maker movement

Bill from MA · Jun 30, 2011

Not been here in awhile, but remember conversations on how the next generation will find today"s new computerized tractors as easy to rebuild and collect as most of us find twenty plus year old machines today.

Not only will it happen, but it"s a "movement", and they have a web site and a magazine. I saw this on PBS news last night.

My middle and high school shops were nothing like this!

http://makezine.com/

Tom in TN · Jun 30, 2011

bill,

One of the problems with modern automobiles is that so many specialized tools are required to diagnose and repair failures. Both electronic devices and specialized mechanical devices are needed to do even basic maintenance. Although today's technology is more reliable and longer lasting than yesterday's technology, it is much more difficult to maintain.

Case in point - I replaced the fuel filter on my 1997 Ford Ranger a few years ago. Instead of a typical hose clamp on the inlet and outlet of the filter, a special connector is used. It can only be removed with a special tool and the connector can easily be damaged if the tool isn't inserted exactly right. A simple task has become a difficult task.

I'm not sure that the regular old farmer "shade-tree" mechanic is going to be able to keep up the technological changes that are being made and will be made in the future.

I like the old stuff.

Tom in TN

55 50 Ron · Jun 30, 2011

Tom, I agree 100%. My case-in point. To change a simple engine air filter on my 98 Chev Venture requires removing the coolant overflow tank. Then the cover on the filter compartment is so close to other engine parts that you need a mild "pry bar" to hold the cover out to squeeze the old filter out and the new filter in. Takes maybe 30 minutes vs maybe 2 minutes on the old air filter compartments on top of a carburetor. Much more fun to work on my old John Deere!!

Truthfully, our "new" technology is slowly painting us all into a corner.

bobs old iron · Jun 30, 2011

have 3 old mercury"s, enough room to stand inside engine compartment and work on. my tractors with mag, don"t need to be a rocket scientist to work on either. gotta love working on old machine"s.

Mike (WA) · Jun 30, 2011

Nope, don't think so.

I've got a 2005 JD "compact utility"- was looking at the "book" the other day, and its got at least 5 "control modules" of one type or another- little black plastic cubes with terminals. You can't bypass them, and the manufacturers are famous for discontinuing them after a few years, as a part of "planned obsolescence" so you'll have to buy a new tractor.

Also, as others mentioned, a part of the program is specialized diagnostic and other tools, that you can't do without, and who can afford them?

El Toro · Jun 30, 2011

I have an old 1981 Mercury Cougar been garaged kept most of its life. I also have a Wards garden tractor I bought new in 1971. Hal

greygoat · Jun 30, 2011

Fot "Tom in TN" and others, NAPA has those
special tools, singally, or in kits that have
several sizes. They were on sale this month
(June).

MSD · Jun 30, 2011

I have an X495 JD garden tractor where the mower itself actually stops every so often. Sometimes it will restart, some times not. 60 pages in the tech manual covering the wiring end of it. Last time it happened, we started by the book and did the diagnostic checks in the order it called for. Got about half way through without finding anything wrong to that point and it decided to start working again. Now we don't know if we hit on a bad connection and got it making contact again or what is going on. 5 or 6 different wires out of the switch itself going to modules and different switches. A simple toggle switch is the next replacement to fix the problem. It could have been used in the first place..

maker movement

Bill from MA

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Tom in TN

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55 50 Ron

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bobs old iron

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Mike (WA)

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El Toro

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greygoat

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MSD

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