learning to fix cars

he/we did an oil change on the fordv1210 compact tractor that is at my mil. it was too wet to mow and the oil looked like tar. so we changed it and added more hyd oil. will have dh check before use.

even after the oil change the dip stick was really black??

That’s a good basic start. Oil in an engine is the life’s blood of the machine.
I am not familiar with that tractor but if it’s a Diesel the oil will turn black within minutes of start up after the change. For this reason you can’t do a visual oil condition check on Diesels very accurately. You should mark a date and hour reading on the oil filter and teach him to run a logbook on his own equipment or other peoples equipment he works on. Then there are no guesses when something was last changed or serviced. Using a logbook will also tell him the type of oil last used and the filter number or other products used in the maintenance stream for that piece of equipment.

Just my two cents

great idea. we are both learning. checked the oil and scared me that it was black. mil said she couldn't remember when it had been done last. im betting it had been done about a yr. ago.

anyhoo. son was proud of himself. mil called and said that she had someone else mow as we didn't as it was too wet and they rolled over the sprinklers for the aerobic system. so dh gets to replace sprinkler heads this weekend instead of mow. wont make sone do that just yet.

Okiemom,
I would deff get his face in the sprinkler job in a helping capacity. There are multiple trades that make up the automotive field and basic plumbing is one of them. With sprinklers he will be working with diff materials but the principles are the same. I say expose him to as much mechanical knowledge as possible. He will let you know when he’s had enough so to speak.

Just my two cents

If you do go with something that old be sure and check to make sure the parts are there for it to run. Is the engine locked up? If it is, then that might be a little too much for his first project. Check parts prices before you buy too. I suspect he doesn't make much money yet. It would be a good idea to have a friend that knows a little about cars check out whatever he is thinking about buying too.

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Claycreekfarm.info

I'm guessing you'll be looking for an Advance Design pickup. 1947 to early 1955 Chev/GMC. They are the most common 5 window pickups. ADs are fairly inexpensive, durable, mechanically simple, and parts are relatively easy to get. Go to www.stovebolt.com to get started. The 3 window style is more common and less expensive. I've seen several "beaters" in my area recently for $300 to $500. A set of simple tools and a repair manual will cost less than one trip to a mechanic.

When anything breaks, let him have a shot at fixing it. Learning to fix anything helps you learn to fix just about everything.

If he is 14, let him start with a riding lawnmower or go cart and work from there.

there is a forum for everything. I have always fixed everything and we now restore tractors, old cars, trucks, all sorts of antiques for a living. anything I cant figure out on my own, I google search and nearly always fid what I need.

A good place to buy some tools is in your local flea markets. You can find them cheap and you can find american made tools too.

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r.h. in oklahoma

Raised a country boy, and will die a country boy.

My two cents:

1. Learn by doing. He'll never learn much just standing around or thinking about it.

2. Encourage him. One of the greatest crimes against humanity is often negative parents who say things like "You can't do that", "you aren't talented enough", "we aren't the family that understands mechanics", "that job is too complicated for you", etc. Encourage and challenge him at every opportunity, and you'll be building a better man.

3. Tell him that if you ever catch him under a jacked up vehicle without proper jack stands that you'll tan his hide so bad that he won't sit for a month, plus, you'll take his car keys away until he turns 38 years old. NEVER TRUST A JACK AS A SOLE SOURCE TO HOLD UP A VEHICLE. A decent set of jack stands don't cost much, and are well worth the cost in saving a life.

4. Forget spending money on cheap tools. Cheap tools are just that...cheap. Quality tools are an investment that will last a lifetime. I am still using the same Craftsman tools that I bought as a teenager, and a large Craftsman socket set that I bought when I was in my mid-20's. Good tools make a job go faster, and easier. Dollar for dollar, Craftsman is a much better value than many of the cheap imported tools. Who wants to fight their tools while working on mechanical issue?

Quote:

3. Tell him that if you ever catch him under a jacked up vehicle without proper jack stands that you'll tan his hide so bad that he won't sit for a month, plus, you'll take his car keys away until he turns 38 years old. NEVER TRUST A JACK AS A SOLE SOURCE TO HOLD UP A VEHICLE. A decent set of jack stands don't cost much, and are well worth the cost in saving a life.

What Clovis said ten fold!

I had a cousin who succumbed in just that fashion. In his case the jack stand weld broke and the car fell on him.
Just my two cents.

I am so sorry to hear about your cousin. There was a brush hog accident and a severed leg that happened to dh uncle. I have to work at not cringing when that is going. Even thou I can do most of the tractor work here it is still scary to see your kids doing it.

we are very safety driven(woohoo) here I have told them that they can do the er runs when they turn 21 but not on my watch. that being said accidents are always possible.

thanks for the support!! I didn't think cars were a mother son deal but I guess why not.

Heck yes they are. You can teach him and he can teach you and the cars will teach you both. Your mommy time with him is short per say. He is gonna hang more and more with dad and friends as he gets older. This car connection you will have with him will keep him closer to you and extend your mommy time with him. This will also give you post mommy time as he gets older has friends over to work on their cars. You will be the cool mom that can fix crap.
Just my two cents

I think the best way to start is with small engines. They are very cheap and free when used sometimes even when running. He will need a general small tool set, the service manual and a few special Briggs&Stratton tools assuming he is working on a B&S. He needs to totally dismantle the engine, clean and reassemble and get it running well.

After that, find a car that is structurally intact but on its way to the junk yard and not running. Ideal would be a old four door RWD Chevy because he will wind up with an engine and trans he will be able to put in that old Chevy truck he wants eventually. They are scarce now, except for collector-desired ones as the regular old lumpenprole Chevies are now all part of the new Hyundais. The drill here is to get the old beest running, do the brakes, and all other needed work. That will give him a good reliable first car too.

Sears Roebuck has amazing tool deals, except that sadly they have started to sell Chinese made tools under the famed Craftsman moniker. Yard and estate sales and eBay will yield good old American made tools, but consider that except for the truck vendor brands (Snap-On, Matco, MAC and Cornwell) the warranty is either nonexistent (because the vendor is out of business) or only means they will replace it with a cheap Chinese tool. I have never had the least luck trying to buy tools from pawn shops: they invariably want almost new price.

Confucius say "first you must learn to break the car, then you can learn to fix the car"

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