Technical Are you a Happy Mechanic or a Mad Mechanic

I'm not a mechanic and I have never played one on t.v. It depends on how frustrated I get while working on a car. But I can tell you that I'm never mad. I'm merely venting...

 

Never have thrown a tool. But, used to not talk too politely to some projects at times in the past. Anymore I just walk away and come back later. Funny how things fall into place then. As stated earlier in the thread, the big problems today get less tomorrow and even less the next day.

 

Never thrown a tool (too hard to find)...golf clubs on the other hand. If there was an Olympic event for the iron toss or the driver heave, I'd be on the podium. Then again I don't bet on my wrenching so a poor analogy on my part. We won't discuss swearing, frankly I'm surprised I haven't heard from the HOA board as of yet. I try to avoid wrenching on Sunday when my bay doors are open, particularly if the Cowboys are televised.

 

I just got out from under the 51 Coupe.
I'm a happy mechanic today.
The 51 needed new brake shoes on the back.
The old ones actually looked pretty good. I was going to use those. I got the drivers side done with the old shoes. I had to replace the the stuck wheel cylinder and re fresh the backing plate. I get the drivers side done and go to the passenger side. I pull the old stuck cylinder, As I'm pulling the shoes I notice that a rivet is right at the surface on one of the shoes. So I need whole set of new ones.
I zip down to Advance (Yeah... I know) and get a set of rear shoes.
I also get one of those spring doo-hickey brake plier things. My old one lasted 15 years and they are like 15.00 so I get a new one.
I go back to the drives side and pull the old shoes and and hard ware....A---Gain.
My new set of brake pliers pop off one spring....one. (That was $15.00 poked up a wild hog's hiney.)
I have to pop off and replace that little horseshoe clip that hold the E Brake lever on. Those are always a challenge.
Now I can re assemble that side on go on the passenger side.
The adjuster will not fit. My new shoes are too thick.
I check it out more and I find that the E brake link will not fit new shoes either.
I have to fit, custom grind, file and fit these new shoes to fit the hardware.
These new shoes have to be fit to the hardware like a 18th Century flintlock.
I get one shoe done and just about have the second shoe "custom fit"...
It was just enough today.
No tools flew.
I did say Mother with out the F-er part when I was fitting the horseshoe clip.
I'm not mad, just kind of tired of it toady...

As a matter of fact I feel like a song.

Zippity Doo Dahh Zippity Aaay
My Oh My what a......"Messed up Day"
Plenty of BS coming my way....
Zippity Dooo Dahh
Zippity Aaaay
Mr. Blue Bird just pooped on my shoulder....
Zipity Dooo Dahh Zippity Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

 

I am a "burned out" mechanic as far as this new crap goes. Thank God for hotrods.

 

If I'm out there because I "wanna be," I'm a happy one.

If I'm out there because I "hafta be," I'm t'other.

Either way, once things start rollin', it swaps between the two, depending on the "scuffed knuckle" factor.

 

I'm with ya on that Bill, the only outcome to throwing things is more anger if something valuable is on the recieving end, now on the other hand, I've been known to let fly a fair amount of @#$%&*! and I've always liked working with both my big shop doors open, especially in warmer weather.
I'm sure the little neighbor girl thought that Mo/#÷rf#@ker was the name of my car!

 

I had to do a follow up, the wipers on my old pickup work great. Happy camper.
On to the next part of the project.

For over 25 years I ran a welding shop out of my garage at home. One day, I was helping my son with a project and the day wasn't going well. My son was trying to get a part located into a tight location, and it just wasn't working.

Suddenly, he stopped what he was doing, picked up a shop rag to wipe his hands, and as he looked at his car, the told the car "This is a welding shop, we have things here that make metal do what we want it to do! Don't make us prove it." Then he went into the house and got each of us a can of pop. After about a 15 minute break, he went back at it, and everything went pretty smoothly. He has decided that all we had to do was remind the car where it was.

His line about being "in a welding shop" has become our go to comment when things are not going well, then we follow that up with a break. We both are pretty sure the break is what made things go well, but the "in a welding shop" adds humor to ease the frustration. There may be a slight chance the inanimate object gets the point and cooperates, or not. LOL Gene

 

I was always cussing and in a hurry to get to Friday and Saturday night drive-in get togethers and blvd cruises, throw some vice grips on it and "GO". Happy to be cruising, Mad at it getting it ready.

 

Used to be a mad wrencher, got the hands to prove it. I didn't throw tools cuz I paid for them. I did, however punch things (no people were harmed in my tantrums...). The worst being a solid oak door, after just closing it. It swung in, I stepped in closing the door as I did. Turned around, and threw a punch from the shoulder. That was my 3rd boxer's fracture of the right hand. Oh and it was the week before getting married, and the bachelor's party was the next day, and the wedding was a week later. And you know how everyone wants to shakeyour hand and congratulate you? Yeah it really hurts shaking hands with 100s of people.

Now 41 years later (still married to the same lady) I walk away from whatever has me irritated. And what I have found really amazing is how obvious the solution becomes with some time.

 

I lose enough tools for weeks and months on end, no reason to toss them anywhere.

 

Depends if I’m drinking whiskey or beer.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Why not both????.....

 

Hint : i throw tools.......

 

"Are you a Happy Mechanic or a Mad Mechanic"

Might depend on the meaning of "Mad".

 

I resemble that statement

 

I have a hard enough time finding the tools I just put down without throwing them. Besides if I hit my better halfs Miata I would be sleeping on the concrete floor.

 

Usually happy. I always try to walk away if if feel a HULK OUT coming on. Getting angry costs money.

Thirty years ago as kid trying to turbocharge a Ford Ranger, (things were not going well) I threw a wrench in a blind rage that rocketed in the general direction of the old mans Corvette. Wrench met the top of the windshield, cracked it down the middle, and dented the stainless trim.
That turned into an expensive side project.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Hello,

On the whole, I have been a happy kid and then grew up as an active, but happy teenager. There was not much to worry about until after our senior year of high school with the “goings on of the world.” Then, we had to worry about our futures, in the military, college, jobs or family life. That was enough to worry anyone, let alone a happy, go lucky, teenager.
1955 So Cal

But, decisions, some made for us and others guiding our lives, made the life that we had from that late teenage year to the present time. Even when the whole world seem to be “Going to hell in a handbasket” (picked this up from an OKC relative) we struggled with a good outlook on our own lives and the way we chose to live it, “Come hell or highwater.” (Another one from the same side of the family)

My wife has always had this impression of me throughout our college friendships, dating, trials and tribulations and finally getting married, “Why is this guy so nice and happy?” I am of the impression, it was in the genes… Although my dad was quiet and reserved, he made a niche in the whole growing up and working scene. His attitude towards life in general was one of a happy face for his two sons. So, when he was not happy, both of us understood and ran for cover.

Jnaki

Some of this calm, but happy attitude rubbed off on my brother. He had some great ideas and knew what he wanted to do as a teenager. Life threw him some curve balls, but he remained involved, recovered nicely and led a happy, but short life. While we were working on our first hot rod/drag race build, despite the lack of money, he kept a happy face for me to follow and not get frustrated. That was a good example that I have always kept in the back of my mind.

The years after our blunt exit from drag racing, hot rods continued to play a good part of our lives. That was one way to keep our good attitude towards growing up and living …a happy life.
Thanks, L...
Hanging around these crazy guys during our formidable surfing years was one way to apply being happy-go-lucky whenever we got some great waves and fun vacation times. How could you not, camaraderie makes you apply your skills to being the way you are in life and mechanical situations. It works, it gets fixed and the results are something to make a smile on your face.

My wife and I have been through a lot, but she was the one to keep me grounded and of course, happy. A great son and a wonderful granddaughter definitely keeps us both, happy.

This whole “happy” scene was part of our lives and together, it continues to this roadblock of a pandemic. Throughout the years of working on our cars, especially the 2nd 40 Ford Sedan Delivery, I was kept grounded and happy with my wife being close by. The old adage of being nice, pays off in the long run.

So, that attitude was the basis of our hot rod mechanics and even to today’s high performance cars. Despite what happens to the cars, we have to remain happy as the cars will eventually be fixed and running like new, again, however long it takes.

From the 1960s of "What me worry?" To the 80s of “…Don’t worry, Be happy…” and the ever popular:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&feature=share&v=ZbZSe6N_BXs

Pharrell Williams “Happy” Song

 

Exactly how I feel. Honestly I get tired of fixing other people’s junk all my vehicles and projects are neglected while I work on everyone else’s stuff. Then when it comes time to work on mine I’m too tired or hurt too bad I just wanna relax. I’m way too young to feel this damn old. Heavy equipment mechanic for 15yrs.


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Definitely happy! that is until something goes wrong, (can't say I enjoy removing a broken tap from an engine block with a cutting torch when I'm the one that broke the tap). Working on cars is therapy to me, especially when things turn out better than planned.

 

I Do Much Better If I Am Left Alone Without Free Expert Advice...Others Understand...

 

Hey Lou, admiring your whole set up! Your shop, your project with the "Super Red Ram". Way to make good use of your time! I have to share my under sized garage space with my wife as she uses it to store anything and everything and leaves it up to me to find a place for it.

 

Mad or happy,guess it depends on how things are going,same as most !
Can't say I ever had enough $ to get all the new stuff I thought would make a job much EZer.
But got good at making things work again anyway.
Most happy when my synchronized junk out runs the guy with all the new stuff!! That happens a lot!!

 

I just reread this post and a memory came to me. I worked in a GM dealership along side an older mechanic named John. John was a WWII veteran and would sometimes blow his stack while working on a car. We were talking one day about the early days of his career and he mentioned an older mechanic he worked with. John was broke one day and didn't have any money for lunch, so he decided to ask the older mechanic if he could borrow a few bucks for lunch. John headed over just as the other mechanic exploded into a rage about something going wrong with the car he was working on. He was throwing tools and cussing up a storm. John decided that he didn't need the money bad enough to chance asking the older mechanic at that time. He figured he might be next on the list while the tantrum was going on. The funny thing is, is that John would do just about the same thing when things didn't go right for him. After he told me that story, I couldn't resist wandering over to John in mid-tantrum and ask to borrow 5 bucks. John would turn sheepish, calm down and laugh. Thinking about how the old mechanic used to act. Luckily, I wasn't killed or maimed and it always brought John back to his good side.

 

With me its a different kind of mad... always brought on by the piece of crap I am working on. I have had cars that I work well with and then those that I can't do anything to without it being a major ordeal. Its the ones that I can't even unscrew a little Phillip's head screw without getting the torch, hammer, drill, vice grips and every other tool out of the box to take care of it that really get me mad as fork. Funny thing is that its "brand specific" and by that I mean anything made by Chevrolet does this. Its like the cars know it can get me going in a heartbeat.
Case in point, I have had Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Fords, Mercurys, Nashs, Hudsons and AMC products and never once got the least bit mad working on them no matter how difficult the job. On the other hand EVERY SINGLE Chevy I have had has managed to piss me off within the first few seconds of trying to fix whatever I needed to work on to get it going. Never fails. Can be the easiest job that requires me to perform major mechanical surgery to get it right.
A great example is that I use to be known around where I live as the A body guy. I have had more of these than I can remember. Weather it was a Chevy, Olds, Buick or Pontiac A body from 64-72 I have had multiples of each of the ones made. I have changed more rearends in these that I can count yet the only ones I have problems with are the Chevelles. Don't ask me why cause I do not know. Never have had any issues with changing out any of the Cutlass, Skylarks, or Tempest rearends EVER! And it does not depend of just changing the gears or the whole rearend. If its got that damn Bowtie on it, I am going to have issues.
Glad I am a old fart now and don't work on anything that will cause stress in my life...

 

Happy when this go right

 

absolutely awesome post and answers!

theses days at home, I am always happy, I literally had a smile on my face ear to ear as I contorted my back into an unnatural position to eventually clean up that mess today, kept thinking how lucky I was that the fluid looked good. even on sidejobs at home its always happy and dealing with customers is always easy.

these days at work, I am always mad, I literally blow up if I make one drop of a mess and curse the whole time I'm cleaning it, but it has more to do with the soul sucking grind of dealing with shitty service advisors, horrible management, and bullshit GM warranty times and practices, but when I get to spend all day on one ticket in my bay actually working on a car it's not that bad.

when I wrenched on the PATRIOT missile system in the Army even when there was anger there was still a smile on my face, I remember our radar went down day before thanksgiving, there we were in the middle of the desert midnight hating life trying to get this fucking radar to work, after 24 hours of some hardcore diagnosing we finally found the faulty part and had to get it expedited by a defense company's consultants, sometime around 3am these dudes showed up with the part and a KFC family bucket with sides, biscuits, and honey. best job I ever had.