Tractor Mike - Skills lost

[58Ford]

we live in unprecedented times for sure.

. Everyone's situation is different, but I live by myself and I stay very busy at the house, so going away for more than a couple days is mostly out of the question. I had to do it a few times and each time I had to hire someone to be a caretaker, and it couldn't be just anyone. The one time, I get a call on day #3 that she went in to check on the cat, and opened the door to a floor that was under about an inch of water. Toilet line busted. Wasn't anything I could do but tell the water company to shut the water off. It sat there for another 7 days before I could get in there. Ruined all the floors, sheetrock, just tons and tons of damage and there is still some damage that hasn't been "fixed" (insurance deal...)--

Hey Lug? Wish we were closer - I’m one of the guys you could have called. Bet there’s plenty here on this forum. Nobody lets anyone in their home but I promise I would not have left it to rot out.

 

[fried1765]

The original Legos!

"original" ???
Did Legos exist in the 40's ?
I never saw any.

 

[Daren Todd]

"original" ???
Did Legos exist in the 40's ?
I never saw any.

He was referring to the erector set being the original legos.

 

[Butch]

There are also folks who have EMBRACED modern electronics in vehicles.

One example is Ivan on "Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics" ( https://www.youtube.com/c/PineHollowAutoDiagnostics )

Ivan uses computers and mechanical skills to succeed where others have failed. He works on tractors, cars and other equipment..... he even makes "house calls".

One of Ivan's best attributes is his analytical mind. His ability to use logic to noodle through acquired data points to track down and isolate the hard to find gremlins is truly amazing. What makes his skillset(s) so valuable is that... he can actually make the repair and test his work.
All I can say is... I am glad I am within easy driving distance of State College, PA.

 

[Nicksacco]

I've been hooked on some of the youtube channels and now Ivan is going to be another.
My list? Andrew Camarata, Diesel Creek, Watch Wes Work, Weld.com, Fabrication Series to name a few.
There's always something new to learn!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Erector began about 1913ish, American
Meccano was 1st ! 1896

 

[Chanceywd]

Part of the problem has been the move from quality products to 'use once,throw away' items. It's hard to find ANY catagory of 'thing', that isn't really JUNK. Due to slick marketting, cheaply made items aren't worth repairing. Anyone here actually FIX their cellphone , TV, kitchen appliances, furnace, car, tools,furniture ?
Since 99.44% of this 'stuff' is so cheap, virtually NONE of it gets repaired, so no one knows HOW to repair it....the 'Mr. Fixit's of the World will be gone way of the dinosaurs......
yup, I'm one of them..even have a Snap-On Alternator tester to prove it....

I have a timing light and a dwell meter I keep around to use on my 8N. But I put the electronic points in that when I changed to 12 volts. .

 

[RCW]

Many people have heard and say the Jack of all trades line, but most get it wrong. The complete saying was originally “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but always better than a master of one.”

I think the further you get from the population centers, the more you need to know to get by.

I think there's a lot to be said for that.

I'm not a super-handy guy, but much of what I know is out of necessity.

Whether a 70 year old Moline, 5 year old applicances, or a bunch of other stuff, I proven I can get by.

 

[BruceP]

I've been hooked on some of the youtube channels and now Ivan is going to be another.
My list? Andrew Camarata, Diesel Creek, Watch Wes Work, Weld.com, Fabrication Series to name a few.
There's always something new to learn!

All of those uTube channels are on my regular watchlist. (I do not care for what they call 'entertainment' on regular TV)


Here are some others to consider for your watchlist:

• https://www.youtube.com/c/SouthMainAutoRepairAvoca (Auto repairs / electronics diagnosis)
• https://www.youtube.com/c/Abom79 (Machinist)
• https://www.youtube.com/user/jcondon2007 (Small engine /generator restoration)
• https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithFenner (Machinist)
• https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithRuckerVintageMachineryorg (Machinist / mechanical repairs)

 

[58Ford]

Erector began about 1913ish, American
Meccano was 1st ! 1896

Yep! Got me on a technicality! Terms - Erector set and Meccano were always interchangeable during my upbringing. But then again we would always Hoover the lounge no matter what brand we were using.

It’s likely Meccano I am thinking of as that has European roots?

 

[Nicksacco]

All of those uTube channels are on my regular watchlist. (I do not care for what they call 'entertainment' on regular TV)


Here are some others to consider for your watchlist:

• https://www.youtube.com/c/SouthMainAutoRepairAvoca (Auto repairs / electronics diagnosis)
• https://www.youtube.com/c/Abom79 (Machinist)
• https://www.youtube.com/user/jcondon2007 (Small engine /generator restoration)
• https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithFenner (Machinist)
• https://www.youtube.com/c/KeithRuckerVintageMachineryorg (Machinist / mechanical repairs)

"Regular TV" Nah, me either...

YES!!!
Big fan of Abom and SouthMain - will check out the others!

 

[bird dogger]

^^^^^^Same here!! Let's not forget about....and add "tubalcain" to the list: mrpete222

 

[ACDII]

The plural of Lego is

Ready for it?

Lego

I have a few thousand invested in Lego. Those Technic kits are pretty damned entertaining and take skill to make work. There is a huge bucket excavator sitting on the floor behind me. It actually scoops stuff up and dumps it into a truck.

 

[kubotafreak]

I think the erector sets gave me ptsd every time I work with loose hardware. Examples would be old german cars, light fixtures, and anything else that has non captive washers. Lincoln logs anyone?

 

[ACDII]

Lincoln logs were my favorite when I was a kid. Used to make toll booths for my hotwheels out of them. Or build a big wall at he end of a track and watch it explode when a car rammed it off the track. LL today are not anything like they used to be, was quite disappointed when I bought a set for my kids and the roof planks were all plastic. I finally found an old set on Ebay that had all the old school pieces including the original squared logs.

Erector sets were awesome too, so many different things to make out of a box of parts, and they didn't have instruction books like they do now, so you learned how to make things from a random box.

 

[Bmyers]

Another fan of the old Lincoln logs. Had a set at each grandparent's house and at home. Made many a fort with them for my toy soldiers. I couldn't count how many soldiers died due to a collapse of Lincoln log wall.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

My friends had round Lincoln Logs. Mine were square. What about Tinker Toys? Those were good.

 

[kubotafreak]

My friends had round Lincoln Logs. Mine were square. What about Tinker Toys? Those were good.

I was just sitting here with the wife trying to remember the name of Tinker Toys.

 

[Jchonline]

Growing up I was always right in the middle of everything my Father or Grandfather was doing. I ran around the house with screwdrivers and crescent wrenches (much to myMmother‘s chagrin). To me there was 10,000 things I needed to learn to be a good man. I was climbing trees with chainsaws when I was 12. I started driving when I was 13. I poured my first concrete slab with Dad at 11. Growing up around a farm you just have so many opportunities to learn all of these things. My Father was 1st gen college, but he grew up on a farm. My Grandfather died of a botched hernia operation when my Dad was 17….so he was forced to re-evaluate everything. They sold the family farm so my Dad could afford college.

Fast forward to my kids (first just out of college, others in college). Growing up I did all kinds of “projects” and handiwork around the house…but they were never interested. I always asked, they were never motivated to spend the time. Too busy with friends or on these damn phones/computers. I felt like a failure for a long time…but realized just about every other kid their age was doing the same things. To find one that really wanted to learn to turn a wrench was a true gem. Heck my Cat was more interested in the repair work I do than my boys were. The youngest (High School Senior) has just started to realize he will be on his own soon and doesnt know how to do anything…so he has asked to be a part of anything I do. That was a happy day for me. We put in a new cooktop, changed oil, re-grouted the tile in the shower, repaired the sprinkler system, and lots of other projects. He is finally coming around.

The eldest is out of college in his own apartment and just now starting to realize he really should have paid attention all those years. However I am still here to help him I just wish he would have learned 15 years ago.

However, NO ONE has learned enough yet to get on my precious machines! Ok except my wife because if she breaks it I have approval to get a new one.

 

[bronc71]

100% agree !
most '2thumbers' don't have a clue HOW to use their other digits.
my great local car mechanic cannot get a 'class A' mechanic(he'd like 2 really).He could keep a kid busy doing the basics..oil changes, seasonal tire swaps, etc.
what gets me are the huge number of people thatt'll wait months for a item instaed of rolling up their sleeves, and getting their hands dirty..helluva lot of wasted time and stalled projects.
on the other hand, lady emailed me about a snowblower problem(had 14" dumped here). I explained I can't do it, told her the fix and tools she needed. 2hrs later, several THANK YOUs in my 'inbox'. Seems some appreciate my 'words of wisdom'.

2 thumbers. That’s exactly right.