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Post by katt on Sept 8, 2018 8:03:45 GMT -5
Dunno how to say it short
I am hobby mechanic, that can fix anything i want (if i have proper tools) even if i see mechanism for first time i understand how it works. I don't work as mechanic, i do it all only for myself as a hobby or was a hobby...
Had little money then i decided just buy cheapest derivable car then fix it and done this for past 10 years, i don't even enjoy process so much anymore just conditioned myself to be cheap and do everything myself like some addictive thought pattern that i cannot break out of.
Now i see this could be a reason i never had any money to begin with, i am not into material stuff (care less what i drive, where i live, what clothes i wear, what phone i have) its just Los Angeles is expensive city and i barely make enough to survive.
All my time is spent fixing my cheap junk car (no amount of parts or work raise its market value anyway), and since they are old they always break and need service.
Could simply have an office job (i am good computer programmer) and pay off new / lease car and do something more fun with my free time. Another problem grease and chemicals used to for cars probably not good for my health. I cannot imagine being detoxing when i get all toxins back trough my skin.
Said to myself i will stop this and try other way around, sold my old car and set goal to change my work never tough old car again.
Needed a scooter for a temp delivery job, little money again and lots of tools so i did what i used to bough old scooter that runs thought its like a bicycle easy and quick, but essentially i am doing all same dirty jobs and it take just as much time as servicing old car this was since around January 2018. |
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Post by tortoise2 on Sept 8, 2018 9:34:24 GMT -5
Somewhat difficult to determine the point of this dysfunctional chronicle!
One caveat is to ONLY work on vehicles that you own! Anticipate that the owners of other vehicles MAY consider every deficiency that occurs to be YOUR liability . . because "IT DIDN'T DO THAT BEFORE YOU TOUCHED IT".
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Post by katt on Sept 8, 2018 12:14:30 GMT -5
Point is how do i stop fixing junk and do something else in life.
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Post by 90GTVert on Sept 8, 2018 16:33:39 GMT -5
Sounds like the answer for you may be to move up a tier in your transportation. Instead of the cheapest thing that you can find, get something a step up. Often the cheap and beat scoots are more expensive, by the time you fix them repeatedly. See if you can catch a deal on a Yamaha, Honda, Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia... from a good home. If you can save up a little cash and watch classifieds regularly, something will come along. A stock top tier scoot often goes a lot of miles with just routine maintenance. Start modding any scooter very much and you are kinda asking for trouble so you have to be aware of what you're getting into if you go that route.
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Post by 190mech on Sept 8, 2018 18:09:35 GMT -5
I'm a hardcore "habitual mechanic",,and agree with Brent,get a nicer ride AND keep a project around so your hands and mind can stay busy..What would I do if there were no projects?Go absolutely nuts!!!!Remember life aint worth livin' without a project...  |
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Post by gsx600racer on Sept 8, 2018 21:52:28 GMT -5
If LA is bleeding you dry financially, Id consider moving where its more financially/economically viable to live.
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Post by katt on Sept 8, 2018 23:04:25 GMT -5
Sounds like the answer for you may be to move up a tier in your transportation. Instead of the cheapest thing that you can find, get something a step up. Often the cheap and beat scoots are more expensive, by the time you fix them repeatedly. See if you can catch a deal on a Yamaha, Honda, Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia... from a good home. If you can save up a little cash and watch classifieds regularly, something will come along. A stock top tier scoot often goes a lot of miles with just routine maintenance. Start modding any scooter very much and you are kinda asking for trouble so you have to be aware of what you're getting into if you go that route. I am thinking any new Chinese motorcycle is fine, problem i will always try to upgrade it or do brakes, oil change or regular inspection etc and it all will come back. Like if you hooked on drug you get a small dose and you will want more. Maybe its best if i stop doing any mechanical and don't by any cars or scooters just bus or uber ride around so i get used to not do any work and focus on other types of work and hobby.
Fixing things is like an addiction, i spend more time fixing that riding, not because i need to i just want perfection. Another problem i try to save money like repair old clutch or variator when i could just buy a complete new part for $20-40 just swap it in minutes and forget about it for years, instead i try to fix old one to learn how it works and have to sand it grind it oil it and all this takes hours and very dirty job (i have no garage so i do it all in the kitchen). I'm a hardcore "habitual mechanic",,and agree with Brent,get a nicer ride AND keep a project around so your hands and mind can stay busy..What would I do if there were no projects?Go absolutely nuts!!!!Remember life aint worth livin' without a project... I picked up Fishing this summer IMHO rather be fishing or hiking that than being covered with dirt under scooter. If LA is bleeding you dry financially, Id consider moving where its more financially/economically viable to live. That crossed my mind, my rent $1200/mo for 1 bedroom apt., but there's plenty of work in LA, if i go to places where i get 1BR apt for $300-400, type of work i am doing (food delivery and computer programming) might be in very little demand and i might really need to start working as mechanic for living or some hard physical labor and i am trying to avoid that. |
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chino
Scoot Enthusiast
What status?
Posts: 164
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Post by chino on Sept 9, 2018 4:44:14 GMT -5
Well I did have a bit to say about your dilemma,but others have already said it! So,good luck with that😀
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Post by katt on Sept 9, 2018 5:26:48 GMT -5
If you look at it from my perspective choice will not seem so easy.
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Post by 90GTVert on Sept 9, 2018 6:49:32 GMT -5
Well it sounds like the next time you have an urge to work on something that isn't necessary, you should grab your gear and go fishing instead.
A lot of the reason that I got into scooters so much was learning about them and general mechanical knowledge. I've owned cars that I sunk every penny into as well. I get it. Sometimes you just have to be smart/determined enough to do what's actually best for you and the machine.
If you like to know how things work and don't like getting dirty and greasy, think about taking up reading and watching tech videos or science content. I know it's different doing things hands on. I'm one of those people that doesn't really learn anything unless I do it. It's still interesting though. Reading books about engines or whatever will tell most of us things that we'd never figure out on our own.
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Post by scooterpimp on Sept 9, 2018 18:31:18 GMT -5
Dont become a mechanic i you dont like physical labor..Because such a thing doesnt exist..been wrenching for a living for 33 years now.. its back breaing , frustrating , our vehicles are junkers & our nails rarely are clean....wish i could do something different for aliving , but this is what i am & this is what i do!!!
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Post by katt on Sept 11, 2018 8:02:02 GMT -5
Dont become a mechanic i you dont like physical labor..Because such a thing doesnt exist..been wrenching for a living for 33 years now.. its back breaing , frustrating , our vehicles are junkers & our nails rarely are clean....wish i could do something different for aliving , but this is what i am & this is what i do!!! Been wrenching for 10+ years now, and must say its addictive. My neighbors look at me like "this guy fixing his scooter all day for 5 days a week",
I do get a point sometimes i choose to rebuild clutch and spend days rebuilding several times when i could simply swap it for new in under an hour.
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Post by milly on Sept 15, 2018 15:42:14 GMT -5
Yep addiction it can be. I stopped being a spanner monkey on cars and trucks about 8 yrs ago when it started doing my body in and only service mine now if ramps free over the garage across the road or real easy job, any doubts and the mechanic does it. Move the clock forwards and I had 6 scoots plus motorbike. If you catch some of my old posts you will see I have been trying to slim down which works and then I get to one and start upgrading that bugger! Well today I got another motorbike which is going to be a shed to work on loosely put together by last owner as in bits when he got it cut wiring loom, not looked at much else for 75$. Now if the addictive proccess is still alive in me I shall be out there in all weathers. But if I am getting better I shall make a list of wrongs on it and wait till next summer before touching it. We'll see  . It is very wearing and time consuming now I am older and my girls will start giving me grief once they knows dad bought another bike again.  |
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Post by katt on Sept 16, 2018 7:48:29 GMT -5
Yep addiction it can be. I stopped being a spanner monkey on cars and trucks about 8 yrs ago when it started doing my body in and only service mine now if ramps free over the garage across the road or real easy job, any doubts and the mechanic does it. Move the clock forwards and if 6 scoots plus motorbike. If you catch some of my old posts you will see I have been trying to slim down which works and then I get to one and start upgrading that bugger! Well today I got another motorbike which is going to be a shed to work on loosely put together by last owner as in bits when he got it cut wiring loom, not looked at much else for 75$. Now if the addictive proccess is still alive in me I shall be out there in all weathers. But if I am getting better I shall make a list of wrongs on it and wait till next summer before touching it. We'll see . It is very wearing and time consuming now I am older and my girls will start giving me grief once they knows dad bought another bike again. At least with motorcycle it pays off at the end, with 49cc is that even at 82cc it does not have power i need.
I'd go path of fixing a classic bike like 70-80s Honda if only they had parts available, had old 1978 Garelli project and needed to order parts from junk yard in Italy over some online forum to get it going, this is why i stay away from really old ones. At least for Chinese scooters parts are cheap and rapidly available.
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Post by milly on Sept 16, 2018 11:30:25 GMT -5
Saved katt matey did not want to let it go when I arrived with trailer. No suffering for me over winter on cold wet days. He even offered me his Suzuki scooter cheap but I managed to say no. I am getting better |
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. It is very wearing and time consuming now I am older and my girls will start giving me grief once they knows dad bought another bike again.