guys over 50 doing maintenance

[ecotourist]

Two fun facts, oilBabe got a pacemaker about a decade ago as she has AV node block.
Second, the first pacemaker recipient outlived the inventor of the pacemaker and the doctor who implanted it.
https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/eplab/articles/look-back-85-years-cardiac-pacing#:~:text=The surgery was successful and,more than one billion times.

One of my former staff, a cardiovascular surgeon, (yes he was that old) also invented the cardiac pacemaker. Only problem was he couldn't figure out how to implant it. The solution was to push the electrode down to the bottom of the ventricle and trigger the ventricle from the reverse direction. As he said (he's long deceased) the problem was that he "was only about 4" too short".

Nowadays they implant an electrode at the SA node and another at the top of the ventricle. The pacemaker observes a beat from the SA node and watches for it to arrive at the top of the ventricle (meaning the beat has made it through the AV node block). If it doesn't arrive the pacemaker sends out an impulse which causes the ventricle to beat. It also checks to make sure the SA node is beating often enough. If it doesn't it just takes over. So you have a pacemaker that ensures the heart is paced just as the SA node prefers (responding to activity, excitement, etc) but takes over entirely if the SA node ever goes for a dump. The result is a pacemaker that only uses as much energy as is absolutely necessary so the battery will last for a very long time.

Ask me how I know.

 

[Whimsey]

I turned 71 the end of this June. I'm down to doing fluid changes and work on the topside of the engine. I "acquired Lyme Disease" over 30 years ago, which they didn't know much about at that time, and it has done severe permanent damage to my joints and overall health. I keep active as much as I can and enjoy doing what I'm able to do on my vehicles. I'm not going "quietly into the night" .

 

[antonmnster]

49 but the biggest difference for me is how much more safety conscious I am. There are so many ways to get hurt, that’s what feels closer than before. I run marathons and weight train. I’m used to pain so wrenching is still relaxing.

 

[D1dad]

I probably won’t be able to walk tomorrow. I’m doing front and rear diffs, two new wheel bearings that I keep putting off and rotors and pads. Plus, servicing the cvt, which is the easiest part. The front transfer should come with a warning that you need to be a 12 yr old gymnast if you don’t have a lift! And I don’t! I’m up @4 and taking advil and watching yoga to loosen up.

 

[Starving Electrician]

If I am gathering one thing from all you gentleman is that I am glad my wife hounds me into taking care of myself. I love working with my hands, on cars, houses, industrial equipment, and on and on. I am still on the young side at 35 and I feel great. I want to keep with it like some of the guys in this thread. I want to be in my 70's still putting in work. Thank you guys for the inspiration, and keep at it guys.

 

[demarpaint]

My FIL was wrenching into his 80's, until Macular Degeneration and botched eye surgery caused him to go blind. That gives hope to all those interested in DIY work for older folks.

 

[repairman54]

One benefit of being old and retired is not having to kill yourself doing a weekend or overnight repair, which always turns into ''but wait there's more" so you can get to work on Monday.
I'm a '54 model year and my latest project is replacing rusted fenders on the wife's daily driver.

 

[doitmyself]

I'll turn 70 next March and it's healthy for me to stay active mentally and physically. I'm fortunate to be able to pick and choose the car maintenance and challenges I enjoy and delegate the other stuff to a trusted mechanic friend who moonlights at home. I am mentally adjusting myself to delegating aspects of my previous life to others. It is not easy, but is mandatory. That old saying about change being constant. Adapt or die............becomes adapt, but still die! Stay healthy in mind and body everyone . Most things in moderation. Maintain life balance.

 

[paulswagelock]

61, back surgery for disks several years ago. Still do all I can, once I stop I know I won’t start again. Play pickleball a few times a week, still drop trees, help friends with projects, maintain my boat, etc.
Yesterday was tire rotation and oil change on my son’s Sentra.
Did I mention I hate the 22 plastic clips on the undercarriage guard on Nissans….

 

[Number_35]

49 but the biggest difference for me is how much more safety conscious I am. There are so many ways to get hurt, that’s what feels closer than before. I run marathons and weight train. I’m used to pain so wrenching is still relaxing.

I ran Twin Cities, back in '92 and '93. Beautiful marathon!

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Turning 59 in Jan 26'. Currently recovering from 2 disc implant L3/4 this go round. L4/5 in 2020. No doubt I slowed down tremendously. What took me 6 hrs, now takes me 2 days. Just don't have that oomph anymore. Used to pull all niters, and go to sleep with the birds chirpin. No more. 8pm is my cut off. Wouldn't even dream of pullin engines and tranny's anymore. Still do all my own maintenance , brakes and what not. Just can't seem to put the wrenches down. It's in my blood. You just have to be " one of those people". I remember climbing engine piles in junkyard's when I was a kid,,,,,and my friends were playing baseball......It's just in you somehow.

 

[D1dad]

The great Clint Eastwood said “don’t let the old man in” and I’m doing my darnedest not to. Although sometimes he just barges in. We celebrated my youngest son’s graduation and enlisting in the navy and shipping out in a few weeks this last Saturday. I had a couple of childhood friends show up that are lifelongers and we drank way more than I’ve done in years. We all had to prove to each other we aren’t getting old. Sunday, we realized we’re getting old. We even got out the ball gloves and proceeded to show off our athletic ability to my oldest son who pitched division 1 ball and topped out in the mid 90’s. I think I probably now need surgery lol.

 

[Tempest1]

52 and still do everything I can. Had too many poor experiences with shops back in the day + they are crazy expensive now.

My son's 02 truck is occasionally giving opportunities to teach him about car repair and maintenance.

 

[threeputtpar]

Closing in on 51 later this year and still enjoy doing all the work I have the skill set to do. Finally broke down and bought a Quick Jack so I have more room to roll on a creeper versus the padded mat I've been using for decades.

Since going back on the carnivore diet in January, any semblence of sore muscles and joints is a faded memory. I bought the Q5 for cheap after it dropped an exhaust valve and removed and rebuilt the head over a long weekend and my body didn't even notice on Monday morning.

 

[stanlee]

50 should be ZERO drop off unless you have medical issues. Either a) you're a mechanic and conditioned to do what you do everyday along with the help of lifts and tools to make life better or b) you are not a mechanic and at best you wrench on the weekends and can cope with whatever short term effects that day or two of wrenching caused. I'm 53, fat and out of shape. I feel fine WHILE I'm doing it. I'll deal with the one night of stiffness and fighting my wife off from Saturday night lovin to save the THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS I have saved. Even when I THINK about going to a mechanic I get the quote which reminds me why I don't go. At this point the ac system (because of refrigerant recovery and honestly not wanting to learn) is the only thing I don't do short of engine/transmission removal. Also tools make all the difference. If you use 12-24v electric tools, air tools (air hammer being air tool #1), torch, leverage tools, cutting tools most jobs become more intimidating than actually hard physically. I still even LIKE working on cars/trucks.

 

[agarb]

Installing a lift in my barn was a game-changer for me. No more fussing with jackstands and rolling around underneath on a creeper.

 

[Heywood7860]

Yeah, I don't attempt any tranny changes or rear differential, etc...., anymore as I'm not near as strong as I once was
from about age 50 on back. But, I sure do miss it. Grew up working on all my own stuff but for many, including me, I
just can't handle it anymore. More minor things I still attempt (oil changes, fluid changes, etc...), and have pretty good luck achieving those.

 

[ripcord]

Definitely not bench pressing any C4's into place any more.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I’m about to start working on the front brakes of my son’s Silverado. I used to give him a boost to get get auto maintenance projects done and now, with him at 33 years of age, he gives me a boost.

 

[D60]

I’m about to start working on the front brakes of my son’s Silverado. I used to give him a boost to get get auto maintenance projects done and now, with him at 33 years of age, he gives me a boost.

The primary reason for having kids used to be child labor. It's not always a bad thing.