Mechanical sympathy

[Maki]

Do you believe that some people have mechanical sympathy while others do not? I sometimes feel that if a certain person so much as looks at something, much less handles it, it will break down and fall into pieces that are hard to put together again. On the other hand there are people who can use mechanical equipment, cars and motorcycles forever and the thing just keeps humming along happily.

Is this something you have noticed or have any stories about? Do you know people who have endless breakdowns and mechanical problems and others who never seem to have any whatsoever? Is it because people have more or less "mechanical sympathy"?

[Blackshear]

Do you believe that some people have mechanical sympathy while others do not? I sometimes feel that if a certain person so much as looks at something, much less handles it, it will break down and fall into pieces that are hard to put together again. On the other hand there are people who can use mechanical equipment, cars and motorcycles forever and the thing just keeps humming along happily.

Is this something you have noticed or have any stories about? Do you know people who have endless breakdowns and mechanical problems and others who never seem to have any whatsoever? Is it because people have more or less "mechanical sympathy"?

My dad?
His 1800cc Subie wagon has done 120 thou since he bought it, for 700. Including two nonstop trips to nelson, and then back a year and a half later.
All he's replaced on it, is the oil, radiator fluid, cambelt and filters. All by himself, obviously.
It's half luck of the draw, half mechanical knowall, and half lovers touch.

Don't get me started on Cortinas.

But yes, I know of one guy who breaks damn near anything he touches. Owns the same bike as me, actually :pinch:

[Taz]

Yes some people have it and some don't. Some may be able to learn the art and some wont.

[cs363]

Do you believe that some people have mechanical sympathy while others do not?


Definitely, 100%! :)

I think most of us will have stories similar to Blackshears.
To some people machines like bikes and cars are almost like living beings,cared for, fettled and adored to varying extents - deoending on the level of devotion :)
For others they're just an appliance to get you from A to B, they care as much about them as you would about a washing machine or a fridge. I've never understood people like that.... :blink:

[Timber020]

Some guys are hard on gear, change gear a little fast and hard, rev a little to high, ride the clutch to much, etc. You get alot of guys who could fuck and anvil if unsupervised. Havent got an ear for when things arent working right or how to get the best out of a machine without hurting it.
Gear has to be treated calmly, consistantly and smoothly if its going to perform and last to its potential. To many machines are made semi idiot proof so the idiots get worse.
I get guys that get pissed off with the chainsaw they are using and start being rough with it. Fuck em, its a $2500 piece of gear which only runs as well as its used. I have a big old cross cut hand saw that I give to such guys to use for an hour or so. After that they appreciate the chainsaw ALOT more and tend to treat them with more calm and understanding. Those cross cuts werent called misery whips for nothing!

We live in a disposable society, we no longer care for what we have, we care about what we are going to get next.

[Blatman]

Interesting idea. A bit like gardeners and green thumbs? House plants take one look at me and die ;-) But I look after my engines so they're always good to me.

[Blatman]

Actually this was what 'Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' was about. Great book

[elevenhundred]

You get alot of guys who could fuck and anvil if unsupervised. Havent got an ear for when things arent working right or how to get the best out of a machine without hurting it.

Spot on mate.

When I was training up to be a mechanic there was a guy who was rough as guts with everything, he ended up with the nickname crowbar cos all his work looked like it was done with one.
I'll never forget the look on the face of the guy who had bought in his bike to have a tyre changed and crowbar decided to use the tyre changer without actually being shown how to use it, result.. rim gouged to shit

I have to admit he was a never ending source of amusement :)

[Renegade]

im one of those people that can have the touch one day and stuff it up the next, really anoying i mite add, so i give up.:(

[NiggleC]

theres a bloke who works in the same industrial area as me. has a retro looking Katana 400. his speciality is cold start to rev limiter in 50 meters (it makes a lot of noise but isn't going that fast). its only a matter of time before it grenades and if he sells it before that some poor sod will have happen to them. if you see one for sale in ChCh and the owner has an open face helmet and goggles its best avoided.

[YellowDog]

Well yes we do all have differing abilities however some do go out of their way to make you seem inadequate.

I like the TV add where the mechanic says that he had to take the oil sump out, diconnected the conrods, and then removed the piston to get to the spark plug than needed cleaning.

If you can talk up a trivial bit of maintenance, you can dine out on it for weeks.

[Katman]

My sense of mechanical sympathy always comes to the fore when watching bikes on the burn out pad at rallies.

[jrandom]

Actually this was what 'Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' was about.

No it wasn't.

[jim.cox]

Once worked with a bloke whose nickname was "TouchFuck"

And like all good nicknames it was well earned.

'cos thats what he did to machinery

[nudemetalz]

We live in a disposable society, we no longer care for what we have, we care about what we are going to get next.

Amen to that !!
Mind you, I race a Peoples Republic of Loncin bucket racer that was lovingly put together by bunch of 8 year olds in China.

Here in Wellington at the bike park, there's a young guy who starts his CBR125 cold with a huge fistfull of revs. Makes me wince everytime I hear it :eek:

[slofox]

Yep. Had a mate who was as mechanically inclined as a fish. Everything he touched was fucked as well...

eg 1. He hired a tractor to slash some Manchurian Rice Grass on his property. It ran low on gas. He refilled it. With petrol. It was a diesel tractor...

eg 2. In process of above slashing he drove over a raceway. Without lifting the rotary slasher. Busted all the blades of said slasher...after that the firm refused to hire out tractors any more. To ANYone...

eg 3. Went to help him paint a room one night. He thinned the water based paint...with turps. Then wanted to swing it round and round his head to "use centrifugal force to separate the layers". I talked him into just buying some more paint. No real need to demolish the house...

eg 4. He was looking at buying a Rover V8...brought it round to my place for a looksee. Proceeded to rev it to redline (sustained) while he "looked for exhaust smoke". I had my fingers in my ears...suggested that such practice was not a good idea on an unloaded engine of V8 structure...

I could go on. But you get the idea. Don't ask about the Hobiecat...and NEVER LET HIM RIDE YOUR BIKE!!!!

[xwhatsit]

Don't ask about the Hobiecat
I wanna know about the Hobiecat :yes:

[cs363]

I wanna know about the Hobiecat :yes:


mmm yes, me too!! :laugh: :corn:

[Bonez]

Get over it. After all at the end of the day its only just metal and plastic.

[cs363]

^^^^ Eeww...I think he's one of them!!! :laugh:


(a non mechanical sympathist I mean, before anyone gets the wrong idea!!) :)

[Pussy]

I once knew an aircraft engineer whose nickname was "Passion Fingers"

Everything he touched he fucked too

[cs363]

I once knew an aircraft engineer whose nickname was "Passion Fingers"

Everything he touched he fucked too


Obviously he spared your bird from his attentions!?

[zzzbang]

Hmmm... theres this guy in South Africa that went on a trip with us. Hes quite a special guy, hes got a big beard that pokes from under his helmet and he stutters. Also, whenever he gets on a bike you can be sure that bike is fucked, the thing doesnt have a chance.

On this trip he broke his bike on the first day (Yammy WR450 - quite hard to break even if you try), he lent another guys bike and promptly broke that aswell. Funnily enough someone else lent him their bike after that.. :bye: .. Well who didnt see that coming.

[Bonez]

^^^^ Eeww...I think he's one of them!!! :laugh:


(a non mechanical sympathist I mean, before anyone gets the wrong idea!!) :)I've got three bikes with over 100,000kms up:zzzz: A fourth well on its way.:beer:

Know me before you judge me.

[cs363]

I've got three bikes with over 100,000kms up:zzzz: A fourth well on its way.:beer:


Don't get ya knickers in a knot, I was taking the piss! Now, talking of which....back to the :beer: :)

[Bonez]

Don't get ya knickers in a knot, I was taking the piss! Now, talking of which....back to the :beer: :)Pissed myself laughing. Yip the beers good.

[pritch]

Actually this was what 'Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' was about. Great book

I'm sort with J Random on this. But if asked what it really was about I'd probably cheat and read the blurb before I answered.

We have a small fleet of vehicles at work and it pisses me off to see anyone treating them rough. I do try to treat mechanical things in a sympathetic manner but don't always succeed as well as I'd like.

[Pussy]

Obviously he spared your bird from his attentions!?

Thankfully... yes!

He should have worn a blue and white striped apron.....

[cs363]

Yip the beers good.


Ah....one of lifes constants and something that we can all (well nearly all) agree on!
:drinkup:

[cs363]

Thankfully... yes!

He should have worn a blue and white striped apron.....

There's plenty of candidates for those aprons around! :laugh:
You must be just about due for a smoko visit again?

[Bonez]

Ah....one of lifes constants and something that we can all (well nearly all) agree on!
:drinkup:"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -- Benjamin Franklin

[Ixion]

A fourth well on its way.:beer:


You're pregnant again ?

[jtzzr]

QUOTE=Ixion;1984002]You're pregnant again ?[/QUOTE]

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Pussy]

You must be just about due for a smoko visit again?

Good thinking, 99!

You have far better coffee than your life member of the labour party mate, too!

[Bonez]

You're pregnant again ?Watch this space. Expecting very soon.

[reofix]

savvy earth moving and trucking firms are moving to women operators... they cooperate with the gear instead of trying to wring its fuckin neck allday !!!

[cs363]

savvy earth moving and trucking firms are moving to women operators... they cooperate with the gear instead of trying to wring its fuckin neck allday !!!



If only they treated husbands/boyfriends like that..... :whistle: :chase: :dodge:

[reofix]

true ....too true

[roadracingoldfart]

If only they treated husbands/boyfriends like that..... :whistle: :chase: :dodge:



Hahahaha like thats going to happen ..... silly boy , grow up will ya :oi-grr::whistle:

[cs363]

Hahahaha like thats going to happen ..... silly boy , grow up will ya :oi-grr::whistle:


Just a bit of wistful, wishful thinking.... :bleh: :)

[roadracingoldfart]

Just a bit of wistful, wishful thinking.... :bleh: :)

And thats exactly how we all get into trouble , well that and the old small feet and the bench top jokes , (bad idea that one )

[cs363]

And thats exactly how we all get into trouble , well that and the old small feet and the bench top jokes , (bad idea that one )


I think we're just scraping the tip of the iceberg....

Best we stop now, look what happened to the Titanic! :laugh:

[roadracingoldfart]

I think we're just scraping the tip of the iceberg....

Best we stop now, look what happened to the Titanic! :laugh:


Bahhhh typical , bring up a chick flick theme why dont ya . Im going now.

[cs363]

Bahhhh typical , bring up a chick flick theme why dont ya . Im going now.


OK, just to make you feel better - *Newsflash* This just in: http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/5393918/nz-womens-breasts-getting-bigger/


:Oops::Offtopic:

[MarkH]

Thankfully... yes!

He should have worn a blue and white striped apron.....

How would that help? I think it is a straitjacket that you may be thinking of!

[breakaway]

OK, just to make you feel better - *Newsflash* This just in: http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/5393918/nz-womens-breasts-getting-bigger/


:Oops::Offtopic:

So? That could just mean there's more fatties around now.

[Ixion]

Quote:
<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset ;"> Originally Posted by Pussy http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1983960#post1983960)
Thankfully... yes!

He should have worn a blue and white striped apron.....
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
How would that help? I think it is a straitjacket that you may be thinking of!
<!-- / message --><!-- controls -->

Sigh. It's wasted on youff. Butchers traditionally wear a blue and white striped apron. Like fishmongers wear a straw hat. The reference is obvious.

[MarkH]

Sigh. It's wasted on youff. Butchers traditionally wear a blue and white striped apron. Like fishmongers wear a straw hat. The reference is obvious.

But it still doesn't help the poor machines - if a person fucks everything they touch then a straitjacket should make it harder to touch stuff! I have come across a few people that should be in a straitjacket for the good of them and especially everything and everyone around them.

[slofox]

I wanna know about the Hobiecat :yes:

Right. The hobiecat. Serious catamaran sailboat - for the "enthusiast"...preferably one who knows what it is all about. Needless to say, this counted our boy out but he still went ahead and got one. Just gotta have "the best" you know....sod the knowledge - who needs it?

Probably the most serious incident happened when I was mercifully absent. He took himself and a couple of mates out on the boat into the Kaipara Harbour - Northern Wairoa branch, out from Kelly's Bay. Howling gale, sea rough as hell and the tide about to run out. Good idea to sail? errr...no. Not really. But out they went anyway. Had a couple of high speed runs but eventually capsized it and because it had not been rigged just so (they are temperamental bastards, Hobies) he managed to bend one of the main cross bars...thereby rendering the boat unsailable due to rig falling down... They had a hell of a job righting it too since he did not know how to rig the righting ropes either...they go outside the hull, not inside...so we have three dudes sitting on a disabled cat, drifting very rapidly out to the Kaipara Heads...not a good place to be at any time let alone in a gale. However, rescue was forthcoming that day and they got towed to shore by someone who did know what they were doing...

Then there was the incident with the trailer. This time I was part of the drama. We were heading up to the Kai Iwi lakes to sail (bit safer than the Kaipara...). He and his Mrs were ahead of me and mine...we came around the corner to find him stopped on the side of the road about half way up to the lakes. Pulled up behind. The boat trailer had a flattie. MechAce of course had not recognised the symptoms of a flat tyre and had driven merrily onwards...until the flat tyre ignited and started to throw bits of burning rubber into the oncoming traffic...eventually the realisation dawned that all was not well ("WTF are all those people honking and waving for???") and forward progress was halted temporarily. The tyre by now was a mass of molten flaming rubber which through some miracle did not ignite the whole boat (plastic y'know). I think most of it had been flung onto oncoming cars by then...by the time I got there the fire was no more but the trailer was stopped dead. No spare tyre was around of course waddya expect? So the girls went on ahead in our car whilst himself and I tried to salvage the sailing day. Removed the wheel, left the trailer where it was, returned to town and hunted up someone to fix the tyre - amazingly enough we did get it fixed...and eventually got up to the lakes just about in time to come home again....

Then there was the regatta on the river...just he and I this time. Annual regatta on the Northern Wairoa river at Dargaville. We had plans to join in on the cat. The day dawned rough as hell and I was sure he would cancel. Really? hahaha, stupid man of COURSE we won't cancel. Rougher the weather the better the fun!!! So against my better judgement we went out. Actually not so bad once you were soaked through and the cold had numbed all your nerve endings. The gale blowing down the river was fun to cut across, although the reach was pretty short 'cause after all this is a river and not that wide just there...we had trouble going about once we hit the lee of the bank with its ten foot high Manchurian Rice Grass...the wind flared over the top and would get behind you, making navigation near impossible. So Wonder Boy decided we should jibe instead of going about...well that worked - if you held on tight. Until he jibed early once and as the boom cracked across and the wind came in full blast behind, the lee hull dug its shoulder into the waves and we carted over - with me being flung clear through the air for about twenty feet before I hit the water..ahhhahaha what a jolly joke...and of course, because we were close to the bank the mast dug into the mud on the bottom and we couldn't right the boat, despite by this time having figured out the rig of the righting lines. Eventually the tide turned and the boat drifting backwards pulled the mast out of the mud and we got her upright again. By this time I was nearly dead from cold so we decided to quit and we headed to shore. The tide was running out and the wind was running in so the waves were four foot high and just standing - equal velocity in each direction...weird water! And of course when we docked there was a dude there with his power boat and good old matey boy managed to ram his plywood boat with the hull of the Hobie...Mr Powerboat was not pleased and there was nearly a standup fight...but a little subtle diplomacy on my part managed to soothe ruffled feathers without bloodshed.

Like I said, Don't lend this man your bike!

[MarkH]

We had plans to join in on the cat.

You agreed to sail with him? I would have been busy that day!

[slofox]

You agreed to sail with him? I would have been busy that day!

Oh well, I was quite into sailing about then...

[peasea]

Do you believe that some people have mechanical sympathy while others do not? I sometimes feel that if a certain person so much as looks at something, much less handles it, it will break down and fall into pieces that are hard to put together again. On the other hand there are people who can use mechanical equipment, cars and motorcycles forever and the thing just keeps humming along happily.

Is this something you have noticed or have any stories about? Do you know people who have endless breakdowns and mechanical problems and others who never seem to have any whatsoever? Is it because people have more or less "mechanical sympathy"?


I used to find this in the motor trade all the time. Some people should never touch things mechanical and they should take the bus everywhere. People with some mechanical dexterity (or even 'feel') seem to get better life out of their machine. They understand that engines should be warm before thrashing them, they need oil changes and occasional titivation, they understand that riding the brakes/clutch will destroy the pads and linings. Trying to explain this to the mechanically challenged is a mission and a test of one's patience.

Some will never get it, in fact many won't, and that's why they make cars and bikes bristling with idiot-proofing technology. ABS, directional stability, traction control et al.

Mind you; who'd want to go back to distributor points, drum brakes and cross ply tyres?

[slofox]

who'd want to go back to distributor points,

Ahhhh...distributor points....Ever own a Datsun 180B..?

[Ixion]

...

Mind you; who'd want to go back to distributor points, drum brakes and cross ply tyres?


Works for me.

[peasea]

Ahhhh...distributor points....Ever own a Datsun 180B..?


Nup. Tuned plenty though, sss and so on. Owned so many cars with points and tuned so many Meriden twins I'm seriously over points.

[pritch]

Like I said, Don't lend this man your bike!

Bugga! Gotta spread the rep.

I might've met his dad.

He joined us at the factory where I worked, he had a sort of puzzled expression but that might have been because he was peering out of the thickest pair of lenses I've ever seen.

He was to be a sort of odd job man, One of his jobs was to load all the factory rubbish drums onto a trailer and take them round to the fire pit. (This was pre Clean Air Act of course...)

Unfortunately our hero backed the tractor too close to the pit and the trailer slowly but inexorably rolled down into the fire. Excitement all round for a while but they got the trailer out - only slightly charred.

The boss gave him a fairly rigorous debrief, so that he should have been in no doubt as to how to safely perform this task in future.

Couple of days later a full encore. Sadly we had to let him go.

Just a few weeks later while driving his car he did a surprise U turn and T boned a 1%er out enjoying a ride on his Harley. The biker was pretty upset but he wasn't in a position to do much about it, he had a compound fracture of one leg .

A short while later our hero found a new position in forestry. The new boss asked him if he knew how to start a chainsaw. Of course he did. So he bends over and successfully starts the machine.

"Cut that branch over there", says the instructor.

"Where?" says our man. Staightening up as he turns and in so doing running the chainsaw up the inside leg of his new boss. Sadly they had to let him go.

I don't know where he is now, but if I see him coming I'm going to make a run for it.

[MarkH]

I might've met his dad.

I don't know where he is now, but if I see him coming I'm going to make a run for it.

LOL - great story. :rofl: