Getting old and home mechanics.
Discussion
I have done some decent jobs on cars over the years and never shyed? away from a challenge.
I did the rear suspension on my Passat, arms ,springs, bushes etc a couple of years back.
It got mentioned on a service that two rear tie arms were bad so I thought no problem, I can do them.
Well yesterday I had a go........and gave up. I just couldn't be bothered struggling with rusty bolts etc. I intended to do the arms, new anti roll bar bushes and wire brush and paint the rear subframe.
A local garage took pity on me and I am dropping it off later.
Chatting with my son last night he mentioned about getting a bit old to be crawling about on the floor and I hated to admit it but he was right.
I did the rear suspension on my Passat, arms ,springs, bushes etc a couple of years back.
It got mentioned on a service that two rear tie arms were bad so I thought no problem, I can do them.
Well yesterday I had a go........and gave up. I just couldn't be bothered struggling with rusty bolts etc. I intended to do the arms, new anti roll bar bushes and wire brush and paint the rear subframe.
A local garage took pity on me and I am dropping it off later.
Chatting with my son last night he mentioned about getting a bit old to be crawling about on the floor and I hated to admit it but he was right.
I was having similar thoughts myself yesterday after replacing the ABS pump on my daughters car and all the associated faffery with broken/knackered bleed nipples and crawling around on the floor, I have saved her £350 but it hurts and I'm not going to do it any more, I have explained to her and the rest of the family that cars can go to the local garage now for repairs, they are all on reasonable salaries so can afford it, I'm approaching 50 and having done lots of manual work in the past I'm feeling it ever more now so it's time.
I'm beginning to feel that way (I'm 44) but the truth is I'm too tight to pay a garage and also I love being able to do the work myself and I consider it a big part of my identity, sorry if that comes across a bit self-obsessed.
I don't really like working underneath cars and/or contorting my body for hours on end. I had to remove a turbocharger before Christmas which involved dropping the exhaust and fighting really tight access at the front of the engine - not much fun. Then I replaced a broken coil spring on my girlfriend's Meriva on a wet, cold and windy day in January which was truly horrible. But the feeling I get afterwards - priceless.
I keep my cars a long while so sometimes have to repeat jobs. A cambelt change on a nice sunny day is actually a pleasure, and working on brakes is usually easy enough and quite satisfying.
I don't think I'll be giving up any time soon
I don't really like working underneath cars and/or contorting my body for hours on end. I had to remove a turbocharger before Christmas which involved dropping the exhaust and fighting really tight access at the front of the engine - not much fun. Then I replaced a broken coil spring on my girlfriend's Meriva on a wet, cold and windy day in January which was truly horrible. But the feeling I get afterwards - priceless.
I keep my cars a long while so sometimes have to repeat jobs. A cambelt change on a nice sunny day is actually a pleasure, and working on brakes is usually easy enough and quite satisfying.
I don't think I'll be giving up any time soon
Snap :-) Im 49 and have noticed that my motivation has started to take a dive. I tend to do the easier items but any activities where I know I might snap a bolt, or deep heavy suspension work then I now use a selection of mobile mechanics. Shame really as in my younger days I would be out with my spanners ripping things off :-) However there's been many a job where I regretted even starting it, plus my back is so sore then next day.
Also I dont tend to wear gloves so my hands become ruined with oil stains which takes days to eventually get out. I work in IT and sometimes Ive noticed others looking at my hands in shock :-)
Ive also noticed that my eye sight isnt as good as it once was. Reading s/n off parts, trying to see wires under dashboards all now require lots of light and the `camera zoom` on my phone :-)
Getting old is painful !
Guys, I feel the same. I really don't feel that the juice is worth the squeeze any more, and have avoided jobs that meant crawling about on the floor and that I could give to a local garage.
I have also started a gradual sell of off larger tools, to declutter and simplify my garage space into more of a clean space.
The first thing to go was the engine crane.
Where as in my youth, I considered my self monetarily too poor to pay someone to do something that I could easily do myself, I now feel time poor,
I have also started a gradual sell of off larger tools, to declutter and simplify my garage space into more of a clean space.
The first thing to go was the engine crane.
Where as in my youth, I considered my self monetarily too poor to pay someone to do something that I could easily do myself, I now feel time poor,
50 yo here. I take much longer to do almost everything these days. With cars I'd still rather not pay a garage to do stuff I can do myself and I invested a lot of money in my toolkits.
I have to stretch jobs out. What once was a full days work takes me about a week. I work a half day, then rest, then can't walk properly for a day because my leg/arm/back muscles are on fire. Then another half day and repeat.
I have to stretch jobs out. What once was a full days work takes me about a week. I work a half day, then rest, then can't walk properly for a day because my leg/arm/back muscles are on fire. Then another half day and repeat.
I've got past 66 now and have come to the same conclusion. Gone are the days where I will lie on my back scrabbling around under a car.
Yesterday, in preparation for our house move, I took a car-load of old nuts, bolts, car bits etc. to the tip that I had accumulated over the past 50 years; I'm sorry if anyone wanted 2 Stromberg needles for a 1968 Imp, they've gone now, as have the (used-but-good...) set of sump bolts for the 1959 Mini.
Yesterday, in preparation for our house move, I took a car-load of old nuts, bolts, car bits etc. to the tip that I had accumulated over the past 50 years; I'm sorry if anyone wanted 2 Stromberg needles for a 1968 Imp, they've gone now, as have the (used-but-good...) set of sump bolts for the 1959 Mini.
I worked on cars in my 20s though necessity. No drive crouched in the gutter, crap tool kit made from cheese, as I earned more I paid garages, then company cars made it a thing of the past.
In my 50s i got into classics, my hobby broke even so pretty happy, and work could be scheduled for decent weather.
In my 60s and although I still fettle with an elderly merc I don't look forward to it.
In my 50s i got into classics, my hobby broke even so pretty happy, and work could be scheduled for decent weather.
In my 60s and although I still fettle with an elderly merc I don't look forward to it.
65 & its a struggle strength wise but two weeks ago I
changed the top mounts & a strut on wifes car. At the moment I have been struggling with a Audi TTRS , no compression on 5 ...none at all so a valve problem, head off what a palava just getting the Valve solenoid out, its solid & the rocker cover is plastic so no leverage as they are about £400+ !?
TBH its been a godsend in this damned lockdown, buried my head into these cars & my Alfa Spider has been helping as well lol. mind you after a few hours on the suspension it took me 3 days to walk feely again ...Right off in an hour to have my Jab!!
changed the top mounts & a strut on wifes car. At the moment I have been struggling with a Audi TTRS , no compression on 5 ...none at all so a valve problem, head off what a palava just getting the Valve solenoid out, its solid & the rocker cover is plastic so no leverage as they are about £400+ !?
TBH its been a godsend in this damned lockdown, buried my head into these cars & my Alfa Spider has been helping as well lol. mind you after a few hours on the suspension it took me 3 days to walk feely again ...Right off in an hour to have my Jab!!
I'm struggling in my early 40's. Everything is taking me so long to do. So long before I find the right time to start and then the the surprise complication in every job just tips it from a what should have been minutes for the garage to a full day or longer for me.
And I've hurt my wrist (permanently) due to 'overuse' (putting too much force into it) with some of the spline bolts used on the suspension. They required me to counter hold so the bit doesn't slip at those ridiculous torques.
And I've hurt my wrist (permanently) due to 'overuse' (putting too much force into it) with some of the spline bolts used on the suspension. They required me to counter hold so the bit doesn't slip at those ridiculous torques.
I've just gotten to a crossroads of sorts in a fairly decent refresh I'm doing of my car, I shall be keeping the thing forever so the posts above have given me the nudge necessary to go ahead and replace all of the brake lines now with something that won't rust, because by the sounds of it if I just join to the bits I've cut off and have to replace them in the future, I'm not going to want to!
I've found not having a deadline to have the thing fixed and working makes it less miserable, if some huge pain in the arse problem crops up you can just go "f
k it" and leave it until you've come to terms with how much more work you're going to have to do / additional tools you're going to have to buy.
Still in my 30s here but was a late starter, when I got the car 10 years ago I hadn't even seen a spark plug...
I've found not having a deadline to have the thing fixed and working makes it less miserable, if some huge pain in the arse problem crops up you can just go "f
k it" and leave it until you've come to terms with how much more work you're going to have to do / additional tools you're going to have to buy.Still in my 30s here but was a late starter, when I got the car 10 years ago I hadn't even seen a spark plug...
Back last summer I sat on my gravel drive cross legged banging and swearing at the drum brakes on my Trabant one weekend. I suppose I was in that position for about six hours on and off.
I'm 55 and was unable to stand up straight properly for about two hours afterwards.
The next day I felt like I'd been run over by a Routemaster bus.
Changing bulbs, wiring and easy stuff I'm happy to do. Anything else my mate down the garage gets paid to do.
I'm 55 and was unable to stand up straight properly for about two hours afterwards.
The next day I felt like I'd been run over by a Routemaster bus.
Changing bulbs, wiring and easy stuff I'm happy to do. Anything else my mate down the garage gets paid to do.
Tyre Smoke said:
Back last summer I sat on my gravel drive cross legged banging and swearing at the drum brakes on my Trabant one weekend. I suppose I was in that position for about six hours on and off.
I'm 55 and was unable to stand up straight properly for about two hours afterwards.
The next day I felt like I'd been run over by a Routemaster bus.
You need a lift! Watching the lads work in our village garage it all looks so effortless - they don't even get dirty!I'm 55 and was unable to stand up straight properly for about two hours afterwards.
The next day I felt like I'd been run over by a Routemaster bus.
Having done my share of engine changes in the street, it was great to build a barn and have a lift installed. It does make cleaning the wheels very easy. 
However, having got to the stage of life where varifocals are required, it is a nightmare to try and focus on something very close to the face...Still, at least it's dry.
However, having got to the stage of life where varifocals are required, it is a nightmare to try and focus on something very close to the face...Still, at least it's dry.
56 and I’ve pretty much done everything on my cars and motorcycles all my life. From engine swaps and full engine rebuilds to welding up rusty old Opels.
I don’t do much with electrickery as I have a mate who understands it
I have no intention of stopping but what I would say is if you do stop for any reason it becomes twice as hard for a while whe you restart - I took a year off working on cars for various reasons and once I went to start again I honestly thought I can’t do this anymore - my whole body ached and it was definately more pain than pleasure but it did get much easier as the muscles got used to it again.
Bloody eyesight didn’t improve which is a real pita - oh to have 20:20 vision again - I’ve lost count of the number of pairs of glasses that have died working under a car
I don’t do much with electrickery as I have a mate who understands it
I have no intention of stopping but what I would say is if you do stop for any reason it becomes twice as hard for a while whe you restart - I took a year off working on cars for various reasons and once I went to start again I honestly thought I can’t do this anymore - my whole body ached and it was definately more pain than pleasure but it did get much easier as the muscles got used to it again.
Bloody eyesight didn’t improve which is a real pita - oh to have 20:20 vision again - I’ve lost count of the number of pairs of glasses that have died working under a car
sliks said:
I'm struggling in my early 40's. Everything is taking me so long to do. So long before I find the right time to start and then the the surprise complication in every job just tips it from a what should have been minutes for the garage to a full day or longer for me.
And I've hurt my wrist (permanently) due to 'overuse' (putting too much force into it) with some of the spline bolts used on the suspension. They required me to counter hold so the bit doesn't slip at those ridiculous torques.
You're just a snowflake And I've hurt my wrist (permanently) due to 'overuse' (putting too much force into it) with some of the spline bolts used on the suspension. They required me to counter hold so the bit doesn't slip at those ridiculous torques.
Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff