14 thoughts on “The More You Look The Worse It Gets!”
Some years ago I saw a pickup on a hoist with the front disc brakes completely worn off and the brake lines had been pinched off with a vice grips. I asked the mechanic/shop owner if the pickup was in to have the front brakes repaired and replaced. No, the pickup owner wouldn’t let him fix the front brakes and if he did he wouldn’t pay for it. The worst part was the pickup was used to pull a stock trailer hauling cattle. I told the shop owner that I wouldn’t even let that thing in my shop since I would be liable if because of not fixing the brakes I could be held liable. He hadn’t thought about that.
Reminds me of what the flip-flop mechanics do on the heavy trucks for their flip-flop drivers.
Then you are accused of racism and a poor mechanic when you issue an Out of Service (essentially a “do not drive until correctly repaired” ticket) an immediately submit it.
…and don’t overlook that if non-english conversant drivers are being handed licenses to drive those heavy trucks, third worlders are also being hired to maintain them.
Most major US airlines send some of their planes to Guatemala for service.
Where I live in S America, that’s called an impeccable vehicle!
Take a look at some of the Squat kits people are putting on their 4×4’s.
Wow. That is just scary.
How’s it go,necessity is the mother of all inventions? Wow just wow
Redneck inganeers not the brightest people.
I once saw an FLH with a piece of rebar hose-clamped to the broken swingarm. It had been that way for years, according to the owner.
And the sad part is that these yahoos are on the road in states that do not enforce vehicle safety inspections. Mind I do not like forced (taxes) vehicle inspections and MI and IN do not have them, but this is the downside, you never know what is next or behind you in such condition.
Have had a tire explode next to my door when passing a truck, and seen wheels zipping past and bouncing into the verge a couple of times, usually from some 18 wheeler that did not torque the nuts (or the driver).
Just recently we had a scrapper that would patrol the city (South Bend, IN) looking for metal to pick up and cash in for recycling, his pickup frame was caved right behind the cab and the rest rusting like mad, but he kept on driving it, money to be hauled. Locals took up a collection for a new(er) truck and did a deal with a local used car sales place just to get the hazard off the road. The guy was overwhelmed with joy and in tears, which of course made the local news at 6.
Hard worker in tough times, is due respect and like this time, some support.
The so called “safety inspections” are not a guarantee. I have seen vehicles that I know for a fact there is NO WAY they possibly passed the safety inspection sporting a shiny sticker on the broken windshield. Everybody in the area knows 50 bucks to the guy at {insert shop name here} and you “pass” the inspection.
Regarding the fellas comment about “self-medicating”…..I honestly believe that genetics plays a major role in folks that have crap like this. I bet if you burrowed back into the family trees of some of those people; you would find Irish, Welch, English and other assorted crossbreds.
I remember one old bean farmer who used beat on the battery terminals with a hatchet to try to get a better connection on his pickup instead of actually spending the $$ to get the needed replacement battery. Had to be around 1975. Fun part was that he wasn’t some old broke guy, just a cheap crazy guy with serious cash. Nothing like someone who’d throw pine logs n stumps in the kitchen fireplace for heat.
FedEx trucks around here used to run on near bald tires and the commercial trash haulers are worse. Self inspection means run it till it breaks & that includes air hoses n hydraulics.
Some years ago I saw a pickup on a hoist with the front disc brakes completely worn off and the brake lines had been pinched off with a vice grips. I asked the mechanic/shop owner if the pickup was in to have the front brakes repaired and replaced. No, the pickup owner wouldn’t let him fix the front brakes and if he did he wouldn’t pay for it. The worst part was the pickup was used to pull a stock trailer hauling cattle. I told the shop owner that I wouldn’t even let that thing in my shop since I would be liable if because of not fixing the brakes I could be held liable. He hadn’t thought about that.
Reminds me of what the flip-flop mechanics do on the heavy trucks for their flip-flop drivers.
Then you are accused of racism and a poor mechanic when you issue an Out of Service (essentially a “do not drive until correctly repaired” ticket) an immediately submit it.
…and don’t overlook that if non-english conversant drivers are being handed licenses to drive those heavy trucks, third worlders are also being hired to maintain them.
Most major US airlines send some of their planes to Guatemala for service.
Where I live in S America, that’s called an impeccable vehicle!
Take a look at some of the Squat kits people are putting on their 4×4’s.
Wow. That is just scary.
How’s it go,necessity is the mother of all inventions? Wow just wow
Redneck inganeers not the brightest people.
I once saw an FLH with a piece of rebar hose-clamped to the broken swingarm. It had been that way for years, according to the owner.
And the sad part is that these yahoos are on the road in states that do not enforce vehicle safety inspections. Mind I do not like forced (taxes) vehicle inspections and MI and IN do not have them, but this is the downside, you never know what is next or behind you in such condition.
Have had a tire explode next to my door when passing a truck, and seen wheels zipping past and bouncing into the verge a couple of times, usually from some 18 wheeler that did not torque the nuts (or the driver).
Just recently we had a scrapper that would patrol the city (South Bend, IN) looking for metal to pick up and cash in for recycling, his pickup frame was caved right behind the cab and the rest rusting like mad, but he kept on driving it, money to be hauled. Locals took up a collection for a new(er) truck and did a deal with a local used car sales place just to get the hazard off the road. The guy was overwhelmed with joy and in tears, which of course made the local news at 6.
Hard worker in tough times, is due respect and like this time, some support.
The so called “safety inspections” are not a guarantee. I have seen vehicles that I know for a fact there is NO WAY they possibly passed the safety inspection sporting a shiny sticker on the broken windshield. Everybody in the area knows 50 bucks to the guy at {insert shop name here} and you “pass” the inspection.
Regarding the fellas comment about “self-medicating”…..I honestly believe that genetics plays a major role in folks that have crap like this. I bet if you burrowed back into the family trees of some of those people; you would find Irish, Welch, English and other assorted crossbreds.
I remember one old bean farmer who used beat on the battery terminals with a hatchet to try to get a better connection on his pickup instead of actually spending the $$ to get the needed replacement battery. Had to be around 1975. Fun part was that he wasn’t some old broke guy, just a cheap crazy guy with serious cash. Nothing like someone who’d throw pine logs n stumps in the kitchen fireplace for heat.
FedEx trucks around here used to run on near bald tires and the commercial trash haulers are worse. Self inspection means run it till it breaks & that includes air hoses n hydraulics.