Random Thought Thread

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My Kubota RTV x1100c had a bearing failure inside the transmission. One of the ball bearings got picked up by the gears and smashed out through the case from the inside. It destroyed several gears and the case and numerous other things inside. It was six months out of warranty. I have been buying Kubota stuff for 20 years. The dealer got in touch with the Kubota reps and petitioned for a goodwill repair. The Kubota rep came out to look at it and agreed to pay for all the parts and 1/3 of the labor if the dealer would donate 1/3 of the labor and I would pay the remainder plus incidentals such as oil and filters, but not to exceed 2k$. So the 8,788.50$ repair got done after being in the shop for 2 months and I paid my portion which was 2k. All in all, I was not happy about the mechanical failure or the 2k$ but ultimately I thought that was cool of them to step up and pay most of the repair even though they had no obligation to do so.
 
Mendoman:
After reading your Kubota post, I am even happier that you found your knife! You have had enough stress for a while.
Kubota is really highly regarded, and I am sorry you had the expense and frustration, as well as delay with repair. I am glad they stepped up to help out, and I hope you have productive time with your fixed Kubota, found blade, and beautiful dogs. Stay safe.
 
Thanks. I think of it as a success story really. I use it for work and it’s all cost of doing business. But for them to back up their product was above my expectations. I doubt most companies would have done that and I doubt most dealers would have gone to bat for me like that. But I’ve been a 20 year customer so instead of having a salty feeling about it, I’m good with it. So, it will probably pay off for them in the long run too.
 
It's going to be even crazier in the next 10-15 years when we have a shortage of skilled mechanics, tradesmen, electricians, plumbers, etc.
We're already feeling it here in Utah.

I have a couple nephews that don't want to go to college or work in an office. I told them get a trade, take a few business classes, and start your own business.
 
carnifex knifeworks said:
It's going to be even crazier in the next 10-15 years when we have a shortage of skilled mechanics, tradesmen, electricians, plumbers, etc.
We're already feeling it here in Utah.

I have a couple nephews that don't want to go to college or work in an office. I told them get a trade, take a few business classes, and start your own business.
Click to expand...

All the body shops in my area are feeling the employee shortage problem

We really can't get any young people into it ...

I probably have 10 years left in me of being considered a "production painter"
 
I’m an electrician not a mechanic. Further, I know very little about combustion engines and how to work on them. I can, and do, some work on my vehicles but it’s ancillary to the engine itself. Brakes, oil change, belt change, alternators, vacuum pumps… stuff like that. Remove the old, replace with the new type stuff.
Now I did have a good friend (RIP Phil) that was always giving me tips and saying, “You can do that yourself.” His most sage advice to me regarding combustion engines was they need three basic things to run. Spark, fuel and air. He said whenever trying to diagnose a “non running” or “running rough” issue to determine which of those three is the problem.
So this year my VW bus was running really rough. I barely got it out of the back garage and to the driveway where I had more room to work. Just had an engine rebuild a couple years ago and it’s been running great up until this year.
I initially suspected rodents and wiring. Didn’t find any evidence or damage. After getting it running in the driveway (still rough and stalling) I revved it up a little and it would backfire. I had changed the air filter prior.
By my thinking this said it was getting fuel. I was pretty sure air wasn’t the problem and so it must be spark. I thought it might even be a timing issue and had almost decided to mess with that and all of the sudden it started running perfect. I had just changed the spark plugs and wires, distributor cap and the armature (not sure if that’s the term mechanics use). The gods seemed to be trying to tell me not to mess with the timing.
I had already checked the gap on my points and didn’t think it was that, but ordered a new set of points and a condenser.
Today having finally had the time I was going to change those out. I decided I would just change the condenser and see how it ran before changing the points.
It was the condenser! She’s back up and running!
Total parts were about $75 so I didn’t have the bills you guys had but it did eat up a few of my weekends to get it back to running smooth.
I also get to silently gloat because my wife told me not to mess with it because I didn’t know what I was doing and would likely cause more problems.
 
Cap’n Smudge said:
I’m an electrician not a mechanic. Further, I know very little about combustion engines and how to work on them. I can, and do, some work on my vehicles but it’s ancillary to the engine itself. Brakes, oil change, belt change, alternators, vacuum pumps… stuff like that. Remove the old, replace with the new type stuff.
Now I did have a good friend (RIP Phil) that was always giving me tips and saying, “You can do that yourself.” His most sage advice to me regarding combustion engines was they need three basic things to run. Spark, fuel and air. He said whenever trying to diagnose a “non running” or “running rough” issue to determine which of those three is the problem.
So this year my VW bus was running really rough. I barely got it out of the back garage and to the driveway where I had more room to work. Just had an engine rebuild a couple years ago and it’s been running great up until this year.
I initially suspected rodents and wiring. Didn’t find any evidence or damage. After getting it running in the driveway (still rough and stalling) I revved it up a little and it would backfire. I had changed the air filter prior.
By my thinking this said it was getting fuel. I was pretty sure air wasn’t the problem and so it must be spark. I thought it might even be a timing issue and had almost decided to mess with that and all of the sudden it started running perfect. I had just changed the spark plugs and wires, distributor cap and the armature (not sure if that’s the term mechanics use). The gods seemed to be trying to tell me not to mess with the timing.
I had already checked the gap on my points and didn’t think it was that, but ordered a new set of points and a condenser.
Today having finally had the time I was going to change those out. I decided I would just change the condenser and see how it ran before changing the points.
It was the condenser! She’s back up and running!
Total parts were about $75 so I didn’t have the bills you guys had but it did eat up a few of my weekends to get it back to running smooth.
I also get to silently gloat because my wife told me not to mess with it because I didn’t know what I was doing and would likely cause more problems.
Click to expand...


Glad you got it up and running again!!

 
Y'all ain't going to believe this


But my Ford truck is broke down in the middle of somewhere called Mount Vernon Kentucky


*sigh*


A bearing in the alternator seized which broke the serpentine belt


Every auto parts store is closed for the holiday or does not have anything or is very far away
 
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