O/T Do you do your repairs by your self?

37 chief · Jul 12, 2009

When I do my repairs what ever they may be, pulling motors, splitting tractors. I like to work by my self. When someone comes around to visit, which isn't too often, I just stop what ever I'm doing, can't work and talk. There are times when a extra hand would be nice, but I can find a way to do it. I guess being on off shifts when I worked at my factory maintenance job, for 36 years mostly by my self, I learned to get along fine. Stan

Anonymous-0 · Jul 12, 2009

quickest way I've found to owies and mashed body parts is to have a helper and/or company......

Always found helpers to know a better way of doing something also.

Dave

Billy Shafer · Jul 12, 2009

I used to work with high voltage systems. No one with me unless I knew I could trust them not to do anything stupid.No talking allowed unless it was about the job. I prefer to work alone. Guess I just got use to it. Now I like being alone with just peace and quite. Plus if I screw up no one will know.

Errin OH · Jul 12, 2009

By myself unless its my son or son inlaw. Will be adding a grandson to that list in a few years. I told grandma she better get all she wants in the first few years because after that he's mine.....

flying belgian · Jul 12, 2009

I mostly work by myself but I like having someone around to help.

jbp · Jul 12, 2009

Had my combine engine in parts a couple years ago. The wife kept me in coffee with orders she could look but not touch. When time came to reassemble those parts she stayed at the house, don't need any distractions.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 12, 2009

Entirely opposite to most of the comments. Much rather have someone around to lend a hand. This year hired a mechanic that retired from the vehicle test area that I had worked. Great help, good companionship and we get things done more safely. Pay $15/hr and don't claim as an expense which helps him with his SS revenue. He never finished school so not going to have a discussion about Goethe's Faust, but a good sincere guy that had to work for everything he has.

Bob - MI · Jul 12, 2009

I work by myself most projects. I have found that I am pretty particular about how I want things done and I don't have much patience with those who do it sloppy. Due to this I can be pretty slow sometimes but when it's done it's done right.

I helped a guy one day who was renovating an old house and he was so bad that I couldn't go back there. I didn't want to be associated with poor workmanship.

Ray · Jul 12, 2009

I work by myself,other people just get on my nerves.If i want to set down or leave for a while i just do it,no one else to worry about.I have my shop fixed so i can split tractors or whatever by myself.

Matt in TN · Jul 12, 2009

I like to work by myself, but I don't get distracted by having people around.

old · Jul 12, 2009

I would say 80% of the time I work alone but sure wish it was say more like 50%. There are lots of things I do that if I had help would get done a lot faster but I'm a one man op. so pretty much how every thing gets done.

pete black · Jul 12, 2009

prefer to work by myself, find i do better work with just my own concentration. like you i worked 25 years in electrical substation and generating plant control rooms by my self which probably contributed to it.

GeneMO · Jul 12, 2009

Yes, I agree, a helper is mostly a distraction. That young blonde, neighbor lady with the big, well you knows. Her perfume stinks up my shop, and she complains about breaking nails and all that kinds stuff. I wish she would stay home!!!

Gene

shaun wallace · Jul 12, 2009

Seems like me,myself and I have gotten along pretty well for years. Some things take longer to than should figuring how to do it by yourself.

Billy NY · Jul 12, 2009

Happens here too, always a visitor(s) on the weekend, used to be tough when I worked away, cause that was the only time I had to get things done when home.

Other than that kind of scenario, often times I like to work alone, though some things you do need help, and good help is highly appreciated.

When you have time and are a fussin and or meticulous about your work, working alone can be rewarding.

Tough one to call, like to work on my own, sometimes good to have help, though with poor help, sometimes it's better to work alone.

One thing is for sure, when you need an extra person, there is no one around, guess another good one for discussion would be, how to you get around problems like that, things you have to do when you have no help, lot of tricks of the work alone trade there, I was just telling someone how I do stockade fence jobs alone, goes a lot faster with help, but with some adjustments you can set it up to do alone.

S.Crum · Jul 12, 2009

Since Mom and Dad died years ago, I've done things on my own. ALL shop work gets done when I get it done, same for the yard work and earning a living. My wife wouldn't be caught dead in on of my shop buildings and the kids only when they want something. People ask why I own this tool or that piece of equipment, the answer is always the same, so I can get the job done. I've found I even fill in the time gaps with doing my own laundry. I've had occasions where I've asked for help and waited till it was apparent no help was forthcoming. I even put up my own 2000 SqFt polebarn and insulated it. Hired the concrete work out and paid a guy to help me put the roof on otherwise it was my game. People who i've asked for help in the past and didnt, find out in short order that if they want my help I now cost money. Wife is p***ed because she's tired of the Sedan DeVille I provided for her and she wants one of those imported pi** cans. Told her no problem, she can buy it and pay to have it serviced and fixed. I won't touch it. About the only thing left is the cooking and cleaning. I think I could handle that too.

fixerupper · Jul 12, 2009

I do all my own work except for transmission work on newer tractors. Somethimes there's a trick to them that's best left up to those who know what they're doing.

A close neighbor who happens to be a good friend, and I sometimes get together for some building/construction projects. He and I both think alike and like to do things to perfection so we get along pretty well. Another benefit to working with him is he has some neat tools I don't have! Jim

tractormarkb · Jul 12, 2009

I am currently building my own house, myself. The only help I've had so far is having my 16 year old son carry the shingles to the Roof. Everything else I perfer to do myself.

john d · Jul 12, 2009

I do about everthing except work on modern vehicle electronics or brakes. Tractors, equipment, house remodeling, etc, I do mostly by myself. Used to work well with my dad, and my son is good help. One grandson will be in another few years.

DJM75 · Jul 12, 2009

I work on everything with or without help.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 12, 2009

do 95% of the work myself,can't chew gum and walk at the same time either

steveormary · Jul 12, 2009

Having done alot of work without a helper and with the quality of helpers available I got so I preferred to work alone.

steveormary

rustyj14 · Jul 12, 2009

I had a helper who would come over if i needed help with something. Gave him tractors, lawn mowers, parts, advice, etc. in lieu of pay. Fixed things for him if he didn't know how.
One day he accused me of switching mowers on him, so he got the bum's rush, and now i work alone! I found there is more than one way to skin a cat!

Andy Motteberg · Jul 12, 2009

I work on and do repairs myself.

Bill in Colo · Jul 12, 2009

Mostly by myself,tractor and implements don't do cars and seldom touch my pickups. Both sons and one daughter were great help till they left home. Still discuss projects with the boys,oldest owns a water well drilling co and the younger bosses a mechanic crew that mainly works on cranes.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 12, 2009

Do my own mechanical and electrical repairs. I have cussed out my mechanic several times over the years.

dwrk · Jul 12, 2009

Only help I ever have is my father or our Amish employee. Either one creates more work for me than if I do it alone. My 6 year old daughter is more help than both of them put together.

Rollie NE PA · Jul 12, 2009

Yes I am a loner. I like doing things myself. You kind of learn to work differently when you work alone.

barn E · Jul 12, 2009

Much as possible. Ain't that the general idea. Pick and choose. Usually 90 percent. That's the reason I retired. Had to work with team that usually wanted to do things the hard way. Used to do tasks on my lunch hour. Then team would say thats our overtime for the week end. I thought if I could do something in half hour, didn't need no overtime. My bad. Dave

MF165farmer · Jul 13, 2009

I work alone about 85% of the time I use to work with my dad but he would alway get so mad at some think if he couldn't get it off the first time an he just screw things up when he got like that My cousin is pretty good help he just needs a little more experiance Me an my uncle think a like an we both like to work alone so when we work on something together we work pretty good

Anonymous-0 · Jul 13, 2009

Most of the time, I work alone, and that is fine with me. But there are times when I can't figure a way to do a particular job without someone helping me. Bleeding brakes is such a job--my wife has helped me do that lots of times. But she really does not like to spend time in the shop.

My son likes me to help him do things and I am glad to be able to teach him some of the things I have learned. But we probably get less done in a given amount of time, since we talk back and forth the whole time we are together. He is darn good company!

Fawteen · Jul 13, 2009

I do the things I'm technically competent and physically able to do.

I farm out a LOT more than I used to simply because I don't have the tools or knowledge to work on computerized engines, and I'm too old, fat and stove up to be crawling around on my belly like a snake, so under-car stuff like exhaust gets farmed out too.

When I do work, whether it be on machinery, carpentry, plumbing, whatever, I usually work by myself, primarily because there's no one available to help me. Patience has never been one of my virtues. When I want something done, I want it done NOW, and waiting hours, days or weeks for someone to be available to help me is not an option if I can find any way around it.

A side benefit is that it gives me a lot of excuses to buy tools like welders and hoists and cherry pickers and such.

Paul from MI · Jul 13, 2009

I work alone most all the time. Doesn't matter if it's carpentry, electrical, plumbing, working on tractors or whatever. Part of the fun & challenge is figuring how to do something by yourself. Sometimes I don't have the equipment so hire things done, and sometimes, like painting the house, help from my three sons is sure welcome. Gosh, I hate painting.
Paul

NCWayne · Jul 13, 2009

If I need help I ask for it, otherwise I do much better alone. Often a three hour job with help could have been a two hour job alone where I didn't have to spend time looking out for the safety of, walking around, etc my "help".

O/T Do you do your repairs by your self?

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads