Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
Don't be too hard on your Son. Good 50 year old mechanics with business minds aren't turning wrenches anymore. They own their own shops are making 6 figure incomes the first digit isn't a 1. Tom www.kegkits.com Original Message From: Rick Knoble [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 09/15/07 03:30 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I think that there is hope - todays kids seem drawn to cars the way many of us were in the 50s and 60s. They do much of their own work and understand how their cars work. Although it seems a lot of kids are unwilling to choose this line of work. A local community college president related this story - a local Ford dealer told the Pres he would hire any students graduating from the CCs auto technology program at a starting salary of $50K /yr. This was 5 years ago so I suspect it has gone up. Sadly there were few takers. Oh well, life goes on -- My 14 y/o son wants to go into a mechanical or electrical trade when he graduates high school. I have no problem with that, however I have explained to him that when he gets to be 50 plus years old, he may not like turning wrenches 40 hours a week any more. I am twisting his arm to go to college first. He is very intelligent and will do well whatever profession he chooses. He traded a bicycle for a non-running 5hp Honda engine. He was thrilled to have it running within an hour of getting it home. Instead of him taking stuff apart and ME putting it back together correctly, he is getting better about completing tasks like this with little input from me. Rick Knoble '85 300 CD '87 190 DT ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
One of the best days I ever had in college was when I marched into the registrar's office and explained that I wouldn't be taking English 1. They seemed surprised everybody takes English 1. Does everybody get a perfect score on the Test of Standard Written English? No? Gee maybe those other people should take English 1. Perfect score on the TSWE, of course now that and $1.50 will get me a cup of coffee. -Curt Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:58:12 -0400 From: LarryT [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; reply-type=original you wrote about med and law schools :don't believe, however, that they will accept un-educated pupils. Quite probably because they don't need to. I've heard a very high % of new students entering college must take remedial classes in English and math to do the most basic of things before moving to college level classes. Seems like the % was between 50% and 80% -- can;t recall. This after many colleges have reduced their standards for various reasons over the years. The govt doesn't have a good record for many of the things they do - govt run education is another of the things they do poorly, IMO. Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs - Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
Hi Rick, Sounds like your son is level headed. Perhaps you can talk him into a ME and work as a mechanic while going to college - summers and stuff - which will either show him either it's not what he hoped it would be or that he can do it even better if it's combined with a ME degree - with many more doors open to him. He could go into motorsports, new car engineering, or all kinds of stuff. Not that being a mechanic is bad, but there's being a mechanic with no backup and then there things like a management position with real world experience - which can be satisfying - Good luck - Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs . - Original Message - From: Rick Knoble [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 4:08 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics I think that there is hope - todays kids seem drawn to cars the way many of us were in the 50s and 60s. They do much of their own work and understand how their cars work. Although it seems a lot of kids are unwilling to choose this line of work. A local community college president related this story - a local Ford dealer told the Pres he would hire any students graduating from the CCs auto technology program at a starting salary of $50K /yr. This was 5 years ago so I suspect it has gone up. Sadly there were few takers. Oh well, life goes on -- My 14 y/o son wants to go into a mechanical or electrical trade when he graduates high school. I have no problem with that, however I have explained to him that when he gets to be 50 plus years old, he may not like turning wrenches 40 hours a week any more. I am twisting his arm to go to college first. He is very intelligent and will do well whatever profession he chooses. He traded a bicycle for a non-running 5hp Honda engine. He was thrilled to have it running within an hour of getting it home. Instead of him taking stuff apart and ME putting it back together correctly, he is getting better about completing tasks like this with little input from me. Rick Knoble '85 300 CD '87 190 DT ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.487 / Virus Database: 269.13.19/1008 - Release Date: 9/14/2007 8:59 AM ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
you wrote about med and law schools :don't believe, however, that they will accept un-educated pupils. Quite probably because they don't need to. I've heard a very high % of new students entering college must take remedial classes in English and math to do the most basic of things before moving to college level classes. Seems like the % was between 50% and 80% -- can;t recall. This after many colleges have reduced their standards for various reasons over the years. The govt doesn't have a good record for many of the things they do - govt run education is another of the things they do poorly, IMO. Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs . - Original Message - From: Jim Cathey [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 5:25 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics If I had it all to do over again I'd ABSOLUTELY go to tradeschool. The problem with college is you didn't learn to actually DO anything. Exactly. College is supposed to provide you with an education, training is supposed to show you how to DO things. Different purposes. The education, anyway, was supposed to teach you how to think and how to learn, and to provide an information basis for your thinker to chew on. Medical and law schools, for example, are trade (training) schools. I don't believe, however, that they will accept un-educated pupils. Quite probably because they don't need to. You need to get the right kind of schooling for what you will be doing with your life. If you don't you are wasting time and money. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.487 / Virus Database: 269.13.19/1008 - Release Date: 9/14/2007 8:59 AM ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
Not in the state schools down here - they don't stand a chance of being accepted. Where you see the serious remedial stuff is at the community college level, mainly because in Florida, if you graduate from a community college with a 3.0 or better, four year state schools have to accept you. Our state schools are cheap as wine - my current undergraduate semester fees are around $1200 for a full load of 11 hours. Add to that $300 for books (I don't have any classroom classes this semester as I am interning) and you can go to school as a commuter student for about $1500 a semester. What a deal. We also have something called Bright Futures scholarships that allow resident high school students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or better to get a free ride to any state school. You have to pay for a portion of your books and all of your housing if you live on campus, but other than that it's a freebie. We told the youngest that if he got a Bright Futures scholarship we would buy him a car for college. A heck of a deal for us! Dan --- LarryT [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: you wrote about med and law schools :don't believe, however, that they will accept un-educated pupils. Quite probably because they don't need to. I've heard a very high % of new students entering college must take remedial classes in English and math to do the most basic of things before moving to college level classes. Seems like the % was between 50% and 80% -- can;t recall. This after many colleges have reduced their standards for various reasons over the years. The govt doesn't have a good record for many of the things they do - govt run education is another of the things they do poorly, IMO. Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7 ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
That's one that you can't lay on the government -- the best school in the country won't make a bit of difference if the students don't want to learn, and if their environment (family, peer group, neighborhood) doesn't value education, it's not likely that the kid will learn anything anywhere. My four kids went to one of the worst grade schools in town, a notoriously poor middle school, and a decent high school. Two went to Yale, one to NYU, and one to OU (school of engineering) on scholarships. Education is highly valued in our family, and they hung with kids of like minds. Bottom line - a good student will not be held back by a poor school, and a unmotivated student won't gain anything from the best school. The govt doesn't have a good record for many of the things they do - govt run education is another of the things they do poorly, IMO. Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) -- OK Don, KD5NRO Norman, OK There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics. -Benjamin Disraeli '90 300D, '87 300SDL, '81 240D, '78 450SLC, '97 Ply Grand Voyager ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
OMG! And I thought I was the only one who knew! Once I had a worn out timing set on a 302 Ford engine replaced at the local Ford dealer's shop. Chain had climbed the sprocket. $$$ Not many miles later, I pulled the oil drinking engine for rebuild. 302 Ford timing sprockets slip on the crank and cam with chain on both sprockets when slipped on. Kind of a Chinese puzzle. This one had been hammered on the cam, and some of the nylon teeth on the cam sprocket were cracked, and others were broken off. It had worked fine with teeth broken off. I took the set back to the dealer with my invoice for parts and labor, and I got a new timing set free. One reason to do one's own work is to avoid crap like that. I am fortunate to have an independent foreign car mechanic who I do not believe would ever do CLT. The bad news is that some of his (semi transient) help will do CLT and worse. That is another story for another time, titled The great water pump change fiasco. Soon to be in paperback in stores near you. [Original Message] From: Tom Hargrave [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Date: 9/15/2007 10:46:53 AM Subject: RE: [MBZ] Transmission toasted There are still lot of jackleg mechanics who often do bad work. Thanks, Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com 256-656-1924 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robert Bigham Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 10:07 AM To: mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:13:21 -0400 Peter T. Arnold [EMAIL PROTECTED]wrote Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted I love the term Factory Rebuilt. In East Hartford, CT there was a dealer who rebuilt flathead fords in the 50's. They were advertised, stamped and invoiced as Factory Rebuilt. Because Ford wanted the royalty! _ Ford has offered rebuilt major assemblies since at least Model A days. For a long time, Ford did something like franchise the rebuilding of, particularly, flathead engines. They required certain standards in the work. The rebuillt engines had a sticker saying Authorized Ford Rebuilt or Ford Authorized Rebuilt, one of those, on the heads. There was no representation the rebuilt engines were sent back to Dearborn or wherever. They were rebuilt in a shop, just as they are rebuilt now. What Ford was offering was a set of standards and predictable quality of the finished engine. I hate to have to tell you, but there used to be a lot of jackleg mechanics who often did bad work. The Authorized Ford Rebuilt program offered a way to avoid that. Many Ford engines now are good for one rebuild - if the time arrives for a second rebuild, the castings may be too thin for resizing a second time. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:01:55 -0500 Robert Bigham [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The bad news is that some of his (semi transient) help will do CLT and worse. That is another story for another time, titled The great water pump change fiasco. Soon to be in paperback in stores near you. CLT? Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
CLT = crap like that. Sorry. I thought the preceding paragraph where I spelled it out would make the meaning of CLT clear. [Original Message] From: Craig McCluskey [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Date: 9/15/2007 11:35:35 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics On Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:01:55 -0500 Robert Bigham [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The bad news is that some of his (semi transient) help will do CLT and worse. That is another story for another time, titled The great water pump change fiasco. Soon to be in paperback in stores near you. CLT? Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
you wrote that : his (semi transient) help will do CLT and worse. That is another story Unfortunately, this is widespread IMHO. The only reason they get away with it and stay in business is the public's lack of knowledge of mechanical things. They are uninformed enough to believe the following one or more excuses: + they all do that + must be chinese parts + can't get good help these days + things aren't made to last like they used to + I've never seen or heard or that before + it's gotta be that synthetic/dino crap you;re using + you;re not using this $40 additive we sell are you? + it's the way you are driving it +you're not bringing it in to us often enough and on and on. I have long ago decided to do all the work I possibly can. Luckily I was trained as a mechanic back in the late 60s which allows me to do everything from engine and transmission rebuilds to brake work. There's somethings I refuse to do - exhaust work is a PITA so I pay someone which is also true for much of the work that needs to be done while laying on my back in the garage. Plus, I;m getting older so more and more will probably be done by others. But I;ll resist as much as possible. The biggest problem I have with others working on my car is them not doing things that obviously need done while they;re in there. If I'm working on something and see missing pr loose fasteners, I fix them. If a mechanic sees missing stuff I wish they;d tell me and I;d probably tell them to fix it. If it were me, I'd always fix things needing it. My second biggest complaint is them doing things that don't need to be done but they keep defending what they did as necessary to an absurd extent. I think that there is hope - todays kids seem drawn to cars the way many of us were in the 50s and 60s. They do much of their own work and understand how their cars work. Although it seems a lot of kids are unwilling to choose this line of work. A local community college president related this story - a local Ford dealer told the Pres he would hire any students graduating from the CCs auto technology program at a starting salary of $50K /yr. This was 5 years ago so I suspect it has gone up. Sadly there were few takers. Oh well, life goes on -- Sadly, Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs . - Original Message - From: Robert Bigham [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Tom Hargrave [EMAIL PROTECTED]; mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 12:01 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics OMG! And I thought I was the only one who knew! Once I had a worn out timing set on a 302 Ford engine replaced at the local Ford dealer's shop. Chain had climbed the sprocket. $$$ Not many miles later, I pulled the oil drinking engine for rebuild. 302 Ford timing sprockets slip on the crank and cam with chain on both sprockets when slipped on. Kind of a Chinese puzzle. This one had been hammered on the cam, and some of the nylon teeth on the cam sprocket were cracked, and others were broken off. It had worked fine with teeth broken off. I took the set back to the dealer with my invoice for parts and labor, and I got a new timing set free. One reason to do one's own work is to avoid crap like that. I am fortunate to have an independent foreign car mechanic who I do not believe would ever do CLT. The bad news is that some of his (semi transient) help will do CLT and worse. That is another story for another time, titled The great water pump change fiasco. Soon to be in paperback in stores near you. [Original Message] From: Tom Hargrave [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Date: 9/15/2007 10:46:53 AM Subject: RE: [MBZ] Transmission toasted There are still lot of jackleg mechanics who often do bad work. Thanks, Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com 256-656-1924 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robert Bigham Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2007 10:07 AM To: mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:13:21 -0400 Peter T. Arnold [EMAIL PROTECTED]wrote Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted I love the term Factory Rebuilt. In East Hartford, CT there was a dealer who rebuilt flathead fords in the 50's. They were advertised, stamped and invoiced as Factory Rebuilt. Because Ford wanted the royalty! _ Ford has offered rebuilt major assemblies since at least Model A days. For a long time, Ford did something like franchise the rebuilding of, particularly, flathead engines. They required certain standards in the work. The rebuillt engines had a sticker saying Authorized Ford Rebuilt
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
I think that there is hope - todays kids seem drawn to cars the way many of us were in the 50s and 60s. They do much of their own work and understand how their cars work. Although it seems a lot of kids are unwilling to choose this line of work. A local community college president related this story - a local Ford dealer told the Pres he would hire any students graduating from the CCs auto technology program at a starting salary of $50K /yr. This was 5 years ago so I suspect it has gone up. Sadly there were few takers. Oh well, life goes on -- My 14 y/o son wants to go into a mechanical or electrical trade when he graduates high school. I have no problem with that, however I have explained to him that when he gets to be 50 plus years old, he may not like turning wrenches 40 hours a week any more. I am twisting his arm to go to college first. He is very intelligent and will do well whatever profession he chooses. He traded a bicycle for a non-running 5hp Honda engine. He was thrilled to have it running within an hour of getting it home. Instead of him taking stuff apart and ME putting it back together correctly, he is getting better about completing tasks like this with little input from me. Rick Knoble '85 300 CD '87 190 DT ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
Rick, I wanted to go into auto repair when I got out of highschool. My dad talked me into working for a season and then I talked myself into college. If I had it all to do over again I'd ABSOLUTELY go to tradeschool. No question. If I had my choice I think I'd be an electrician but I'd like to have a sememster to try all the different trades and see which fit me best. The problem with college is you come out and didn't learn to actually DO anything. Lotsa theory, so you've got all the ideas but to but the rubber to the road? Thats actually unfair, I interned and when I got out I was fairly adept but man to have an actual trade. Absolutely don't let him go into high tech! With a recession around the corner I'm nervous of the impending layoff. I'm in a pretty good place now but any high tech firm is ripe for downsizing. -Curt Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:08:51 -0500 From: Rick Knoble [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 My 14 y/o son wants to go into a mechanical or electrical trade when he graduates high school. I have no problem with that, however I have explained to him that when he gets to be 50 plus years old, he may not like turning wrenches 40 hours a week any more. I am twisting his arm to go to college first. He is very intelligent and will do well whatever profession he chooses. He traded a bicycle for a non-running 5hp Honda engine. He was thrilled to have it running within an hour of getting it home. Instead of him taking stuff apart and ME putting it back together correctly, he is getting better about completing tasks like this with little input from me. Rick Knoble '85 300 CD '87 190 DT - Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
If I had it all to do over again I'd ABSOLUTELY go to tradeschool. The problem with college is you didn't learn to actually DO anything. Exactly. College is supposed to provide you with an education, training is supposed to show you how to DO things. Different purposes. The education, anyway, was supposed to teach you how to think and how to learn, and to provide an information basis for your thinker to chew on. Medical and law schools, for example, are trade (training) schools. I don't believe, however, that they will accept un-educated pupils. Quite probably because they don't need to. You need to get the right kind of schooling for what you will be doing with your life. If you don't you are wasting time and money. -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
While this dates me a bit, I chose to go into automotive trade school after a wasted (truly wasted!) year of college at IU/Bloomington. It took a year of partying and not making grades to convince my parents that I was *not* college material at the time, despite my constant efforts to tell them as they packed me off. I went to Lincoln Technical Institute in Indianapolis at the intersection of 16th Street and Stadium (I think) drive, not far from the Mr. Bendo of the auto exhaust place on 16th Street. I got an associates degree in automotive technology which was a piece of cake for a kid who had been rebuilding Beetle engines since he was 13. The one course I really liked was on automatic transmissions, as I knew little about them at the time and was thoroughly amazed at how they worked. I had boatloads of interviews when I got out, but every place (including World Wide Motors, the local MB dealership who offered me a job) was a flat rate shop, and I just didn't see how you could make decent money in many of these places if the service manager controlled what jobs you got. That's not to say I was against flat rate work - I wasn't - I had already seen and heard of too many shops where if you weren't in the good graces of the person who handed out the work orders in the morning you could end up getting screwed. That's when I took my strong electrical knowledge and put it to use for an Onan (generator) distributor my engine background helped a lot as well. It's tough finding a good engine guy who can troubleshoot electrical controls, too. Send him to trade school. By all means, especially if it's something he likes doing. That was the thing for me - I loved doing what I did, and sitting in a classroom for four years was not going to put me in something I liked. Dan --- Curt Raymond [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rick, I wanted to go into auto repair when I got out of highschool. My dad talked me into working for a season and then I talked myself into college. If I had it all to do over again I'd ABSOLUTELY go to tradeschool. No question. If I had my choice I think I'd be an electrician but I'd like to have a sememster to try all the different trades and see which fit me best. The problem with college is you come out and didn't learn to actually DO anything. Lotsa theory, so you've got all the ideas but to but the rubber to the road? Thats actually unfair, I interned and when I got out I was fairly adept but man to have an actual trade. Absolutely don't let him go into high tech! With a recession around the corner I'm nervous of the impending layoff. I'm in a pretty good place now but any high tech firm is ripe for downsizing. -Curt Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7 ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
Hey Rick...trades are great...but whatever you do...DON'T let him put all of his eggs in one basket. In my opinion, one needs to have at least 3 things he can learn to do well. Rhonald 1985 300D 299,000 miles Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:41:47 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics Rick, I wanted to go into auto repair when I got out of highschool. My dad talked me into working for a season and then I talked myself into college. If I had it all to do over again I'd ABSOLUTELY go to tradeschool. No question. If I had my choice I think I'd be an electrician but I'd like to have a sememster to try all the different trades and see which fit me best. The problem with college is you come out and didn't learn to actually DO anything. Lotsa theory, so you've got all the ideas but to but the rubber to the road? Thats actually unfair, I interned and when I got out I was fairly adept but man to have an actual trade. Absolutely don't let him go into high tech! With a recession around the corner I'm nervous of the impending layoff. I'm in a pretty good place now but any high tech firm is ripe for downsizing. -Curt Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:08:51 -0500 From: Rick Knoble [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 My 14 y/o son wants to go into a mechanical or electrical trade when he graduates high school. I have no problem with that, however I have explained to him that when he gets to be 50 plus years old, he may not like turning wrenches 40 hours a week any more. I am twisting his arm to go to college first. He is very intelligent and will do well whatever profession he chooses. He traded a bicycle for a non-running 5hp Honda engine. He was thrilled to have it running within an hour of getting it home. Instead of him taking stuff apart and ME putting it back together correctly, he is getting better about completing tasks like this with little input from me. Rick Knoble '85 300 CD '87 190 DT - Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _ Kick back and relax with hot games and cool activities at the Messenger Café. http://www.cafemessenger.com?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_SeptWLtagline ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
Send him to trade school. By all means, especially if it's something he likes doing. That was the thing for me - I loved doing what I did, and sitting in a classroom for four years was not going to put me in something I liked. If the career path started by going to trade school (or whatever) leads to where you can live and die, and you love it, go for it! Enjoying what you do is the key to success. (Sufficient income and earned respect are also keys.) The only trouble is that to many high-school kids, a regular paycheck even at minimum wage might look too good. They don't have a realistic grasp on the expenses of life. That's where you, dear parents, come in! -- Jim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
I would think it best to learn a trade so that you could get out of college with the least debt needed. It may take a bit longer to get out, but you will have matured immensely by the time you are handed that sheepskin. It is also a great back up incase you get out with that BA and there are no survival wage jobs to be had. clay On 15 Sep 2007, at 13:41, Curt Raymond wrote: Rick, I wanted to go into auto repair when I got out of highschool. My dad talked me into working for a season and then I talked myself into college. If I had it all to do over again I'd ABSOLUTELY go to tradeschool. No question. If I had my choice I think I'd be an electrician but I'd like to have a sememster to try all the different trades and see which fit me best. The problem with college is you come out and didn't learn to actually DO anything. Lotsa theory, so you've got all the ideas but to but the rubber to the road? Thats actually unfair, I interned and when I got out I was fairly adept but man to have an actual trade. Absolutely don't let him go into high tech! With a recession around the corner I'm nervous of the impending layoff. I'm in a pretty good place now but any high tech firm is ripe for downsizing. -Curt Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:08:51 -0500 From: Rick Knoble [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 My 14 y/o son wants to go into a mechanical or electrical trade when he graduates high school. I have no problem with that, however I have explained to him that when he gets to be 50 plus years old, he may not like turning wrenches 40 hours a week any more. I am twisting his arm to go to college first. He is very intelligent and will do well whatever profession he chooses. He traded a bicycle for a non-running 5hp Honda engine. He was thrilled to have it running within an hour of getting it home. Instead of him taking stuff apart and ME putting it back together correctly, he is getting better about completing tasks like this with little input from me. Rick Knoble '85 300 CD '87 190 DT - Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Transmission toasted: jackleg mechanics
Redghost wrote: I would think it best to learn a trade so that you could get out of college with the least debt needed. It may take a bit longer to get out, but you will have matured immensely by the time you are handed that sheepskin. It is also a great back up incase you get out with that BA and there are no survival wage jobs to be had. The co-op program works wonders... doesn't add anywhere near as much time too :) John ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
