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Why is this section so quiet
I love messing around with old cars always have done but I am absolutely stunned my this is the busiest car site in Britain and so few make good use of this section
I would have thought all these enthusiast at least a good chunk of them would be working on their own stuff but disappointingly not
I love messing around with old cars always have done but I am absolutely stunned my this is the busiest car site in Britain and so few make good use of this section
I would have thought all these enthusiast at least a good chunk of them would be working on their own stuff but disappointingly not
Because this is a forum and in my experience people asking for help will be given one of the following responses:
- You don't know what you're doing and shouldn't work on cars yourself anyway
- That particular job is dealer only/requires a billion pound specialist tool
- You'll void your warranty if you fix that yourself
- You're an idiot/dangerous/a variation of this theme
So people don't ask for help and get it wrong or pay a man millions of pounds in labour to do something because they're terrified of making a mistake or being ridiculed by a bunch of nobodies on Pistonheads who don't know one end of spanner from the other. Personally I've spent plenty of timebreaking fixing my cars because when I started driving I had no money and therefore no choice and am happy to share anything I've learned along the way.
I think a bigger question nowadays is do people actually care or have any desire to learn how their cars work or how to fix them? It's common folklore that cars are WAY too complicated to work on now (I don't actually subscribe to this and actually think modern diagnostics make life easier if anything) and that the actual process of digging out the tools and getting filthy is not a valid way of spending ones time on a Sunday afternoon as a "little man" will do it for you or the cars on lease so who cares anyway.
- You don't know what you're doing and shouldn't work on cars yourself anyway
- That particular job is dealer only/requires a billion pound specialist tool
- You'll void your warranty if you fix that yourself
- You're an idiot/dangerous/a variation of this theme
So people don't ask for help and get it wrong or pay a man millions of pounds in labour to do something because they're terrified of making a mistake or being ridiculed by a bunch of nobodies on Pistonheads who don't know one end of spanner from the other. Personally I've spent plenty of time
I think a bigger question nowadays is do people actually care or have any desire to learn how their cars work or how to fix them? It's common folklore that cars are WAY too complicated to work on now (I don't actually subscribe to this and actually think modern diagnostics make life easier if anything) and that the actual process of digging out the tools and getting filthy is not a valid way of spending ones time on a Sunday afternoon as a "little man" will do it for you or the cars on lease so who cares anyway.
StoatInACoat said:
Because this is a forum and in my experience people asking for help will be given one of the following responses:
- You don't know what you're doing and shouldn't work on cars yourself anyway
- That particular job is dealer only/requires a billion pound specialist tool
- You'll void your warranty if you fix that yourself
- You're an idiot/dangerous/a variation of this theme
So people don't ask for help and get it wrong or pay a man millions of pounds in labour to do something because they're terrified of making a mistake or being ridiculed by a bunch of nobodies on Pistonheads who don't know one end of spanner from the other. Personally I've spent plenty of timebreaking fixing my cars because when I started driving I had no money and therefore no choice and am happy to share anything I've learned along the way.
I think a bigger question nowadays is do people actually care or have any desire to learn how their cars work or how to fix them? It's common folklore that cars are WAY too complicated to work on now (I don't actually subscribe to this and actually think modern diagnostics make life easier if anything) and that the actual process of digging out the tools and getting filthy is not a valid way of spending ones time on a Sunday afternoon as a "little man" will do it for you or the cars on lease so who cares anyway.
Good points It would be a shame if people who enjoy the spanners dont ask on here when they need to know I joined 4 years ago but only just started posting I post a lot more on other sites but out of all them this is the most hostile .Its a shame because there maybe a lot of knowledgeable people that just dont post to avoid the hasslle- You don't know what you're doing and shouldn't work on cars yourself anyway
- That particular job is dealer only/requires a billion pound specialist tool
- You'll void your warranty if you fix that yourself
- You're an idiot/dangerous/a variation of this theme
So people don't ask for help and get it wrong or pay a man millions of pounds in labour to do something because they're terrified of making a mistake or being ridiculed by a bunch of nobodies on Pistonheads who don't know one end of spanner from the other. Personally I've spent plenty of time
I think a bigger question nowadays is do people actually care or have any desire to learn how their cars work or how to fix them? It's common folklore that cars are WAY too complicated to work on now (I don't actually subscribe to this and actually think modern diagnostics make life easier if anything) and that the actual process of digging out the tools and getting filthy is not a valid way of spending ones time on a Sunday afternoon as a "little man" will do it for you or the cars on lease so who cares anyway.
I tend to post my more generic questions on this forum. I try to post only when I've run completely out of ideas/knowledge and cannot find anything online that wholly answers my question. I think that lessens the chance of being ridiculed by the peanut gallery.
For more specialist questions, I post on model specific websites - where I have gained a trusted group who actually bend over backwards to help. Also, because it's a smaller community, the smart arses aren't so brave
For more specialist questions, I post on model specific websites - where I have gained a trusted group who actually bend over backwards to help. Also, because it's a smaller community, the smart arses aren't so brave
Some of the questions asked do display such total ignorance of engineering and/or mechanical principles, that one feels the poster shouldn't try to rely on a correspondence course to equip him to do his own work.
In that case the troll fringe will lambast him and give forums a bad name but I (and others like me I expect) am inclined to ignore him rather than encourage him.
Part of the enjoyment of owning the sort of cars I have is keeping them in good order mechanically but when a problem arises that I can't understand/fix I have been known to ask on a forum. As above one should choose a specialist forum, or at least a specialist part of a forum like this one.
In that case the troll fringe will lambast him and give forums a bad name but I (and others like me I expect) am inclined to ignore him rather than encourage him.
Part of the enjoyment of owning the sort of cars I have is keeping them in good order mechanically but when a problem arises that I can't understand/fix I have been known to ask on a forum. As above one should choose a specialist forum, or at least a specialist part of a forum like this one.
Allan L said:
Some of the questions asked do display such total ignorance of engineering and/or mechanical principles, that one feels the poster shouldn't try to rely on a correspondence course to equip him to do his own work.
In that case the troll fringe will lambast him and give forums a bad name but I (and others like me I expect) am inclined to ignore him rather than encourage him.
Part of the enjoyment of owning the sort of cars I have is keeping them in good order mechanically but when a problem arises that I can't understand/fix I have been known to ask on a forum. As above one should choose a specialist forum, or at least a specialist part of a forum like this one.
Hi Allan,In that case the troll fringe will lambast him and give forums a bad name but I (and others like me I expect) am inclined to ignore him rather than encourage him.
Part of the enjoyment of owning the sort of cars I have is keeping them in good order mechanically but when a problem arises that I can't understand/fix I have been known to ask on a forum. As above one should choose a specialist forum, or at least a specialist part of a forum like this one.
Your profile states
'I own and have owned several cars your system does not know about so I can't list 'em. I'm sure they would be of interest to someone.'
They would be of interest to me! Can you spill the beans?
Andy 308GTB said:
Hi Allan,
Your profile states
'I own and have owned several cars your system does not know about so I can't list 'em. I'm sure they would be of interest to someone.'
They would be of interest to me! Can you spill the beans?
Not your period I'd guess but since you ask, currently a 1912 12-15h.p. Mors and a 1938 12.9 h.p. Lea Francis SportsYour profile states
'I own and have owned several cars your system does not know about so I can't list 'em. I'm sure they would be of interest to someone.'
They would be of interest to me! Can you spill the beans?
Andy 308GTB said:
I tend to post my more generic questions on this forum. I try to post only when I've run completely out of ideas/knowledge and cannot find anything online that wholly answers my question. I think that lessens the chance of being ridiculed by the peanut gallery.
For more specialist questions, I post on model specific websites - where I have gained a trusted group who actually bend over backwards to help. Also, because it's a smaller community, the smart arses aren't so brave
I didn't think I ridiculed you that much??For more specialist questions, I post on model specific websites - where I have gained a trusted group who actually bend over backwards to help. Also, because it's a smaller community, the smart arses aren't so brave
On a more serious note, any home mechanics for me have been done on the side of the road, in the rain, with the chances of spammers going missing with my head under the car. Hopefully this will change soon, and I can reduce the bill from the garage! (Very very long term is a V6 caterfield something, scratch the v itch!)
Peanut Gallery said:
Andy 308GTB said:
I tend to post my more generic questions on this forum. I try to post only when I've run completely out of ideas/knowledge and cannot find anything online that wholly answers my question. I think that lessens the chance of being ridiculed by the peanut gallery.
For more specialist questions, I post on model specific websites - where I have gained a trusted group who actually bend over backwards to help. Also, because it's a smaller community, the smart arses aren't so brave
I didn't think I ridiculed you that much??For more specialist questions, I post on model specific websites - where I have gained a trusted group who actually bend over backwards to help. Also, because it's a smaller community, the smart arses aren't so brave
Only on PHeads
Allan L said:
Andy 308GTB said:
Hi Allan,
Your profile states
'I own and have owned several cars your system does not know about so I can't list 'em. I'm sure they would be of interest to someone.'
They would be of interest to me! Can you spill the beans?
Not your period I'd guess but since you ask, currently a 1912 12-15h.p. Mors and a 1938 12.9 h.p. Lea Francis SportsYour profile states
'I own and have owned several cars your system does not know about so I can't list 'em. I'm sure they would be of interest to someone.'
They would be of interest to me! Can you spill the beans?
He'll be at Prescott in one of the Sunbeams in a couple of weeks time. He's 86 - should be an interesting journey...
Andy 308GTB said:
Not my period but very much my fathers (2 x 1920' Sunbeam Twin Cams and 1 x Humber 1919 ?).
He'll be at Prescott in one of the Sunbeams in a couple of weeks time. He's 86 - should be an interesting journey...
He'll be at Prescott in one of the Sunbeams in a couple of weeks time. He's 86 - should be an interesting journey...
Not my period but very much my fathers (1943 MG VA & 1948 Riley Pathfinder)
He'll be at home trying to de-rust them and get them going for the next. . . . years.
Peanut Gallery said:
Not my period but very much my fathers (1943 MG VA & 1948 Riley Pathfinder)
He'll be at home trying to de-rust them and get them going for the next. . . . years.
I'd guess the MG is earlier as not many cars of any sort were made in 1943 and V types were not made postwar. The Pathfinder would be later than '48 as I think the first was 1954 (had one myself in 1962!).He'll be at home trying to de-rust them and get them going for the next. . . . years.
You young chaps are just trying to make me feel old!
Allan L said:
Peanut Gallery said:
Not my period but very much my fathers (1943 MG VA & 1948 Riley Pathfinder)
He'll be at home trying to de-rust them and get them going for the next. . . . years.
I'd guess the MG is earlier as not many cars of any sort were made in 1943 and V types were not made postwar. The Pathfinder would be later than '48 as I think the first was 1954 (had one myself in 1962!).He'll be at home trying to de-rust them and get them going for the next. . . . years.
You young chaps are just trying to make me feel old!
Edit just to say MG is a `33, pathfinder is a `54 or `55.
Edited by Peanut Gallery on Tuesday 25th July 19:07
StoatInACoat said:
So people don't ask for help and get it wrong or pay a man millions of pounds in labour to do something because they're terrified of making a mistake or being ridiculed by a bunch of nobodies on Pistonheads who don't know one end of spanner from the other.
I think a bigger question nowadays is do people actually care or have any desire to learn how their cars work or how to fix them? It's common folklore that cars are WAY too complicated to work on now (I don't actually subscribe to this and actually think modern diagnostics make life easier if anything).
Car garages would love it if everybody thought that cars were too difficult to work on, because they'd make more money out of people.I think a bigger question nowadays is do people actually care or have any desire to learn how their cars work or how to fix them? It's common folklore that cars are WAY too complicated to work on now (I don't actually subscribe to this and actually think modern diagnostics make life easier if anything).
Personally, about the only job I won't do on a car, is the cambelt! Just too scared to attempt it!
Everything else, I'll do, have done, and would continue to do. I admit that I don't know everything, but the only way you learn is by doing, and it's the only way you can pick up experience too!
The satisfaction of doing a job yourself is BIG. I've always been very hands-on, and not afraid of getting my hands dirty on cars, doing jobs etc. I am on forums like this, mainly to respond to people who have problems, and to see what help/advice they're given.
There are a lot of threads though, were common sense appears lacking.
DIYMechGuy said:
Car garages would love it if everybody thought that cars were too difficult to work on, because they'd make more money out of people.
Personally, about the only job I won't do on a car, is the cambelt! Just too scared to attempt it!
Everything else, I'll do, have done, and would continue to do. I admit that I don't know everything, but the only way you learn is by doing, and it's the only way you can pick up experience too!
The satisfaction of doing a job yourself is BIG. I've always been very hands-on, and not afraid of getting my hands dirty on cars, doing jobs etc. I am on forums like this, mainly to respond to people who have problems, and to see what help/advice they're given.
There are a lot of threads though, were common sense appears lacking.
Cam belts are easy. Just mark the position of the pulleys before you take the old belt off. Put the new belt on, tension it then turn the engine twice by hand. If the marks line up, it's fine. If they don't, try again. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need special locking tools. Yes, it helps, but the job is perfectly doable without.Personally, about the only job I won't do on a car, is the cambelt! Just too scared to attempt it!
Everything else, I'll do, have done, and would continue to do. I admit that I don't know everything, but the only way you learn is by doing, and it's the only way you can pick up experience too!
The satisfaction of doing a job yourself is BIG. I've always been very hands-on, and not afraid of getting my hands dirty on cars, doing jobs etc. I am on forums like this, mainly to respond to people who have problems, and to see what help/advice they're given.
There are a lot of threads though, were common sense appears lacking.
Emanresu said:
DIYMechGuy said:
Car garages would love it if everybody thought that cars were too difficult to work on, because they'd make more money out of people.
Personally, about the only job I won't do on a car, is the cambelt! Just too scared to attempt it!
Everything else, I'll do, have done, and would continue to do. I admit that I don't know everything, but the only way you learn is by doing, and it's the only way you can pick up experience too!
The satisfaction of doing a job yourself is BIG. I've always been very hands-on, and not afraid of getting my hands dirty on cars, doing jobs etc. I am on forums like this, mainly to respond to people who have problems, and to see what help/advice they're given.
There are a lot of threads though, were common sense appears lacking.
Cam belts are easy. Just mark the position of the pulleys before you take the old belt off. Put the new belt on, tension it then turn the engine twice by hand. If the marks line up, it's fine. If they don't, try again. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need special locking tools. Yes, it helps, but the job is perfectly doable without.Personally, about the only job I won't do on a car, is the cambelt! Just too scared to attempt it!
Everything else, I'll do, have done, and would continue to do. I admit that I don't know everything, but the only way you learn is by doing, and it's the only way you can pick up experience too!
The satisfaction of doing a job yourself is BIG. I've always been very hands-on, and not afraid of getting my hands dirty on cars, doing jobs etc. I am on forums like this, mainly to respond to people who have problems, and to see what help/advice they're given.
There are a lot of threads though, were common sense appears lacking.
When the chain or belt is old they stretch, when you put a new one on your marks don't line up. What do you do then?
When you've walked some miles in some else's shoes you are then qualified to comment, until such time it's best to let them get on with what they do best.
227bhp said:
Emanresu said:
DIYMechGuy said:
Car garages would love it if everybody thought that cars were too difficult to work on, because they'd make more money out of people.
Personally, about the only job I won't do on a car, is the cambelt! Just too scared to attempt it!
Everything else, I'll do, have done, and would continue to do. I admit that I don't know everything, but the only way you learn is by doing, and it's the only way you can pick up experience too!
The satisfaction of doing a job yourself is BIG. I've always been very hands-on, and not afraid of getting my hands dirty on cars, doing jobs etc. I am on forums like this, mainly to respond to people who have problems, and to see what help/advice they're given.
There are a lot of threads though, were common sense appears lacking.
Cam belts are easy. Just mark the position of the pulleys before you take the old belt off. Put the new belt on, tension it then turn the engine twice by hand. If the marks line up, it's fine. If they don't, try again. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need special locking tools. Yes, it helps, but the job is perfectly doable without.Personally, about the only job I won't do on a car, is the cambelt! Just too scared to attempt it!
Everything else, I'll do, have done, and would continue to do. I admit that I don't know everything, but the only way you learn is by doing, and it's the only way you can pick up experience too!
The satisfaction of doing a job yourself is BIG. I've always been very hands-on, and not afraid of getting my hands dirty on cars, doing jobs etc. I am on forums like this, mainly to respond to people who have problems, and to see what help/advice they're given.
There are a lot of threads though, were common sense appears lacking.
When the chain or belt is old they stretch, when you put a new one on your marks don't line up. What do you do then?
When you've walked some miles in some else's shoes you are then qualified to comment, until such time it's best to let them get on with what they do best.
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