Saving Money On Repairs - Watch U-Tube Videos

Duane WI

Member
How many of you guys watch U-Tube Videos to learn how to do things? I have used it for years to figure out how to fix things on my newer cars and home appliances. Repairs that are simple to do but require some knowledge that you just don't have. I added it up and over the past couple of months I have save over $1000 doing repairs I just couldn't do without someone first showing me how. On average I fix my cars for about 25% of taking them into the dealer. This in itself allows me to keep my old cars running longer. Having 10 to 15 year old cars doesn't work out too well if you have to pay someone to do repairs. Here are some examples.

My washing machine was having a problem and it is about 15 years old. Thinking time to just buy a new one but thought why don't I see what is on U-Tube for the machine. Within about 15 minutes I new what was wrong and how to fix it. $10 in parts latter the machine is back in action. The repair took 15 minutes to do. So U-Tube save me the price of a new washing machine or at least put it off for a few years. I fixed my dryer a couple years ago. Similar thing. Cheap fix and easy to do.

I had to replace the rear door locks on my car. I new what was wrong but could not figure out how to get the thing apart. Watched a video and took it apart. I spent about 3 hours fixing the door locks. Figured that save me at least $300 over the dealer.

Did a front wheel hub/bearing on my car. Similar thing saved $200 easy.

I always hear on this sight we are loosing old skills. So make a U-Tube video on how to fix a magneto and the information will be passed on for decades.
 
Oh, absolutely, and not just on repairs--practically any skill or endeavor has multiple Youtube videos showing techniques. Of course, like anything else, it does require a bit of sorting and sifting to separate the knowledgeable from the not-so-knowledgeable, or to match the solution to the tools and techniques you have available, but it's certainly a great starting point. Just watched a couple last night to figure out a problem with my truck tailgate, and am well on my way to get it back working again thanks to the tips offered.
 
I agree and use it myself; however there are those where they try to demonstrate their communications skills and fail miserably with it. The uhs, stammering and readjusting the camera sends me to another site.
 
Yup, just yesterday. Had to replace the radiator, fan/motor/shroud assembly. Watched utube video..it showed all the shortcuts plus where the hidden bolts were.

Removed and installed new in 6 beers.
 
Yes I found videos on how to disassemble and what to solder in the windshield wiper motor on my Blazer. Saved the price of a new motor. Hundreds??
I've made a few very simple videos on youtube showing me replacing water pumps, carburetors, etc. on some of my old iron although I'd hardly call them "how to" videos. Pretty basic stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HTGdguPMsU New water pumps on the Merc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn8q0ygd3k4 Un sticking the valves on the 39 Ford.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1ZW9VE_6Dg Getting the head back on the MF Perkins diesel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFYgf4FTH1A Replacing the water pump on the 730 Case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT9LNE2flqc water pump on the Cockshutt 40
I don't know if they have helped anybody else but they are good to refresh my own memory on repairs I have done and forgotten.
Cockshutt pump
 

Washing machines, dishwashers and computer repair are my 3 biggies. Very, very handy to be able to see what someone is trying to explain.
 
You betcha. I've saved a fortune on repairs of all sorts of imaginable things. Even web pages with step by step pictures. Even complex electronic device repairs of things not supposed to be 'repairable'. I also noticed that if you ever want to side step any lock or security device, some teen somewhere has a video on how to do it in record time.
 
Yup. Recently, a few co-workers spent a week of lunch hours replacing wires and testing components on a Silverado with an abs and srs light on. I wandered over one day, got a rundown of the problem, and went to YouTube with it. Had a solution real quick and easy, the brake light switch was the culprit. They questioned my solution and went about their way. Next week, I overheard the owner telling the other guy it appeared to be fixed. I asked what he did, he replaced the switch. :D
 
(quoted from post at 07:04:27 08/21/16) I agree and use it myself; however there are those where they try to demonstrate their communications skills and fail miserably with it. The uhs, stammering and readjusting the camera sends me to another site.

Yep, Some are very frustrating!

Rick
 
You better get on U-Tube and fire up those how to dos!! I have watched so many of them and as others have said they are good, great, and some not so goods. I posted up the way about wind turbines on U-Tube. How to make firecrackers, fix radio problems, Ford ignition coil packs, correct way to sharpen a knife, and SOOOOO many more. WHY didn't I invent U-Tube??? I read several years ago that they are down loading new videos every second. Something like 200 hours of stuff every second???? After you troll around a few hours and see how much stuff is on there you can believe it! When you type in what you want, watch the first one and if you don't like it just click on the end of the running time portion and the next one comes up. This will keep you in the same search. If you go up or down these are variations of your search. Need to learn a little to use it correctly. GREAT tool of the internet. Watched something just last night. Watch the one from Austrailia on how to aluminum cast a fire ant nest. WILD!!!!!
 
Get estimate for serpentine belt change 150 dollars , go home watch Youtube vid 8 minutes . Go outside change belt 4 minutes. You can 't beat it . Forget how to cut a thread on a lathe YouTube at least ten guys giving lessons.
 
Hi I run a shop and farm here, if a customer brings in stuff I've never worked on Youtube or Google search is the first place to look to see about it and what guys say. There are a couple times I found $5 parts and 1/2 hour of time fixes for expensive electrical parts on my Ford and GM trucks.
Sometimes half the battle with online stuff is does the guy showing it have a real clue, and you got to be smart enough to go through what he said and make sure you aren't digging a bigger hole listening to him to fix your problem.

The Net generally is pretty useful to find out about machines a guys looking to buy as well, with forum comments on what goes wrong, what parts are expensive or you can't buy anymore. And how guys like the machines in use.
 
(quoted from post at 09:39:47 08/21/16) How many of you guys watch U-Tube Videos to learn how to do things? I have used it for years to figure out how to fix things on my newer cars and home appliances. Repairs that are simple to do but require some knowledge that you just don't have. I added it up and over the past couple of months I have save over $1000 doing repairs I just couldn't do without someone first showing me how. On average I fix my cars for about 25% of taking them into the dealer. This in itself allows me to keep my old cars running longer. Having 10 to 15 year old cars doesn't work out too well if you have to pay someone to do repairs. Here are some examples.

My washing machine was having a problem and it is about 15 years old. Thinking time to just buy a new one but thought why don't I see what is on U-Tube for the machine. Within about 15 minutes I new what was wrong and how to fix it. $10 in parts latter the machine is back in action. The repair took 15 minutes to do. So U-Tube save me the price of a new washing machine or at least put it off for a few years. I fixed my dryer a couple years ago. Similar thing. Cheap fix and easy to do.

I had to replace the rear door locks on my car. I new what was wrong but could not figure out how to get the thing apart. Watched a video and took it apart. I spent about 3 hours fixing the door locks. Figured that save me at least $300 over the dealer.

Did a front wheel hub/bearing on my car. Similar thing saved $200 easy.

I always hear on this sight we are loosing old skills. So make a U-Tube video on how to fix a magneto and the information will be passed on for decades.

U-tube videos are just like the peaple who make them. Some people serve as an example to follow. Other people serve as a warning of what not to do.
 

Yessir!! They have saved me a lot of time by seeing where you can cut corners. I usually watch a couple of different ones but it's usually narrowed down to the same ones. Just the other day I watched one on putting in a new ignition lock. According to the official GM manual it would have taken at least an hour. Even counting the time it took to watch the video it only took 10 minutes.
 
I watch the different repair videos all the time. After awhile you learn who has the best ones.
This summer I saved my BIL $800. on his riding mower repair. The engine would not make a complete revolution even when it was jumped with jumper pack. He took it to a shop for repair. The guy adjusted the valves and replaced the starter. He told my BIL that he needed a new engine for $945. I found a video that explained the problem and how to fix it. The cam shaft on a briggs engine has a little mechanism that opens the exhaust valve to release compression so the engine will start. I pulled the engine apart and found the mechanism was broke. New cam and gasket, $95.00
 

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