Register now to get rid of these ads!

Technical mechanical comprehension

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by s.e.charles, Sep 12, 2025.

  1. s.e.charles
    Joined: Apr 25, 2018
    Posts: 546

    s.e.charles

    between the Ford Barn, HAMB, & Iron Trap Garage, i may actually be learning something.


    old dogs/ new tricks - HAH!


    thanks to all who contribute to the knowledge base.

    sid






     
    51 mercules and lothiandon1940 like this.
  2. lothiandon1940
    Joined: May 24, 2007
    Posts: 32,307

    lothiandon1940
    Member

    Learning is a good thing.:)
     
    Joe Blow likes this.
  3. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,670

    squirrel
    Member

    I've found that working on stuff is the best way to develop mechanical comprehension. Get your hands dirty every day
     
  4. ekimneirbo
    Joined: Apr 29, 2017
    Posts: 5,271

    ekimneirbo
    Member
    from Brooks Ky

    If you are looking for info on how to do a specific mechanical task, before you jump in, search UTube Videos and you can often get some helpful info on exactly what you want to do. Then getem greasy.:D
     
    Budget36 likes this.
  5. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 22,131

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    upload_2025-9-12_9-11-1.jpeg

    You're asking me for advice!
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2025
  6. 210superair
    Joined: Jun 23, 2020
    Posts: 2,122

    210superair
    Member
    from Michigan

    My dad: I've been working on my own cars and boats since I was a kid. And now I know enough to REALLY screw shit up...

    Lol, same for me.
     
    Sharpone, bchctybob, squirrel and 4 others like this.
  7. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 5,629

    gene-koning
    Member

    From the grumpy old man that was one of many mentors to me often said "Get out there and f*ck something up, then learn how to fix it. Reading the how to fix it from a book is for pu**ies. Those books are written by someone that never really fixed anything, they are only telling you they way something was designed to be fixed and are often not connected with reality. Hands on experience is the very best teacher."
    Its a hard way to learn, but often you can find people that have actually done what you need to do. Their guidance, often given gruffly, is the result of years of experience showing you how not to make the same mistakes they learned the hard way.
     
    Sharpone, pprather and lothiandon1940 like this.
  8. s.e.charles
    Joined: Apr 25, 2018
    Posts: 546

    s.e.charles

    Last edited: Sep 12, 2025
  9. Paladin1962
    Joined: Mar 10, 2025
    Posts: 175

    Paladin1962

    Dragged home a hacked up Morris Minor. Had two more brought in for parts; one almost as hacked up as my 2 door. Joined two forums and read fifteen years' worth of posts to gather as much information as I could...
    Got the front subframe in and welded up; waiting on better weather to paint and install the glass. Jumped feet first into this one almost without any prior Morris experience. Plenty of old American cars, some other British, Italian and German stuff. Doesn't matter; tools all work the same way, engines got to have spark air and fuel, steel is steel....
     
  10. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 8,461

    RodStRace
    Member

    As someone who wrote some instructions after a career in shops, I'll say that the instructions are written for someone who has some experience and knowledge, is working on new components and is the bare minimum to do the task.
    If it was written for someone who couldn't spot a three quarter inch bolt and figure out if a wrench or socket worked better, didn't realize it was rusty and/or rounded, and had no idea of every possible safety issue, it would take an encyclopedia for changing oil!
    That's why threads like the Tricks & Tips is so useful. Things like if you are removing a wheel and the last lug won't break free like the others, stop, tighten up the two on each side to relieve some of the tension and then try again. Once it's explained, it makes sense, but you have to either have a mentor, read it and retain it or give it a try if you can puzzle this out. The more you try things, the more success and failure you experience. Both are learning examples.
    Another is to remove the hardest bolt first, the easiest last. That way the other bolts hold the item in place. This applies to so many tasks it's never written, it's like explaining how to hold a wrench.
     
    Fordors likes this.
  11. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 6,417

    Fordors
    Member

    My dad had a tongue in cheek saying- Not everybody’s as smart as we are. One of our sons has three boys, each different in their own way. The oldest is a tech geek, middle one is a sports jock and the youngest has an innate mechanical aptitude. All great kids but I see them taking vastly different career paths, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
     
    RodStRace likes this.
  12. laidbackluis
    Joined: Feb 8, 2015
    Posts: 102

    laidbackluis
    Member
    from Sachse Tx

    Like Gene Winfield would say "every day's a school day".
     
    winduptoy and RodStRace like this.
  13. s.e.charles
    Joined: Apr 25, 2018
    Posts: 546

    s.e.charles

    i've long believed that. the instructions on a wrapper of roof shingles are exactly how to do it, but if the user cannot interpret them, well, we've got Lexonite in 5 gallon buckets.

    rest of your post is sage advice; thanks.
     
  14. s.e.charles
    Joined: Apr 25, 2018
    Posts: 546

    s.e.charles

    i worked with a shipwright in the mid seventies, he was approaching that, too, and Henry would tell me "you'll catch on if you live long enough."

    i'm getting onto that age bracket and i guess i've become like everyone else in the world. some things i know, and some i don't.
     
  15. gatz
    Joined: Jun 2, 2011
    Posts: 2,218

    gatz
    Member

    and THEN try to apply that when either you or the fastener is upside down.
     
  16. s.e.charles
    Joined: Apr 25, 2018
    Posts: 546

    s.e.charles

    this is becoming a pat your head & rub your belly exercise for me.
     
  17. impala4speed
    Joined: Jan 31, 2010
    Posts: 645

    impala4speed
    Member

    Yes, yes I have. Good times, good times. :mad::eek:
    First job was in a bike shop
     
  18. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 8,461

    RodStRace
    Member

    Our product wasn't a parts store DIY manual, it was sold to professional shops. The most infamous call-in at that job was the guy who looked up the number, called, got transferred to the help desk and complained that our manual didn't tell him what the location was for a driveshaft on a full size Dodge Truck. I am not kidding.
     
  19. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 3,663

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Still have a Motobecaine (pardon the spelling) in the basement. Club racer from back in my youth. That righty loosy on the bottom bracket took me by surprise… when I built my own bicycle, I used a proper English assembly, righty tighty, etc. both are over 45 years old and still in good condition. Me, not so much
     
    impala4speed likes this.
  20. "Refer to workshop manual"- The more times you read it, the more you realize you understand what they are talking about, after working on cars for many years. Things which were explained in good detail in the book were mis-understood when I was a young-un, so things would get done half-way then bodged up to finish so I would end up with a mechanically sound, but still half-assed repair, just enough to get you by. It's when you do the same job, maybe on a completely different car, that you see how most things are the same, and you go through the system part by part to isolate the problem, then you think "THAT'S what they were talking about in the manual 15 years ago!"
    Generally Hot Rodders will be able to repair most things in the house or shop, or have a good idea what the problem is, even if they don't want to repair it themselves. I know some people my age who still don't own any tools, not even a basic "kiddies set". They do however, have 15 TV remotes!
     
  21. Turns
    Joined: Jan 3, 2009
    Posts: 152

    Turns
    Member

    I find this works for me. Practice with robust eternal curiosity to keep learning. With lots of practice you gain experience. After a long span in time of experience you gain wisdom. I feel as though I am not at the wisdom stage yet :D

    We all remain a student don't we ?
     
  22. Tow Truck Tom
    Joined: Jul 3, 2018
    Posts: 3,359

    Tow Truck Tom
    Member
    from Clayton DE

    My M.O. was growing, up any appliance or power tool, unprotected got taken apart by me.
    Then I would do my best to make them work again.
    My stepdad had to rescue me at times.
    Age 14 He pulled me under the hood of his '53 Ford, for a valve job.
    Two years later we tackled king pins.
    Ooops forgot to mention a master key. A very excellent Physics teacher.
    He knew how to make me pay attention.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2025
  23. 210superair
    Joined: Jun 23, 2020
    Posts: 2,122

    210superair
    Member
    from Michigan

    I've French kissed. Hopefully a French bicycle isn't what I'm thinking it is.....
     
    s.e.charles likes this.

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.