Female Mechanics?

[CeeCee]

Was just wondering if there are any other women on here who don't mind getting "grubby" and doing their own mechanic work?

So far, I've done:
Spark plugs
Oil change
Tranny filter and fluid
Brakes
Body work




Oh, someone will have to wake me up if they answer this......it's always so QUIET around here.......

[CeeCee]

Any of you guys do your own work?

[antonio]

ceecee, you sound like a pretty smart gal! i wished my wife had a few mechanical skills. i like to do as much of my own mechanic work as i can. my problem is i dont have a shop and i dont have a lot of tools. it sure saves money if you can do it your self. antonio

[CeeCee]

Ha! There is another live soul on here! J/K

Having a garage to work in does help.

I grew up surrounded by men, and I guess they just wanted me to not be afraid to take care of myself.

[conundrum]

I have always worked on my own equipment, and I am pleased a woman would do the same. i have worked in a couple of shops in past years, one a very high end import place, and it always incensed me to hear the various lines of bull that female service customers were handed.
Remember-if you can't figure it out, head for the library! I am losing touch with the newer rigs-they are not designed to be repaired, in my view, but driven till they balk and then replaced. Technician's game now.

[jim]

Cee Cee

I do those things to, mostly to save money and to keep the shade tree mechanics ( not ASI naturally) from screwing up things for me. Pet peeve is cross threading the oil pan drain plug >:( >:( I'd do my tires too, but it's not worth it in my circumstance.

Hang in there!

[CeeCee]

Cee Cee

I do those things to, mostly to save money and to keep the shade tree mechanics ( not ASI naturally) from screwing up things for me. Pet peeve is cross threading the oil pan drain plug >:( >:( I'd do my tires too, but it's not worth it in my circumstance.

Hang in there!


Cross - threading the oil drain plug? Haven't done that one yet, give me time!
I have had the privilege of doing some real doozies, though. I guess it's a part of the old live-and-learn thing!

I composed the following after changing the tranny filter:

To a pampered palate,
An acquired taste....
One I do not wish to till.

A mechanic's treat
Is but my guess,
Transmission oil is swill!

[conundrum]

CeeCee-You need to compose an Ode to Prussian Blue, and a rhyme about Never Seize!!

[CeeCee]

You challenge my talents
You think it's a breeze
To come up with these ditties,
'bout Prussian Blue and Never Sieze

For the one, ne'er heard of it
The other is slime
But I'll try and be willing
Just give me some time......... ;D

[conundrum]

I stand in awe of your wit and rhyme

A mechanic's companion

To help pass the time...


Weak, but it is early!

[CeeCee]

Weak? - NOT! But 'tis early
I'll give that to you
Could you do me a favor?
Explain Prussian Blue????

[jim]

Sometimes when draining the old oil from the oil pan 'neath the engine after the draining is done, the mechanic inserts the plug not being careful to get it in straight and boogers up the plug threads. Usually, this is done with an impact wrench of wratchet. Easy to avoid

Using only your hand, insert the plug and turn to the left as if you were removing while pushing inward. You will feel the ends of the opposing threads click once they pass each other. Stop, then begin turning to the right and the threading will catch properly. I've never cross-threaded anything while using this method.

jim

[conundrum]

Prussian Blue-As far as I know it is the same as the oil paint, Prussian Blue. For many years it was the standard method to check the fit of parts during assembly. Smear a bit of Prussian Blue on the piece, fit it home, remove it, and "read" the telltale-if any of the "Blue" showed in the fitment area, the part or the mating area was lightly machined until the area showed a uniform track. Was very common when grinding(lapping) intake and exhaust valves, especially when done by hand.
The end result of this was a mechanic spending the rest of the day wearing blue smears all over his clothes, hands, and face. The stuff gets everywhere, no matter how careful you are-sort of a predecessor of the anti-seize compounds in that respect!

[CeeCee]

Oh, gottcha!
Haven't tried it yet!

[humbug]

How much do you have to do to be considered a real mechanic?? I change the oil and filter, spark plugs and wires and have changed out the alternator. Oh and the battery, I know that doesn't count.
A mechanic friend once told me that mechanics are really just parts changers, its a matter of knowing which part to change.
I am considering learning more about mechanicing(not sure this is a real word) because I have a 65 mustang that I want to restore. I want to do most of the work myself so that I really get to know the car.
Brakes were going to be my first project. CeeCee how hard are the brakes?

[jim]

Prussian Blue is also good on steering wheels if you feel like "messing" with someone. :D
jim

[CeeCee]

Humbug - I'd say you qualify as a non-certified mechanic if you get that car done! Good for you! You CAN do it!
As far as brakes, they were not all that tricky, other than the cylinder was locked open on the one caliper which made it kind of a pain to remove. And also, making sure you replace every piece that comes off with either the old one which is still in good shape, or with new. (Any bearings, rings, etc.) A good manual will give good instructions including pictures (I use Haynes).

Jim - you sound like trouble ;) .

[Mac_Muz]

How much do you have to do to be considered a real mechanic?? I change the oil and filter, spark plugs and wires and have changed out the alternator. Oh and the battery, I know that doesn't count.
A mechanic friend once told me that mechanics are really just parts changers, its a matter of knowing which part to change.
I am considering learning more about mechanicing(not sure this is a real word) because I have a 65 mustang that I want to restore. I want to do most of the work myself so that I really get to know the car.
Brakes were going to be my first project. CeeCee how hard are the brakes?



There is such a thing as a real mechanic. he knows how to diagnoise any part on any car, truck and motorbike because he knows theory of how things work, and so does not need any computer to tell him what needs attention from what doesn't.

He will know in order which things must happen and when, in 6 thur 24 volt systems and how they all work. He will understand hydralics.
He will understand how and why a coil works to create a negitive spark of more than 20,000 and much more snaps to a negitive engine block of only 12 volts.. and why.

He will understand how to take anything apart even if it isn't designed to be taken apart, and put it back together so it does in fact work.

He will be able to weld with electric arc, tig, mig and gas weld, also cutting with torches, and how to use heat to remove parts long since siezed by rust.

With these skills he will be able to fabricte body parts from nuthing to paper, then turn steel into these parts and weld them all up, even if they were totally rusted away to nothing.

He may know how to use clear coat / base coat paints and finish the repairs to the end..

He will know why a thermostat works and be able to tell if a radiator is clogged, and know how to un-solder the raditor and rod out the core by hand and solder it all back as one with no leaks the first time.

On newer modles of vehicals he will meet or beat book time.

He will know grades of hardware, and which grades to use where and why.

In all he will understand every system in a particular vehical and know how each system interacts with the next, and see to it each system intergrates with the next for a fully functioning vehical.

He will cover a very wide spectrun that can also include tractors, boats and planes, and down to chain saws. and perhaps even oil lamps and woodstoves, which are nothing more than primitive carbs...

He will know many types of carbs and diesel systems, and he will know fuel injection with all the sencors.
he will know a turbo charger from a super charger from a hyper charger and know why these are all different and even if they do anything, and be able to set them up.

Probably he won't know how to type and or spell very well and may have a rather limted vocabulary, as no bottoms sides of and cars I ever saw care much for these qualities.

He will smile at you when you use words like Hilman, Moris Minor, Vauxhall, NSU, Unimog, Atlas, Xk 120, jensen, jensen heally, Stagg, and others.

[humbug]

Ok Mac..you busted me..I am not a real mechanic. But I am ok with that!! ;D ;D

[Mac_Muz]

Well there are parts changers, and many more that real mechanics. I was around when the term changed to tech's. Most of them are parts changers..

I could have added a lot more to that list, but that was enough to get the point across.

[DiscoStu]

Mac your right on the money

Im an auto sparky in West Aust working on mining equipment, but yes i can do most of that stuff, and mechanics or techs are now being called fitters by trade as thats all they do fit new parts. we get lots of stuff coming in from other mechanics telling us theres electrical problems and we have to work it out and tell them how to fix it also...

cant wait for when the mining boom is over and only the good people can get the jobs but cant seee that coming for a long time

[CeeCee]

Guess I should have chosen a different title for this thread ;) . I have a brother who is a certified mechanic, and truly meant no offence to you legitimate grease-monkeys. My hat's off to you, really!
I guess I was looking at it like "cooks." Most people can "cook", and then there are "Cooks, Chefs, etc."
Oh, well, back to the garage!

[Mac_Muz]

Greasy Monkey is it! LOL I am old enough to preceed Certified .... I looked over the NIASE tests which in my ever so humble opinon were created by bean counters.

Since I didn't work on American Cars the tests were in-valid..

Questions at the time were like:

How many bolts hold the valve body in a Ford C-6 transmission? 10, 15, or 20..

I say all of them, and who cares, as there is no theory, but while I have no idea to this day I still say all of them.

The point is the question is moot, and means nuthin'. If you know it still makes no difference....

I might as well ask how many screws hold the dash in a Saab 900 dash? Which I know the answer to, but there is no theory there either...

Why not ask what dwell means?

What is a venturii and what effect does it cause?

What rpm does an alternator need to make 12 volts and 20 amps?

What causes 12 volt battery's to sulfate?

What chemicals are there in bc cc paint systems that can kill you?

How many BTU's is there in a gallon of K-1? compared to a gallon of 91 octane?

What is a BTU?

What is the difference between 2 bolts, one being grade 2 and the other grade 8?

Which is bigger? a 20 gauge wire, or a 10 gauge wire?

But bean counters count beans, so they know how many beans there are in a bag....

You did ask in the 2nd post how many guys do their own.... no theory there either, but I do ALL my own no matter what it is from wood boxes to jewelry for my wife, to guns (home made) to cars and trucks and motor bikes..

I heat treat tool steel after I made a tool, and it depends on what the tools is for as to how it gets treated.

When and If I want a body panel for a car I buy a 4'x4' flat sheet of steel and make the panel.

I don't need a OBD or a OBDII computer to flash me a code to fix a car, truck or bike either... Thats because I know basics and theory.

[annabella1]

I have done most of the simple repair work on all our cars, mostly because I was blessed with a husband who is totally unmechanical (is that a word?). I however had the highest mechanical ability of any female in my high school. I had thought about going to school to be a mechanic but it just wasn't done when I was a girl. I thought you have to be big and strong to loosen those stuck bolts and lift those heavy parts. Now I know they just use impact wrenches and power lifts, and most of the good mechanics I know are smaller than I am.

[Mac_Muz]

April to August, Now it's October.. Tools are almost everything, but then knowing how to use them means more.

You better be strong too. Lifts don't do it all, and impact guns don't either.

There are tricks that come in time and only time can treach these if the tech has a brain.

I got out because engineers can't.. I got sick of being cut up working under a dash in a miraid of wire, all curled in a ball, with my hair tangled in the pedals, having a drop light fall and burn me, while never really illuminateing the place I wanted to see, all the while get slashed to ribbons because some bean counter cut corners to save 2 cents and had the press pucnh that makes the steel frames as sharp as a razor.

Being a tech is a thankless job and you end up the bad guy because the customer is a bean counter..

I never was over 160 pounds in my life and haven't been that since a bike crash in 79', Yet I could lift a 4 cyl engine off a salvage truck and put it down on the bench, and that was when Volvo made cast iron engines.

I once did leaf spring on every kind of big truck there is and road graders too. I made the springs from steel stock, with a guiloteen press to cut 1/2" x 4 wide spring steel, rolled the eyes, and carried with one other man a 400 pound spring out of the shop, down 3 stairs, and into a pit, where the truck was hanging on a chain fall.

Sometimes in winter the tide would be so high the pits flooded thigh high. We had knee high rubber boots filled with cold and nasty salt water all day.

To be any sort of tech you have to laff off cuts, burns and just get the work out the door. Being a good tech means you can, and have done so correctly 98% of the time.

Today there are not many good techs.. many of them have no idea what theory is, and so when you find one you want that one and only that one.

[vargthewanderer]

I hear you Mac. If I ever meet a Hornet engineer I vowed to punch him as hard as I could.

We can't always put the jets into the hanger too, so you learn to do with things like pouring rain, cold, and the other elements. You have to figure out why the hell that stupid servo won't work, even though you've changed out three of them, shot wires and replaced the flight computer. You have to find out where something is leaking from without loosing your fingers to a 3,000 psi hyd fluid stream. Some of those components were never meant to be removed...

When it's all said and done the pilot will fly it, only to haul off and break it doing something stupid. The cycle repeats...

[theresehirko]

Bob does all of the repairs on our cars. I help. I can change the oil, change tires, etc. I also built and engine one, but Bob said that I put in the spark plugs backwards. I am never afraid to get a little dirty. Heck, I'm in nursing school! I have been vomited on, pooped on, peed on, bled on, spit on, etc. The worst was when an addict was going through withdrawal and pulled out her drainage tubing and kept trying to spit on me.