Are most of us optimistic wrench jockeys?

[RickB]

Here's what I mean:

This afternoon I decided it was time to get that thermostat in the Nissan motor.
I bought the unit, a gasket and a gallon of antifreeze. I also bought a tube of permatex gasket goo.

So I jacked up the car, put a bucket under there and let loose a hose to drain the fluid.
Then I took the old thermostat out and scraped off the old gasket.
Goo everything up, insert new thermostat, stick it all together and tighten down.

All right, don't get ahead of me here = this is where the optimistic part comes in...

I open up the new gallon of antifreeze and pour it in.

Put on the cap.

Start it up & wait, admiring my work...

OH CRAP!!! LEAKING!!!

Who would have imagined in their wildest dreams that it wouldn't work right the first time???

Ok, so it did seal up the second time.

The question is this - Do we all work this way, or is it just me? Assuming that everything is going to be perfect the first try?

It seems it NEVER works that way in reality!

Just wondering. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

See below and rate your level of expectations please - I'm definitely a "3".

 

[Baz]

Guilty as charged here sir.

 

[blkcorvair]

A few mo. ago I was trying to repair some threads on my last best a arm if that makes sense. Spent all night frustrated til I gave up and basically figured it was ready for the scrap pile. Gave it one last shot the following week. And wouldn't you know it, 2 minutes and it was perfect, so yes I too think everything will sork on the first try.

Sometimes you really do need just a fresh look!

 

[jlaird]

I expect everything to work correctly the first time, however always have to do everything twice.

ie, my current engine rebuild.

 

[drooartz]

I guess I just know my limitations as a mechanic. I do expect things to work, but fully expect it to take many tries. Weeks even. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[kcbugeye1275]

Been there, done that. Double check everything, before you go to the next step, clean things up and review, it is amazing what you might catch.

 

[JPSmit]

you mean it doesn't work right the first time? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

Seriously - I do expect it to work the first time - except that I'm now realizing that with my Moss Dealer 45 min away - it's worth the extra couple O bucks for another gasket or bolt just in case. Besides - then I'm equipping my repair kit. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hammer.gif

 

[aeronca65t]

I depends. But often, I'll try something before it's fully buttoned up "just to make sure".

When I put the engine back in the Escort, I ran it (very briefly) and even tried the clutch before the radiator, fan belts, etc. were installed.

In the past, if I'm rebuilding a car, I'll drive it around my yard (slowly!)without brakes, just to try the engine and trans.

Often I'll leave off inspection covers and guards and give something a "trial run" to make sure everything is woking.

But in your case, with the radiator, I would have done the same thing you did. Generally, if something is already working and you are just doing a bit of maintainence, you'd expect it to work fine after the work.

 

[RickB]

It's funny, even knowing in advance that I usually have to do everything at least twice I'll still go right ahead and put the antifreeze in and seal it up to test.

Assuming it wont be right the first try would dictate trying it with plain water, if it seals up then drain the water & add antifreeze.

I'm not sure I want to give up the assurance and confidence I seem to possess.
Knowing it's not based in reality doesn't seem to make much difference.
Maybe in a few more years, but not yet. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/square.gif

 

[RickB]

BTW the drive to work this morning was much more pleasant. The engine warms up and stays right at about 175 - 180.
The defroster actually emits enough warm air to dry off the screen, and I'm definitely warmer.

I intended on just driving the BGT in the cold dark months and using the Midget in the spring & summer.
But its sure great having a running Midget for those times the other LBC is having troubles.

 

[sparkydave]

I've gotten in the habit of following the service manuals religiously, no matter how straightforward something seems. I've been known to get ahead of myself and reassemble something only to realize that something else should have been reassembled first.

I've also learned to expect unexpected things, such as stuck bolts, broken parts, and even replacement parts that turn out to be defective. When I changed the clutch in the Midget, the pressure plate turned out to be defective, but had to pull the engine twice to finally determine that the pressure plate wouldn't release no matter how many times I bled the clutch. Bought a replacement clutch kit, and it worked perfectly. I am glad a little voice told me to check the clutch operation BEFORE I put the radiator, carburetor, exhaust, and all that good stuff back together, that saved me a lot of aggravation even though I spent a couple of weeks scratching my head over that clutch.

 

[Ulf]

I know I have to redo, but still do it like it will be just fine first time around.

 

[RickB]

Please rate your level of expectation:

1 = Not surprised, actually expect to do the same job several times before you get it right - have extra supplies ready (extra parts and gaskets and fluids and nuts/bolts)

2 = Mildly surprised, thought you might just get lucky and get it right on the first try but prepared to do it again anyway (extra gaskets, fluids, nuts/bolts)

3 = A bit ticked off, this should have worked! (got the remainder of a tube of gasket maker & a little of the fluids that you didn't use the first time around, looking around on the floor for some extra nuts/bolts)

4 = Seriously surprised, how could this have happened? You followed directions, you did everything you could have done! (maybe squeeze a bit more out of that tube, fluids can wait until the parts store opens, scavenge some nuts / bolts from the "non-running" LBC for now)

5 = WTF happened here? This was suppsed to be an easy peasy fix! How could this have happened to me now, I really needed this thing to work!! Doesn't this car know who I am? I seriously can not believe this!!! (going to have to get supplies for a re-do tomorrow, (I wonder if Tony has a downpipe for a 70 BGT on his shelf?) I really hope I have some beers in the fridge!) /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wall.gif

I range from #3 - #5 depending on how badly I need it to work.

 

[jlaird]

lol #3 for me.

 

[Ulf]

Mostly #3 sometimes #5 (never #4, follow directions?) /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/angel.gif

 

[drooartz]

Generally a #2 here. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[emann]

Mostly #2 - I pretty much know that it never goes right the 1st time.

However, there are times when it's a #5 - simple job, should have been done in an hour. Takes days of re-doing and scratching of the head until you find the step you missed or the worst - a completely un-related breakage that makes you think you've done the job wrong, but you've been doing it right all along.

(Adjusting the carbs for days after you rebuilt them only to find that the issue is that the distributor has worked its way loose and the timing keeps changing - NOT the adjusting of the carbs)

 

[sqbsprite]

Most of the time my work on LBCs goes as expected. However, on the more modern cars, I get bitten sometimes. Last November I replaced the timing belt and water pump on my '99 Pathfinder. It's a DOHC V6. Not easy to get to since the radiator, belts, hose and the other items had to be removed.
The first time, after I got it together, it was lacking power and not running smooth. So I went into it again. The cams were very difficult to get aligned and stay that way. They seemed to be a little off, but not a whole tooth. They must have moved slightly even though I rotated the engine a few times and rechecked them. There was also a squeak that I traced to a bad idler pulley on the alternator that was not there before I replaced the belts.
The second time, being even more careful with the cams, resulted in the engine light coming on and the error code indicating the knock sensor. I decided either the knock sensor was bad or possibly I had fouled a plug from the previous problem. So I replaced the obvious plugs, wires, dist cap. They were the original with 125K on them so I did not mind the investment. No success- back in for the third time.

I found the cams off by about 1/2 tooth each. This time, being even more careful, I found that I had to pre-load the cams slightly toward one another so the they would stay correct. If it had not worked the third time I was going to give up and take it to a shop. But thankfully it worked. So now a year later it runs smooth and hopefully will not need this service again for another 100k.

I write all of this just to encourage you to stick to it and think your way through, even when you think you did everything right. If I had looked even closer I would have known that close was not close enough. on the cams. I was within the mechanical window, but the knock sensor showed the valve timing was not perfect. The shop wanted $750 and I did it for $250, but counting my time, I lost. I am not looking forward to the same service on my '04 Mini. But I'm to stubborn to take it to the shop. I love a challenge - when it's over.

 

[DrEntropy]

Last "commercial" job I did before shutting the doors was a 930 Turbo P*****e engine rebuild... *TWICE*.

...for a set of less-than properly treated piston rings. Couldn't figure why the thing smoked progressively worse over the 500 mile break-in. Only conclusion was the rings weren't bedding in. Second time was successful but much gnashing of teeth and frustration over suppliers of substandard parts. Any idea what a conversion set for a 930 costs? Nevermind the effort to dial all of the fiddly bits together properly.

GRRRR.....

's why I own British cars: simplicity incarnate.

 

[racingenglishcars]

I had exactly the same problem with rings on an older 280SE. Progressively worse smoking. But only a few days effort and new rings worked fine. I hate pulling engines on the 111 chassis.