It looks to me that-as is often the case-the intent of the law may be good(no unlicensed shops in residential areas, no yards full of junkers) but the implementation is problematic.
I think about a few years ago when I did a transmission swap(and clutch job) on the MG at a friends house, and would have 100% been in violation of the law had Cincinatti had something similar. I drove the car to his house and spent 3 nights there, with the car inoperable for about a day and a half. We were in a garage attached to his house, and with a mix of the door open and closed(open both for temperature control and to keep from killing ourselves with CO when running the engine). An engine hoist is probably the glaring "tool not found in a normal home", but there were also plenty of other things we used like torque wrenches(every shade tree mechanic SHOULD have at least one, but how many do most have?) or even the special purpose-made clutch alignment tool for this car. While we're at it, how many homes in the US will have a set of Whitworth wrenches in their toolbox?
I see the 24 hour rule as a big problem also. For one thing, it completely eliminates having a "winter project" or any other sort of long-term project, although the other rules take care of that pretty well. Even on the list of jobs specifically allowed, how many of you have ever pulled your brake pads and decided you wanted to either replace the rotors/drums or have them machined, and it was too late to go to a parts store or machine shop? How many of you have taken your rear brakes apart and realized you didn't have exactly the correct tool to retract the piston, or maybe broke a spring or sent it flying on the drums and had to go the next day to buy a replacement? What about finding an issue with one of the calipers and-again-having to wait until the next day to go get a replacement? I've had all of those happen to me, and I know I'm not the only one. At the same time, if the car is parked in my enclosed garage, who is snooping around to even find out?
I think about a few years ago when I did a transmission swap(and clutch job) on the MG at a friends house, and would have 100% been in violation of the law had Cincinatti had something similar. I drove the car to his house and spent 3 nights there, with the car inoperable for about a day and a half. We were in a garage attached to his house, and with a mix of the door open and closed(open both for temperature control and to keep from killing ourselves with CO when running the engine). An engine hoist is probably the glaring "tool not found in a normal home", but there were also plenty of other things we used like torque wrenches(every shade tree mechanic SHOULD have at least one, but how many do most have?) or even the special purpose-made clutch alignment tool for this car. While we're at it, how many homes in the US will have a set of Whitworth wrenches in their toolbox?
I see the 24 hour rule as a big problem also. For one thing, it completely eliminates having a "winter project" or any other sort of long-term project, although the other rules take care of that pretty well. Even on the list of jobs specifically allowed, how many of you have ever pulled your brake pads and decided you wanted to either replace the rotors/drums or have them machined, and it was too late to go to a parts store or machine shop? How many of you have taken your rear brakes apart and realized you didn't have exactly the correct tool to retract the piston, or maybe broke a spring or sent it flying on the drums and had to go the next day to buy a replacement? What about finding an issue with one of the calipers and-again-having to wait until the next day to go get a replacement? I've had all of those happen to me, and I know I'm not the only one. At the same time, if the car is parked in my enclosed garage, who is snooping around to even find out?
