Helping People with Problems on this Site.

[bruceb58]

Re: Helping People with Problems on this Site.

This site has several different types of people that frequent site.
1. Experienced mechanics.
2. Wannabee mechanics.
3. Someone that holds wrenches for the neighbor while he tries to change his spark plugs.
4. Someone that really needs help to get out of a bind.
5. People that think it's a chat room.
6. Padders working on being a Supreme Mariner or Moderator.
7. Computer geeks that are just cruising.
8. Linkers that obviously know nothing about the subjuct at hand but will link you with some other site.
9. People with little practical experince but excellent readers that want you to find a manual to read, to find the gap of a spark plug because they don't have a clue.
10. Those that are experinced and know that without a manual no one can remember all the fine points of repair of the hundreds of types of outboards built today.

11) Those that don't follow the manual but have been doing it their way for 30+ years without an incident therefor argue that their way is the best!

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Helping People with Problems on this Site.

What gets me is there are people that don't know what a screwdriver is, let alone how to use it. Then have them try to decypher a manual only results in a basket case for a real mechanic to try to figure out. Face it, there are people who are not mechanically inclined and no matter how much training they will never be able to be. That is why many items that are manufactured will have a label on things like "No serviceable parts" or "Only authorized certified technicians". This should be a big clue for the wanna be DYI'ers.

Being a service technician, you cannot always find out a problem by looking at the manual. As stated, an item may have a problem, but how many compontents does that item have that can cause the same problem. On some things unless you have the training backed up by many years of experience of daily hands on, only then your advice can be valuable and creditable.

I deal with lots of equipment that is operated by teens to retired citizens. While only a small percentage of failures is due to defects or age of components, a larger percentage of failures is caused by operator error. Only today, one of the stores reported a piece of equipment just died. My boss asked the manager to make sure it didn't get unplugged. "Yeah, I pulled it out and it is plugged in" the manager says. So I drive 40 miles, check the breakers, checked the high limits, checked the fuses, and only then I double checked to see if it was plugged in. After all the manager said it was plugged in and I should believe him. Yup,,,,,,It was NOT plugged in. Oh well, I've been at this so long, things like this doesn't even make me mad anymore.

BTW the search feature worked great for me finding the wiring diagram for the tilt of a 280 Volvo. I have a manual, but it is at a friends house. Thankfully the search feature did work and I didn't have to do a repeat post that had been posted many many times. This site still and will always rock!

 

[LongLine]

Re: Helping People with Problems on this Site.

IMO, the majority of questioners are sub-consciously asking for a little education on their boat/engine. Most educators believe a 2-way communication is the best methodology for that. Just think back to your school days...if you asked a question & the professor always replied - "go read the book"...wouldn't you have dropped that class pretty quick?

Granted this is a voluntary thing, granted there's 300K members with over 3M posts, granted some people shouldn't be allowed to breed much less handle tools.

Personally, I've only asked a few questions but generally read everything posted about 70/75 hp Erudes & Johnsons & control problems because I may someday develop similar issues. Tips & tidbits on '81's, etc may someday well apply to my '84.

Thank you I-boats & to the contributors. This is a very helpful forum to me & many many people.

Tom B.
(LongLine)