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

[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....

[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