guys over 50 doing maintenance

50yr Street Mech said:
I know this is the wrong thread/post to be explaining this. I joined BITOG on 3/24/25. Yes, I'm a newbie/noob, whatever you want to call me. I felt a need to be somewhere where I kinda " fit in" ???. Why, after all these years, I can't answer. Was it retirement from my 36 yr incarceration at the NY Utility Company Con-Ed ??? All my friends have left hands. Lucky to change a battery on their own. I was fixing their bicycle's before we all started driving., then fixing their cars... I was always the odd ball grease monkey. I just finished 1.50 miles on a treadmill as part of my recovery exercises. The treadmill is located in my daughter's " playroom" on the ground floor of the house. Nice size room ! I almost immediately commandeered it to store oil, filters, ATF, new tires, spare car parts in those storage bins, carb cleaner, brake fluid, spray paint, undercoating, you name it. I have jugs of oil ALL OVER the place. She was booted out by age 6. She's 13 now. Am I "normal". Do I have an underlying psychological problem ???? Please help me....Am I a BITOGER ????? Stuff has date marks on them in boxes ....Does a " rational" person do these things ?????? Please..any answer will help. Thank you..
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You are among friends, here. We all have similar common interests, though our backgrounds vary by quite a bit, from doctors and PhDs, to military, IT professionals, engineers, and mechanics, along with several dozen other professions that are represented here.

I have an “oil stash” - and used to delight at finding oil for a great price at the NEX and stockpiling it. I still find it hard to resist a great price, whether I need the oil or not - and truthfully, I have enough oil to change each one of the cars several times right now…

You should see my “spare parts” inventory for Volvos…

Cheers!
 
Great to know I'm among friends here, even though I'm no rocket scientist. Just a High School Diploma with A LOT of trial and error car repair learning over the years. From engine/tranny swaps to body work and paint....and everything in between. Maybe I'll install a door to close off my stash room so the wife stops harassing me about it ? Out of sight, out of mind ...LOL
 
Astro14 said:
You are among friends, here. We all have similar common interests, though our backgrounds vary by quite a bit, from doctors and PhDs, to military, IT professionals, engineers, and mechanics, along with several dozen other professions that are represented here.

I have an “oil stash” - and used to delight at finding oil for a great price at the NEX and stockpiling it. I still find it hard to resist a great price, whether I need the oil or not - and truthfully, I have enough oil to change each one of the cars several times right now…

You should see my “spare parts” inventory for Volvos…

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Well said Astro. Thank you.
 
MaximaGuy said:
I turned 51 this year, and let’s just say my body isn’t as enthusiastic about getting under the car anymore—and my wife? She’s been voicing that sentiment for over 20 years now.

I’ve been putting off a brake job on my MB for over a year. The parts have been sitting in the garage, just waiting. This week, Austin weather finally cooperated, so I figured I’d tackle it between 3 and 5 PM. I took off a wheel and started looking for the right sockets… and couldn’t find what I needed. That’s when my brain just kind of switched off my body and said, “Yeah, let’s not do this today.” So I buttoned everything back up and decided to write this post instead.

Do any of you go through this tug-of-war—where your heart wants to get it done, but your brain (or body) just isn’t on board? And for those over 50, do you still enjoy wrenching, or has it become more of a chore?

Suggestions to keep enjoying it....
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I'm more than a decade ahead of you. Recently, it took me four hours to do a two-hour brake job (basically clean things up and lubricate the caliper pins on two calipers). I haven't lost my enthusiasm, but my body has. Maybe my mind, too.

If I had a house with a garage, I think this would be different. I could take my time, and I wouldn't have to cart my tools all over the place. This month, I have to do a serpentine belt. It shouldn't be a big deal, but I've never done one before.

There comes a time when cowboys are too old to mount a horse, and I'm just about there.
 
I agree with you on that one. I remember back in the day,( I was a teenager), a friend of mine, a shop owner, showed me this big book on how much and how long it takes to do a repair job. Blew my mind ! How can you put a time stamp on it ?!?! I mean, other problems arise while you're trying to get the specific job done. I guess it's all about trying to put a quote on a job....but that's where the shoddy work comes into play...Rush Rush Rush to stay on that quote. Do it yourself, there is no clock ticking behind you. Just shut down for the day or evening, and pick it back up whenever. Want it done right, do it yourself.
 
I feel you're pain Marrk. I have a climate controlled 2 bay garage, ( a mini split unit ) , on the ground floor of my house. Ceilings are too low for a lift, so it's all jacks / stands / and rollin around under the car. Recovering from 2nd back surgery now. Back is loaded with arthritis. I'll be 59. Still, with the garage, takes me 3X longer to do jobs than it did when I was in my late 40's. Went downhill FAST. This cowboy coming off the horse soon too :(
 
StarCaller said:
Hmm, I'd rather be 20 & don't need any power tools /
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Me too, but I cant remember a time when I didn't need, have, or want good tools - probably because I had "stuff" to fix.
As a kid motorized lawn and home products is what earned me spending money - mowers, trimmers, snow blowers.
These devices covered my liabilities - dirt bike parts, gasoline and ammunition.
 
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Even if I had the ceiling height, I can't afford one anyway. Maybe play Lotto, hit it big, and buy new cars.!!! Problem solved !!!! ( I only have bad luck, just be throwin away more $$$$$.....who am I kiddin :( )
 
grasscutter said:
60 here. I do it because I can't afford a mechanic and to be honest, I don't trust most of the mechanics out there anyway.

On the flip side, I have lots of nice tools and they're mostly all Snap-on. :)
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I am lucky to have 2 good shops nearby. Silicon Valley is a huge car place, so lotsa good shops.
One place helps me out a lot; I always give them a tip.
Once I asked about getting my 3/8" SO torque wrench calibrated; the owner offered to let me take one of his home while mine was out.
I feel nekkid without my Snappy TW.
1755399546865.webp
 
75 ?!?!?! Are you Lee Majors ??? The 6 million dollar man from the 70's TV show ???? Good for you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad to see someone at 75 still wrenching ! Keeps you busy and you don't lose you're skills. CONGRATS ARE DESERVED HERE.... HOOOORAY for YOU !!!!!!!! Not many people will EVER be able to accomplish that :)
 
Be 68 in 10 days. 7 family vehicles to maintain. Luckily, 2 sons learning how to do it for when I can't anymore, and a good (for the most part) fleet that doesn't require much more than routine maintenance. Best thing was offing that furshlugginer Jeep Liberty, which was a maintenance pig. Spent countless hours under that rat.
 
Good for you ! Passing the torch to 2 sons willing to learn. You don't see that too much anymore in the new generations. Congrats !!!!! Meanwhile, do what maintenance you can to stay active and teach :)
 
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