Spannering - what got you started?

[underwhelmist]

I'm feeling very pleased with myself after sorting out an intermittent engine management light problem on my Alfa, after hooking up my laptop with an ELM327 cable, diagnosing the fault with MultiEcuScan and removing the coils and cleaning up some connections.

This car has provided me with some great opportunities for diagnosing problems and doing some of the bigger service jobs. I've replaced handbrake cables, chased down (several!) electrical faults, and done a full belt and waterpump change. Three times, actually. The first time I topped up the coolant after putting it all back together, which is when I discovered I had pinched the O ring on the water pump. Took it apart again, sorted the leak, put it back together again to find it was running rough and bouncing around at idle - I had got the cam timing slightly out and the balancer shaft timing *way* out. After sorting that out it now runs great, and it's the most satisfying-but-at-the-time frustrating job I've done on a car.

I have a habit of buying old knackered motorbikes too, which I invariably end up having to do chain and sprockets, carb stripdowns, suspension overhauls, and the rest. Current bike needed a new camchain, and I've had the carbs apart more times than I can remember trying to get it to run right. Finally, it runs like a good 'un now.

Not so long ago this would have all been black magic to me but the Alfa, and some bikes that preceded it (FZR750, GT750) have given me a real enthusiasm for working on my own machines, and of course an excuse to buy more tools. What got you started?

[underwhelmist]

Matt Harper said:

A distinct lack of money to pay someone else to do it.

Yes, this was also a key motivating factor.

[underwhelmist]

SturdyHSV said:

I generally work on the (foolhardy) principle that a person put it together, so a person can take it apart again, it's just nuts and bolts after all...

This is what I finally realised. I realised that engines etc can be complicated, but the people who assemble and maintain these things aren't some sort of super evolved race, they just have the right tools and the workshop manual.

finishing touch said:

I built my first vehicle. Running gear by Silver Cross, bodywork by Jaffa.

Steering was via a 6 x 3/8" bolt. Thread was a bit rusty so had to borrow a spanner to put the nut on.


Paul G

My dad helped me build (read: he built) me something similar. I promptly sought out the steepest slope I could find. Nearly killed me. I think mum nearly killed him

GAjon said:

Spinning off the circuit at Bruntinthorpe many years ago, I thought , if I’m going to do this on a regular basis I’d better know what’s underneath me.

Was it at the end of the big 180 turn leading onto the two mile straight? I've spun off there too, in a formula 3000 type single seater on a Jonathan Palmer day. Unfortunately it wasn't my car. Fortunately I didn't have to pay for the damage.

SAS Tom said:

Firstly it was realising how crap most “mechanics” are. I got sick of paying what was a fortune to me at the time for someone not to do a job properly.
.

Hmm, yes, I certainly understand that.

ChocolateFrog said:

Holding the torch for dad.

Then as a teenager he got me one of the Halfords advanced socket sets with lifetime guarantee. I'm not far off 40 now and it's still my go to. Even have the piece of foam that stops the bits falling out when you carry it.

Best present ever.

Awesome. Now I think of it my dad was also instrumental in getting me interested in not just cars, but *how things work*.

[underwhelmist]

AW111 said:

Imagine shimming a 20 valve four cylinder. The shims live under buckets, so it's

Measure all the clearances,
Take the cam out,
Measure and label all the shims ,
Calculate which ones can be swapped around and which new shims to buy
Swap all the shims around,
Replace the cam,
and measure again.

The experts get it right first time, and make it look easy. I did it once, and got it right, but both cams went in and out a few times.

Oddly enough I used to have a five valve bike - a Japanese import Yamaha FZR750. I was never brave enough to do the valve clearances, which seems a bit daft now because I did the clearances on a 4 valve 4 cyl no problem, it only needed one shim changed though.

Moz_BLY said:

wouldnt ever pay for basic like services, brakes, suspension.

I've worked on bike suspension but not cars, that's on my to do list. I think I might need to treat myself to an impact wrench first though.