It's a F-150 Ford, so there are 8 coils. I just got the new ones in the mail, only $115 for the set.

Just wondering how many of you would be able to do that, it's just the way I grew up, we fixed everything ourselves. I own a shit load of tools!

[sandman!]

i can do a few simple things not all that much tho.

[Harmon]

Yes, I do. Any way to cut corners.

NEWSFLASH: The people with the most money are the cheapest and are tight as a drum. Hence the reason the have the most money.

[ErectMedia]

I learned on my own as a kid due to cash flow not being what is is today. When I was a teenager it was run to autozone and buy a Chilton manual and figure it out as couldn't afford labor costs.

In my twenties ran an auto shop, worked at various automotive shops/small engine shops. Used to buy beaters with nice bodies and fix the mechanics up, fixed a 79 Cutlass up and then sold it, grabbed a 78 and fixed it up as well but then someone stole that one, recovered it but had already bought a brand new car so let them keep it instead of paying hundreds in auto pound fees and having to have it towed out as they took the wheels/brake drums etc...

As money improved along with age don't due too much these days besides minor repairs as my last 2 cars were bought brand new so not much of anything goes wrong along with lack of my own garage now. Still have the knowledge and most of the hand tools, maybe when I retire I'll tinker with shit again like I did in the 16-28 year range.

If I move to Florida and ditch this cold would either grab a new mustang or go old school maybe with a Chevelle and bust out the tools again.

[JockoHomo]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Yes, I do. Any way to cut corners.

NEWSFLASH: The people with the most money are the cheapest and are tight as a drum. Hence the reason the have the most money.

Those people are called Jews

[signupdamnit]

All the time. Sometimes it's the best way to be sure that something gets done right. Especially for vehicles. Only with great reluctance will I let someone else work on my vehicles or computers.

[ottopottomouse]

So many tools I don't even know what some of them are for!

[PiracyPitbull]

Yes, I own a pretty full garage of tools and can do most home/car repairs and mods.

The only jobs I wont do, even when I can are those that would be a false economy to do so.

[L-Pink]

I sold a retail tire and auto repair company to a major retailer years ago. I haven't worked on a vehicle since. I even called AAA to fix a flat tire in my driveway once. No desire what so ever. (plus a lot has changed under the hood since then)


.

[dyna mo]

fuck yah!


Just 1 example.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by JockoHomo

Those people are called Jews

Hence the reason WE own most of the planet.

Are you getting it yet?

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by L-Pink

I sold a retail tire and auto repair company to a major retailer years ago. I haven't worked on a vehicle since. I even called AAA to fix a flat tire in my driveway once. No desire what so ever. (plus a lot has changed under the hood since then)


.

The basics are still the same, computers can make it easier. I got this blue tooth transmitter that plugged into my data port on my pick up. It uses an app called Torque and does all the diagnoses of my motor, pretty cool.

I haven't had a flat tire in a long time. Last one, just put on the spare, drove to a pep boys and replaced the two back tires. That was 4 years ago. I don't have a tire machine, nor do I want one.

I do have wrenches from 4mm up to 1 1/2 in. I have tools that few would even know how to use, I have an oxy-acetylene set up with every torch set up, I have a Mig welder and SMAW. I have 3 jacks, one for the Harley. Metal cutting chop saw and a wood miter saw.
My stepfather was a machinist so I have all sorts of measurement tools. I have 3 air compressors. One really small one for camping and one a little bigger for portability and a bigger one for the garage so I can paint and run air tools.

I'm lucky to have a 4 car garage, all them room I need.

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

fuck yah!


Just 1 example.

Yeah, I built a couple Harleys with a friend before I got my first one. Now I'm learning about my bike, changing the rear wheel out has been the biggest thing I have done to it, when I change out the cams and go geared, my buddy is going to be looking over my shoulder so I don't fuck up anything. I'm a biker, not a weekend guy. I can work on my own bike and I want to keep it that way!

Hopefully in a few years, I can build one from the ground up, that's on my bucket list!

[brassmonkey]

yeah i've done a few head gaskets a shit load of fuel and water pumps for friends and family. did a transmission when i was 17. when i get a car i learn how to repair it. if you dont learn how it work a shop may screw you over big time.

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by ErectMedia

I learned on my own as a kid due to cash flow not being what is is today. When I was a teenager it was run to autozone and buy a Chilton manual and figure it out as couldn't afford labor costs.

In my twenties ran an auto shop, worked at various automotive shops/small engine shops. Used to buy beaters with nice bodies and fix the mechanics up, fixed a 79 Cutlass up and then sold it, grabbed a 78 and fixed it up as well but then someone stole that one, recovered it but had already bought a brand new car so let them keep it instead of paying hundreds in auto pound fees and having to have it towed out as they took the wheels/brake drums etc...

As money improved along with age don't due too much these days besides minor repairs as my last 2 cars were bought brand new so not much of anything goes wrong along with lack of my own garage now. Still have the knowledge and most of the hand tools, maybe when I retire I'll tinker with shit again like I did in the 16-28 year range.

If I move to Florida and ditch this cold would either grab a new mustang or go old school maybe with a Chevelle and bust out the tools again.

I lived in Redding California for about 20 years, so many retired people building hit rods, they started Cool April Nights where they take over the whole city. Car has to be at least 20 years old to be in the cruise.

I want to do a frame off 32 model A rat rod with an old hemi in it!!

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

yeah i've done a few head gaskets a shit load of fuel and water pumps for friends and family. did a transmission when i was 17. when i get a car i learn how to repair it. if you dont learn how it work a shop may screw you over big time.

I did my first automatic tranny , which sounds weird on this forum, when I was 17, it was a 904 plymouth. The next couple I did were both 727's. Did the shift kits and everything. Stall converters are fun!

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by signupdamnit

All the time. Sometimes it's the best way to be sure that something gets done right. Especially for vehicles. Only with great reluctance will I let someone else work on my vehicles or computers.

Yeah, I have an apple laptop I need to get a new keyboard for, Apple said it had bugs in it and wouldn't work on it. I took it apart and didn't find any bugs. Now they won't sell me a keyboard.

I have no problem using a solder iron and replacing bad components on a circuit board.

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by Vendzilla

I did my first automatic tranny , which sounds weird on this forum, when I was 17, it was a 904 plymouth. The next couple I did were both 727's. Did the shift kits and everything. Stall converters are fun!

you see i spelled it out

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

you see i spelled it out

I'll just wait for my first hater to put this in there signature. Got to love haters unwilling to debate! Or maybe unarmed to debate?

[dyna mo]

As quickly as a bike goes through tires, this is a good addition to your garage

http://www.nomartirechanger.com/prod...20standard.htm

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

As quickly as a bike goes through tires, this is a good addition to your garage

http://www.nomartirechanger.com/prod...20standard.htm

I'm willing to pay for that service. Besides, my best friend has a motorcycle repair business, I have to give him some work! LOL

[dyna mo]

JUst going by the thread topic.

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

JUst going by the thread topic.

Yeah, I know. He only charges me $20 to mount it and I get a deal on new tires thru him. I got a new Dunlop with a white wall. Looks awesome. I just bleached the front white wall and washed the bike, it's cleaner now than when I bought it.

I didn't know about the new balancing beads they have in the inner tubes, that's very cool!

http://wingstuff.com/products/27738-...?sitesync=done

[dyna mo]

Yup, I put dyna beads and nitrogen in all my tires. :-)

[rufriter32]

Pretty much done everything other than rebuild a transmission and engine. Last two projects was replacing rear brake lines and doing a driver side lower ball joint.

Hardest and most dangerous are timing belts. Twice... One interference and one non...
I can spend an entire day at the junkyard. Favorite thing to do...

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by rufriter32

Pretty much done everything other than rebuild a transmission and engine. Last two projects was replacing rear brake lines and doing a driver side lower ball joint.

Hardest and most dangerous are timing belts. Twice... One interference and one non...
I can spend an entire day at the junkyard. Favorite thing to do...

I did a motor with an overhead cam once, the timing belt can be a bitch!

I've rebuilt a few motors, two chevy, the rest MOPAR.

And I love the junk yard.

[Minte]

I don't like working on cars. But I do most of the maintenance things around the house, including replacing switches, etc. I don't mess with the furnaces though. And outdoor work like trimming trees in the woods and lawn mowing, landscaping I really enjoy.

I hire guys to do snow plowing.

[Best-In-BC]

I know a little of it all, I don't call a electrician or a plumber if thats what your asking. I can do just about anything with a vehicle .

[edgeprod]

Just did all 12 sparkplugs, oil, and replaced the convertible top locking cylinders (leaking hydraulic fluid) on the Mercedes. I love getting my hands in there.

[bronco67]

I used to work on my own cars, before the engines became a confusing mess of hoses and wires. When I lived in Hawaii, I was part of a 1968 Volkswagen rebuild project with a friend. Engine, body, everything. We even did a chop top on it. I've lived in a town house for a about 13 years, so I don't do that kind of stuff anymore.

I've also done a lot of work on(and owned) the 80's era Mustangs.

As far vehicles go, I've worked on everything from Naval Base gear like hydraulic bomb loaders, mobile power units and flight line tow tractors.

I worked on garbage trucks for a while. Replaced flywheels, changed air brakes, fixed hydraulics for the hopper(the stinky part of the truck).

I can fix any problem on a computer. I have 8 systems, and tonight I figured out one of them had a bad Power Supply, and replaced it in 5 minutes. Yes, I have a drawer in my office with a few spare PSU's, because those fuckers seem to be the cause of 90% of computer problems.

I got rid of my computer case and bolted everything to the side of my desk. A case is a dust collector.

I built a 4 by 4 PVC cage so I could zip tie 6 motherboards with watercooled CPU's onto it. I didn't make any plans, I just saw it as I went like some kind of idiot savant. It's a little ghetto looking, but its probably the most computing power in a residence within miles. When I show it to people who just have a one mac at home, you'd think they've seen the birth of Skynet -- but to me its just a render farm for work.

I'm not so good at carpentry.

Basically I don't want to fix anything around the house. That's why I like living in a townhome.

[John-ACWM]

I have some tools in case I need to replace any part of water or electric installation.

[PornDiscounts-V]

I used to, but then I started getting some stuff done at the mechanic shop. I tend to fix other things in the house though. I will often fabricate parts out of something else.

[georgeyw]

Have built three cars from the ground up (every nut and bolt - paint / panel - EVERYTHING).

Have always done that type of thing, it is a hobby, the latest car is about a month off being finished and i'm procrastinating as there is nothing to do next which is why some projects take so long for me to finish.

[CurrentlySober]

i always work 'n my own stuff'...

I shit (& piss) all over my office chair, making a filthy fucking mess...

But rather than get up and clean up, I carry on working in 'my own shit'...

[Vendzilla]

Originally Posted by georgeyw

Have built three cars from the ground up (every nut and bolt - paint / panel - EVERYTHING).

Have always done that type of thing, it is a hobby, the latest car is about a month off being finished and i'm procrastinating as there is nothing to do next which is why some projects take so long for me to finish.

Funniest car I ever worked on was a 64 Corvair. Fun as hell to drive!

[TonyJ]

I have no intrest in fixin this shit myself, nice that you can though