And just like that.........

BAM!!! Pressure's off. A little.

Published on November 15, 2005 By Spc Nobody Special In Humor

Just to warm you up, a joke. Written on the headstone of one of an Army Mule. (they used to be kept as mascots) (actually i heard somewhere that this one was real, but who knows?)

Here lies Sally the mule. During his 15 years of service to the United States Army he kicked over forty privates, twenty-two sergeants, fourteen lieutenants, eight captains, five majors, four colonels, two generals, and one bomb.

So I ran out to the junkyard today. (dear Lord I love that place.) I'm replacing a wheel drum on my minivan. Someone prior to me "fixed" it in such a way that if I ever find out who did it, they won't fix anything but themselves. In a hospital. They had repaired it in such a way as to create a very real danger of the wheel falling off under high stress. You know, like going around a curve on the highway at seventy miles an hour? Blech.

Back to story, I start chatting with a guy loading up a tranny onto a trailer. And, he offers me a job. Just like that. All this time looking, and nothing. Not even trying, and someone walks up to me and offers me a job. How about that.

I explained I'm a decent shade tree mechanic, but some things I know and some I don't. He said that's fine, you've got your own tools? Yep. You can follow instructions? Yep. Okay, he'll pay forty percent of labor. (Les' see, about 90 dollars an hour in killeen for labor, divide by two and take away a little.......woot!!!)

Then I'm riding out with someone so they can pull the part (not as manly, I know, but it's a frickin' mud bath out there today, and for once I'd rather wait than pull it myself.) And they happen to mention that the owner is hiring. Starting at 75 a day, and usually going up by about half again if it works out after a couple of months.

Hmmmm. Now I've got my old options, but something to look into this week if they don't pan out. Cool.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Nov 15, 2005

40% of 90 is 36.

Congratulations! Hope you get the pick of the best!

Tova7

on Nov 15, 2005

YEAH!!

Spc Nobody Special

on Nov 15, 2005

40% of 90 is 36.

Yes, and I would cry my eyes out at night over if his labor prices were unusual for the area, and I got a mere 20, or 25 dollars an hour instead. We shall see........I think I'll call him tommorow.

bigrickstallion

on Nov 15, 2005

decent shade tree mechanic

Thats an interesting colloquialism. Obviously I understand what a mechanic is but what is "shade tree"? Does that mean "layman"?

singrdave

on Nov 15, 2005

"Shade tree mechanics" perform their labors under the shade of a tree in their yard, instead of a shop.

Good luck, X-SPC!

Locamama

on Nov 15, 2005

Yay!!

dharmagrl

on Nov 15, 2005

"Shade tree mechanics" perform their labors under the shade of a tree in their yard, instead of a shop

I took my boss's Jeep willie's to a place named Shade Tree Shop for over a year and until today I never knew what that meant.

Thank you.

And, SPC, thank you...for making me feel better about myself.

You got a freakin' job, man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That rawks!!!!!!!!! I'll have a pepsi for you with dinner tonight (that's about as close as I'll come to beer)

MarcieMoo

on Nov 15, 2005

Yay, SPC! Good for you!

Spc Nobody Special

on Nov 15, 2005

Shade tree mechanics" perform their labors under the shade of a tree in their yard, instead of a shop.

Yep. Exactly so. If said tree is an oak or maple, a large limb may also be used with a chain hoist to pull engine blocks. Although I personally recommend against that particular practice as hazardous to health, car, and tree.

Does that mean "layman"?

Not infrequently. Often a non-certified "amateur" type mechanic. Like me. I knew a little from my dad, and I taught myself from books after getting my Mustang five years ago. Since then I've been constantly working on my cars, and those of my friends and neighbors. I don't know how to do everything, but I can do an awful lot. Brakes, suspension, steering, electrical, cooling system, some engine work, any heating, some a/c, tune ups, timing, some tranny work, harmonics, belts, vaccuum, pull and replace an engine or tranny, whatever.

The areas I'm not so hot in, in depth tranny work, rear ends, and body work. And I don't think I've changed a clutch since I was sixteen.

You got a freakin' job, man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Almost......almost, I've got a job offer. Don't drink that pepsi 'til the fat lady starts doing vocalizes.

bigrickstallion

on Nov 16, 2005

Shade tree mechanics" perform their labors under the shade of a tree in their yard, instead of a shop.

Yep. Exactly so. If said tree is an oak or maple, a large limb may also be used with a chain hoist to pull engine blocks.

Awesome. That conjures up some great images.

but I can do an awful lot

Sounds like it. Whats harmonics? I suppose i could Google it but hey for now you are the the horses mouth.

Spc Nobody Special

on Nov 16, 2005

Whats harmonics?

A harmonic balancer. A big heavy wheel that sits on the end of the crankshaft just behind the pulley. (the big one in the bottom middle) Sometimes the pulley doubles as the harmonic balancer.

What it does? Ummm.......did you ever see that old film of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge? You saw concrete and metal doing the wave like it was water while people drove and walked on it. Because of harmonic resonance. The wind got it just right, and made it vibrate at a certain frequency that eventually shook it apart. The same way you can break a wine glass by singing at the right pitch with enough volume. This of course is a bad thing to happen to a moving part in your engine. At least that's how it was explained to me.

Basically this big heavy weight sits on the end and balances the uneven rotations of the crankshaft caused by the pistons going up and down and pushing it round and round. This prevents it from flexing up and down due to (or creating) a harmonic resonance that could bend your crankshaft or damage other engine components. If you ever forget one, or it's damaged you'll realize it in a hurry. The engine shakes like hell.

Dr Guy

on Nov 16, 2005

What it does? Ummm.......did you ever see that old film of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?

I knew what it was, but I think you just gave the definitive analogy! Maybe you should be working on the hybrids given your esoteric knowledge as well as your automotive knowledge!

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