When do you know....?

[westend]

When do you know it's time to hang up the wrenches and tools and start seeking repair help?

I started wrenching on motorcycles at age 14. Since then, I've repaired and maintained anything except aircraft. I'll be turning 68 next month and am finding repair, just on my small auto fleet, is getting to be a drag. My travel trailer is a love object so that gets the best of attention.

Did anybody older look back and say "Yeah, when I did X, that was the indicator?"

[Veebyes]

If I have the right tools I'll continue on till the body says otherwise.

The big help is the DW who is not afraid to get hands dirty & help when needed. She paints, she waxes, she can find stuff in the toolbox, she even helped change out a sewer valve last year.

[RPreeb]

Durb wrote:
I am similar to most posters here in that I have done all my own MRO work for all my life and still enjoy it. I find with toys that if you can't work on it then you probably shouldn't own it as the cost of paying for repair would be prohibitive. If I had to pay $130 an hour for all the maintenance time I devote to the trailer it would most likely never get done.

I'm 65 and fortunately I still have the time, energy and tools to get the jobs done. When that changes I will probably just get rid of the toys rather than hang up the tools.

I see no reason to give up playing with a toy just because I can't or choose not to do some of the work on it. If I had that attitude I might just as well check into a home and wait to die.

[westend]

Durb wrote:
I am similar to most posters here in that I have done all my own MRO work for all my life and still enjoy it. I find with toys that if you can't work on it then you probably shouldn't own it as the cost of paying for repair would be prohibitive. If I had to pay $130 an hour for all the maintenance time I devote to the trailer it would most likely never get done.

I'm 65 and fortunately I still have the time, energy and tools to get the jobs done. When that changes I will probably just get rid of the toys rather than hang up the tools.

Might be very true. Fortunately, I tore down my trailer and rebuilt it so that it should be good for many years. All of the roof top is sealed with Eternabond and the sidewalls/windows and doors with Geocel Tripolymer. My new paint job is holding up well so mostly I'm faced with brake and bearing service. That is a snap since I grew up with these old systems.

What is getting to me most is the four wheel fleet. I've worked on everything from domestic trucks to import sports cars. I've worked in dealerships, independent shops, and under that shade tree. Today's vehicles require a lift to service a lot of the items in a modern vehicle and, of course, I don't have one. The last struggle with the Buick's steering pump may have been the tipping point. I spent way too much time and cussing trying to remove the **** thing. I'm sure a service mechanic could have had it out in 1/4 the time that it took me. I also had to buy one $52 wrench to remove it. It was all just fasteners and hose connections but the locations almost demanded a lift. Lesson learned on transverse engine steering pumps.

[Durb]

I am similar to most posters here in that I have done all my own MRO work for all my life and still enjoy it. I find with toys that if you can't work on it then you probably shouldn't own it as the cost of paying for repair would be prohibitive. If I had to pay $130 an hour for all the maintenance time I devote to the trailer it would most likely never get done.

I'm 65 and fortunately I still have the time, energy and tools to get the jobs done. When that changes I will probably just get rid of the toys rather than hang up the tools.

[westend]

mowermech wrote:
I am only 75, but I find that laying on my back under a vehicle and reaching up to work on something makes me dizzy, almost sick. So, I don't do much of that anymore. However, installing an antenna on the truck, running the coax and control leads, and soldering the HF antenna connector on the coax, mounting the radio, etc. is rather fun. Yes, it takes me twice as long as it did 10 years ago, but that's OK, I am in no hurry these days.
I still have most of the tools I accumulated during my days as a wrench-bender on industrial equipment, aircraft (A&P license), and lawn/garden equipment. Most of them don't get used much anymore; not much call for clecos, bucking bars, and such during my tinkering.
Ah, well, enough rambling on. No, I don't do much actual work on vehicles these days. As previously stated, my mind says "Oh, yeah, I can do that!", but my body says "NO, you can't!"

With that experience, I'd bet you could turn out a pretty good looking lawn tractor. One with an all riveted aluminum body, that would be trick.

Today, I'm back under the F-250, trying to get the last piece of my broken dipstick out of the block. If I can't get it out (probable), I'm taking it to a friend with "Golden hands". If he can't get it out, it's off to a shop.

[mowermech]

I am only 75, but I find that laying on my back under a vehicle and reaching up to work on something makes me dizzy, almost sick. So, I don't do much of that anymore. However, installing an antenna on the truck, running the coax and control leads, and soldering the HF antenna connector on the coax, mounting the radio, etc. is rather fun. Yes, it takes me twice as long as it did 10 years ago, but that's OK, I am in no hurry these days.
I still have most of the tools I accumulated during my days as a wrench-bender on industrial equipment, aircraft (A&P license), and lawn/garden equipment. Most of them don't get used much anymore; not much call for clecos, bucking bars, and such during my tinkering.
Ah, well, enough rambling on. No, I don't do much actual work on vehicles these days. As previously stated, my mind says "Oh, yeah, I can do that!", but my body says "NO, you can't!"

[olfarmer]

I have not hung them up but I do take things to a mechanic that I wouldn't have in the past. One reason is that the computers needed to diagnose modern vehicles are beyond my technology and the other is that at my age some things are just to difficult. I do still change my oil and check fluids and do minor repairs. I wish I could do more but age is starting to take it's toll! 😞

[westend]

Cloud Dancer wrote:
I can't explain why/how I do the things that I do. But, I'm happy at age 77, and I aim to keep it that way,.... until they pry the Visegrips and Channel Locks off my dead fingers. "Everyone to their own poison".

Great attitude, keep on truckin'!

Yes, there are certain things, mostly electrical, that require a certain knowledge and skill threshold to get over. Additionally, vehicle mfgs are making what were simple repairs, very difficult for the DIY'er.

Where I'm getting to is there a certain physical level where a guy hangs up the wrench and starts seeking other ways to maintain his gear, either auto fleet or RV?

[Terryallan]

Thing is. todays vehicles are not designed for shade tree mechanics. You have to have so many specialized tools, gages, and things to do just about anything to them. It is not like when we could just change plugs, and points, Put on a new distributer cap, install a new rotor, and pads, and go on down the road. Now you can't even find the plugs, and I haven't see a distributer cap in years. Seems to take days just to get the junk off the top of the engine to find the intake.

So no. I don't work on them any more.

[Cloud_Dancer]

I can't explain why/how I do the things that I do. But, I'm happy at age 77, and I aim to keep it that way,.... until they pry the Visegrips and Channel Locks off my dead fingers. "Everyone to their own poison".

[D_E_Bishop]

I am older than the fathers of a couple of you responders and I have kinda given up some repairs. I will say that I do have a couple of infirmities that require that I get help but I just bought a hobby truck to restore. I rebuilt an engine with my dad at ten, but this one is being done for me while I'm sitting at the beach watching the waves.

I'm also doing most of the little fixer uppers on the rig as problems arise. Of course you find those while you're on the road and it is easier to fix than find a mobile repair guy.

The biggest reason is while at the show in "Q" last month, I realized that when Vietnam vets call you SIR, you're getting older.

[IBcarguy]

I'm nearly 70 and I still enjoy working on my stuff unless it means crawling under the car or trailer. As long as I can stand upright I'm okay. Too many aches and pains when on my knees or back. Also, I go through a lot more bandages now...I get cut and bruised and bleed a lot easier than I used to!

[fpresto]

At 71 I still get a sense of satisfaction in doing all my own repairs and upgrades but have also learned my limitations. A good example was when I decided to drywall and paint my 24 X 36 garage with 10ft ceilings. It took me less than day to realize that was not a good idea and I hated it. I finished but it took almost 2 weeks instead of the 4 days that I estimated. No more drywall for me. I do learn however. I recently had new gutters installed and contracted it out instead of being stubborn and doing it myself. It felt weird having someone else working on my house but they did in less than 4 hours what would have taken me a couple of days to complete.
On my coach I still do everything such as installing the Trav'ler, rear track bar, oil changes, base plate and wiring on the new toad, etc. I am slower than I was 10 or 15 years ago but it still feels good to do it myself.

[larry_barnhart]

I will be 76 soon but on our 05 chev I change the fluids, engine , trannie fuel filter and rear end "9 times on that because it is easy.
chevman