At 12:20 AM 9/20/97 -0400, Nory wrote to Debra:
>be your own MG mechanic... Look at it this way: You couldn't do any
>worse than the mechanics you have in town!
>... there's still plenty I DON'T know... after four years of learning,
> I don't feel as if I need an "MG mechanic" anymore (at least, not too
often).
That's my goal, Nory, and all! I'm having a ball fixin' things that ain't
broke! OTOH, I did manage to break three nails today, and the other seven
are pretty greasy-looking...
Today I took on the task of installing a used generator for Darlin'. OH,
I'm going to write about the experience, but I'll spare the list this
time... (You're welcome!!)
After the generator, I noticed the rear carb was spewing petrol everywhere.
(Oh goody!) As you all may recall, I had some parts with numbers, but no
names a couple of weeks ago. Well... I stil have six rubber washers that
fit under the carb bowls. The carb does not leak anymore...! It's amazing
how accessible that inaccessible carb became this afternoon... I had/have a
good teacher....
After the carb was pronounced "healed" I decided to attack the crummy
wiring on the headlamps. I have new rubber gaskets to replace the cracked
mess that was in place. I also had three 9-year-old boys who were jockeying
for position as to who was going to get to help me "the most". Two had to
go home to eat dinner, and the third turned out to be a very good "hand."
A "can do" attitude and the willingness to get a little dirty can do
wonders for the car and for one's very soul. I am SOOO pleased with my
efforts. And Darlin' is purring like a kitten... I still haven't figured
out how to test the output voltage of the used gen, but my 78-year-old
neighbor down the street stopped by in his 56 t-bird this evening and is
coming up to tutor me in the morning... Art still has the original engine
for the bird, but put a hot number in it so he can race it! Makes me smile
all over....! Neat guy....! And he has his own bluegrass band, to boot! And
a sand blaster. And a welder. And.... Get the picture??!!
> It's really not all that hard and
>it's fun, too. AND what a great sense of accomplishment when you've
>spent two days trying to figure out what's wrong, and finally fixing it
>YOURSELF! (Sure, mechanics work faster, but I work cheaper) When it
>finally starts and runs right, you say "Damn, I'm good!" and walk (or
>drive) around with a smile on your face all day! It's a joy every
>British Car owner should experience.
Can you see the smile through your monitor??!! :-) I have a good
mechanic locally, but I'm getting comfortable trying things on my own. Of
course, there's always the list members and then there's this other MGA
nut whose opinions I have come to respect -- do the initials B.G. ring a
bell?! I build computers so it's a pretty natural (though dirtier!)
transition to work on cars. Cars are binary, too. They either run, or they
don't. If they don't there is a reason. When they dink around and don't
completely fail, they are as annoying as a computer with an "intermittent"
problem.
>You'll still need your local mechanic while you're learning, but you
>will need him less and less as time goes by. Start reading your manual
>and asking questions of the list, and you're on your way.
The members of this list have been invaluable since I started asking
questions last winter. I'm still full of questions, and am just now having
time to get dirty on my own..! It'll be a long time before I'm ready to
attack a carb or rebuild an engine, but the axles, and the 'lectrics are
turning out to be fun. I've still got a couple of shorts to go..
Will keep you posted....
Carol
|