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[admin]

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[TGLewis]

IN and out of motorcycle shops, turning wrenches, from 1976 to 1990. Did light repair--busted many, many tires on an old Coats 10-10, installed batteries, brakes, and the occasional muffler at Bradley's Spur Service back in Oshkosh, WI from 1976 to 1978. Winters were hell, especially when I had to hook up U-Haul trailers with tap-a-light bulbs and bumper hitches. Bare hands/fingers (for the electricals) in -30 degrees fahrenheit, stiff breeze... You get the picture.

I now keep four cars--my 98 camry (v-6, 5-speed, 235k, original clutch), my wife's 2008 Rav4 she inherited from her mom who passed away in 2015, my oldest daughter's 2002 XLE camry (low miles cream-puff) and my younger daughter's 2003 corolla LE with a starter problem--going. And yeah, most of my stuff is metrics, but I've got a fair amount of of SAE stuff (Craftsman, back when they were made in the USA) in my second-hand Snap-on roll-around. Am I retired? Good question. I do still keep a quart pump-bottle of Fast Orange sitting next to the sink in my front bathroom.

Long-winded, yes, but does any of this count? Oh, yeah, my lower back ain't what it used to be, but then it never really was...

 

[nickb2]

Ahh!! A Toyota fan.
I like him already.

 

[nickb2]

http://alloy-artifacts.org/craftsman-maker-v.html

I still use and abuse this ratchet to this day. Probably 20 or so yrs older than me. I will be 44 soon. I've gone through at least three or so snap on's of similar size and shape over the yrs. This one just won't die. I should retire it, and frame it.

 

[nickb2]

Anyway, this should have probably been put elsewhere and put through proper channels for the membership to private forums.

I just posted to say that.

Got carried away when I saw his family are sewing machine fans such as I.

 

[TGLewis]

http://alloy-artifacts.org/craftsman-maker-v.htmlView attachment 10441

I still use and abuse this ratchet to this day. Probably 20 or so yrs older than me. I will be 44 soon. I've gone through at least three or so snap on's of similar size and shape over the yrs. This one just won't die. I should retire it, and frame it.

Yeah, I still have my original fine-tooth 3/8 ratchet. Beautiful tool, and waaay superior to the other mechanic's Snap-On, which if you'd put a fair amount of muscle into breaking something loose, the thing would change directions on you... My CM 1/2" fine-tooth is also a nice tool, I just don't use it as much. Oh, just remembered: I bought, used off the Snap-On truck, a 1/2" ratchet just like the one you've got. The direction change lever fell off one day, and Sears replaced it with the fine-tooth, because that's all they had. Sears was first-rate back in the day...

 

[nickb2]

Well TG, just keep posting and keep coming back and give useful tips and endow us with your knowledge. We could use a guy here with some motorbike skills.

I know I may need you this spring, will be trying to revive a 800cc for a neighbor.

I am pretty sure there is a minimum of posts to do before you can be accorded private forum approval. Admins will most likely respond to that.

But, yeah, that old craftsmen 3/8 ratchet was my first. It was given to me by a now RIP mentor of mine. Back when I was sixteen and working part time for a local sears auto shop in Hamilton Ontario Canada.

Since sears went bankrupt here in Canada, I am shyte out of luck for tool replacement. Half my tools are craftsmen. Since I avoid the snap on truck like it was the plague, I am stuck with mastercraft or ultra pro. Napa sells the ultra pro up here and we have a good relationship with them since we buy over a 3/4 million a year from them. I am now working for Point "S" so it is a high volume shop compared to what it was a few years ago.

Quite a big company. I don't know if they are down in the states. Maybe on border cities. Would have to google that.

Well, I just did just that and I guess my sponsor company is bigger than I thought. But in the end, it's just a franchise. My paycheck comes from the original owners who have been in business since the 50's.

However, this thread may be considered hi-jacked. So lets try to move this to the open discussion forum so we can get to know you better. How does that sound?

 

[nickb2]

I bought, used off the Snap-On truck, a 1/2" ratchet just like the one you've got.

I don't remember writing that, but again, as you will come to know me if you stick around, I am not the best english around, but I do alright.

The snap I use daily is a old fashion F80. It is the best one they made and still make. No bells or whistle. Just a plain ratchet like they used to make. I tried a few of the new ones from snap. They suck. Probably made over sea's as you mentioned. Actually, I know they are. Any way, they suck. The so called comfort grips get loose or crack or dissolve over time. Same with the mac's.

Anyway, as said before, there are forums for that. Such as the automotive products and such.

Instead of writing here, I should be getting on that review of the Audew obd2 dongle. That should be done next week or so.

Should be fun to compare baud rates and distance and such. I may implement a video or two. The admin may have some work cut out for him and his significant other.

 

[TGLewis]

Well TG, just keep posting and keep coming back and give useful tips and endow us with your knowledge. We could use a guy here with some motorbike skills.

I know I may need you this spring, will be trying to revive a 800cc for a neighbor.

I am pretty sure there is a minimum of posts to do before you can be accorded private forum approval. Admins will most likely respond to that.

But, yeah, that old craftsmen 3/8 ratchet was my first. It was given to me by a now RIP mentor of mine. Back when I was sixteen and working part time for a local sears auto shop in Hamilton Ontario Canada.

Since sears went bankrupt here in Canada, I am shyte out of luck for tool replacement. Half my tools are craftsmen. Since I avoid the snap on truck like it was the plague, I am stuck with mastercraft or ultra pro. Napa sells the ultra pro up here and we have a good relationship with them since we buy over a 3/4 million a year from them. I am now working for Point "S" so it is a high volume shop compared to what it was a few years ago.

Quite a big company. I don't know if they are down in the states. Maybe on border cities. Would have to google that.

Well, I just did just that and I guess my sponsor company is bigger than I thought. But in the end, it's just a franchise. My paycheck comes from the original owners who have been in business since the 50's.

However, this thread may be considered hi-jacked. So lets try to move this to the open discussion forum so we can get to know you better. How does that sound?

Sounds good to me... And, alright, I'll bite: an 800cc what?

 

[billr]

PM "jordanr" if you want to get "wrench" status and access to our glorious Lounge.

Nickb2, I am still using some wrenches from about 1910! The oldest that were new in my lifetime are from the 1950's. I got a basic 1/2"-drive socket set from my grandmother when I was 9.

 

[nickb2]

oops, wrote 800, meant 600cc.

It looks just like this.

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_xj600s diver 92.htm

 

[nickb2]

I need to balance the 4 mikuni carbs. Found a few videos on boob tube, but not even close to what I used to do with my dads and then mine 1979 honda goldwing 1000cc.

Anyways, spring time is far away, still cold up here. You say 30f. I say -20c.

Since I like to brag, I know what cold is. -55c santa claus/inuit/north pole style.

 

[nickb2]

I got a basic 1/2"-drive socket set from my grandmother when I was 9.

When I was 9, my grandmother gave me a lego set. The Georges Lucas set. Star wars was big back then.

My first tool kit came from a mac tool truck. I still have the tool kit. In my living room. The girls that love me hate my art deco. I say it gives me style.

Box was a used snap on head, 3 drawer. Then I bought my first base. I Niagara falls edition 1976 beach 12 drawer.

Everything inside was bought brand new from sears or canadian tire. And some impact sockets from mac and snap. I always listened to my mentors. They told me what to buy.

Not many of them told me to go ballistic on the tool truck. They saw my Gf's back in the day and they were nice. They said you need money to take care of the nice girls. As long as you buy lifetime warranty, the girls don't care if it;s snap on. As long as they get the bills paid for.

True to mentor words, I still don't care what brand of tool it is. It just has to last cuz I use them intensively. But lately, since I am now the diagnostic guy, you know, the dude with the laptop, I use those tools less and less. But that comes with alot of night courses and headaches of their own.

But one tool I do love, is my CP 714. That sucker hits hard, last forever, and is easy on the ears. Well worth the 700$ I paid for it 15 yrs ago.

Dang, I am off on a tangent. It shows I was in hospital for three or so weeks. I couldn't wait to get out of there.

Hospitals suck. I was hoping at some point purple jello would come around just to make a difference. Nope, just the basic colors.

The guy's at the shop won't recognize me. I am so much better now. Amazing what a few weeks of rest can do. Oh, and some good professional care.

I sent flowers to the nurse staff, they were real cool to me. Cuz I was not a happy camper stuck in my blue clown suit with my arse crack showing all day with the training wheel thing that pumps shyte right into my veins. Not a good look for a grease monkey like me.

At one point, some real big guy came to me and said you best be nice now!! I said I don't want any more valiums.

That did not go well. I wanted to smoke some indian cigarettes @ -15 or so Celsius. He said it was a no go.

I shuck out regardless and laughed with the old women who were doing the same as me. Funny how sick ppl stick together.

 

[nickb2]

This passion of mine for the automotive comes from when I was 5 or so. My dad brought me to a canadian tire shop. I saw the car go up on the hoist. I had no idea what it was, but then I saw the guy just cut through the car in a swirl of sparks flying everywhere.

I asked my dad what he was doing. My dad being a university professor of languages for the greater region of Toronto, he said "he is fixing the car".

I knew right then, here is something I can do that my dad will never be able to do.

And I stuck to it.

For me, that is passion.

I go into work everyday having fun. It is such a ever expanding industry.

 

[nickb2]

Now my passion has gone forward, I am more inclined to the tech side, but in the end, the laws of physics apply.

I find the most complex in the simplest of forms. It is easy for me.

If I would have followed in my dads shoes, I would have wrote a book or two.

On this site, I may write mine in my own way.

It is a spiritual form in a sense. I find balance in what I do. Much like "auto defense"

For those who like the martial arts in its true form, I invite you all to read my dads book. https://www.amazon.com/Homing-Beacon-Martial-Arts/dp/1329960890

Not an easy read, even harder to be brought up in a family where you must perform to a high educated level. I found my own way. And I invite everyone here to hold themselves to a standard. One which is their own.

It's funny how life in hard times just makes you want to appreciate life.