I just wanted to let everyone know that as of last week ago I am enrolled in a technical college up here in Chicago. I'm going to begin the process of becoming a mechanic.

As I was laying under my jeep the other night (working on it. I haven't started sleeping under it.... yet.) I just started thinking about how nice it would be to have a little bit more of a professional background, and to not have to fumble through everything. I'm sure there will still be times when I fumble through things, and I am not convincing myself that 13 months of training is all I need to become a mechanic - but it's a start.

After all, I could spend the rest of my life complaining about my mechanic(s), or I could do something about it and put myself out there as a good one.

cheers,
pablo

Note: Pablo, I changed the title because "Semi O/T" would mean you're talking about Off Topic Truck stuff [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I don't care if you are a professional (I am) or a learn by mistakes guy ( I am also!). The way to learn and rememeber it is to do it yourself. No one is born a great engineer or a great mechanic-with the right tools and experience you have the potential of being one. I use this idea a lot. The engineers know why something is done, the mechanic knows how it is done. A good engineer will know why and some, but not all of the how to do its. A good mechanic will know how and some of the why to do its. Both jobs are important and those that say the other is less or not needed is wrong. Both good just different.
Go to school, that is where you get some of those "tools" and don't be afraid of getting dirty. The more work you do yourself, the more you will learn.

1. Technicians know which screw to turn. [img]images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
2. Engineers know why to turn the screw. [img]images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]
3. Designers know why the screw was chosen. [img]images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
4. Your task is to know all the above. [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
5. And then improve the reasoning and the material. [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
6. Fail at #4, and you are at the mercy of # 1 - 3 above... [img]images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

good luck, which tech school are you going to? Next year i'm going to minor in auto service tech at northern MI.
If you want to go wheeling sunday there's a leagal run i might be able to get you in on or my passanger seat might be open.

BarrelRoll

Hey Roll. I'm jeeping on over to cleveland this sunday with my brother to see a show. I'll take you up on that offer soon enough. I've done some very mild off-roading with my YJ, and am starting to wonder if it's capable of more agressive stuff. It's all stock except for some oversized tires. I'll be putting on a 1" body lift soon enough to allow for a bit more tire clearance, but it still won't give me any more axle clearance.... what do you think? See many stock YJ's out there on sundays?

Because of the high cost of malpractice insurance and all the
hassles, a gynacologist decided to change careers and become
a mechanic instead.

He went to a technical school, possibly even the same one you
are.

After 2 long years of hard study he finally got his test score
on his final test - 150%!

He went to the instructor, asking why he got such a high
score when the maximum was 100%.

"I gave you 50% because part of the test was to dissasemble
an engine completely, and you did that perfectly."

"And, the second part of the test was to re-assemble it -
you did that perfectly too, so I gave you another 50%."

"But why the extra 50%?"

"I gave you another 50% because you did it all through the
muffler."

Good luck.

LMAO!!!!! [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Thats a good one Rich. I'm gonna have to remember that one for the future.

A doctor took his BMW to a mechanic because it was running rough. The mechanic hooked up a computer, watched it for a minute, then turned a screw on the fuel injection. The engine smoothed out immediately. "That will be $50," he said.

"WHAT? That only took you ten minutes! That's $300 an hour! I'm a doctor, certified by the state board, and I only make $150 an hour!"

"Yup, that's about what I made when I was a doctor."

That really funny because I actually knew a BMW mechanic who was a doctor but decided he didn't want to deal with the red tape so he became a mechanic!


Fritz