Do your own equipment maintenance, or send it to a shop?

[Bowhunter01]

How many of you work on your own equipment, and how many pay someone to do it? I'm finding that I'd rather have someone else fix stuff and spend my time either working or doing something fun. I'm a much better tree guy than mechanic.

Maybe I'm getting lazy. Anyone have a mechanic on staff? I've thought about hiring a buddy of mine to work on stuff at my shop one day a week. Filter changes and small repairs aren't hard, but if I don't set aside time to actually do it, it won't get done. And I'd rather do almost anything else on Saturday morning then crawl under a piece of equipment.

 

[ducaticorse]

How many of you work on your own equipment, and how many pay someone to do it? I'm finding that I'd rather have someone else fix stuff and spend my time either working or doing something fun. I'm a much better tree guy than mechanic.

Maybe I'm getting lazy. Anyone have a mechanic on staff? I've thought about hiring a buddy of mine to work on stuff at my shop one day a week. Filter changes and small repairs aren't hard, but if I don't set aside time to actually do it, it won't get done. And I'd rather do almost anything else on Saturday morning then crawl under a piece of equipment.

I do what I can when I can. All my trucks AND chipper need work right now. If I had disposable income at this very moment, I'd send them all off to the shop to get brought up to spec and be done with it.

Even my boom needs a cert now.

Oil changes and the likes should always be done at home imho.

 

[TreeAce]

I dont have a heck of alot to work on but I tend to do as much as I can. LOL...but thats not alot either. I am no mechanic but my main groundie is half decent so that helps. We changed a universal joint on dump truck last fall. We do simple stuff...oil changes. I also dont have a heated garage large enough to do anything so when the chipper froze up I just said "whatever" and took in in. While it was there I had em switch out the cutter wheel belt. A few weeks ago the chip truck was drippen anti freeze. I took it in as well. To cold out to even think about messn with. It was leakn more than I was gonna ignore. If it was warm out I think we would started messn with it and atleast take it out ourselves and then had it fixed and then put her back in ourselves. So i guess my answer is.. I do both.

 

[husabud]

Currently my Chip truck is in a buddies' shop(thanks for the space!) and I am doing a new clutch. I would rather send it out, but it is a little tighter around here than I would like. I always do oil and fluids myself, actually I do it all myself unless I cannot find a place to do it. My barn/shop is in the works for this summer.

 

[TreeClimber57]

Both.

Have a shop with 3 welders.. and two full sets of tools.

My youngest son - who is apprentice to be licensed mechanic does some of my work.

I have a chap who does my welding..

I do some emergency stuff myself..

And.. I pay to get some done as well.

Depends on what it is and urgency.

 

[ropensaddle]

I would of went belly up a long time ago if I could not do my own tinkering. I too wish I was so busy that all that stuff got farmed out. I put the a good used motor in my bucket two years back. I first thought I would have it rebuilt but got an estimate of 12k I did it my self for 2500.00 it still hurt but not as bad.

 

[treemandan]

I won't let nobody touch my stuff. When I take stuff in for state inspection I either have checked the vehicle out and its ready to pass or the mechanic and I go over the truck and find what it needs. I get a sticker no matter what and if something is broken, well, I don't like broken things so I fix it.
I am thinking of investing a couple of bucks and building a spare drive train for the f150 OR get another one that runs just like it. I like the build idea then I can sup it up and know and I mean KNOW FOR SURE that the stuff will be put together right.
I want you all to think about all the complete idiots you all have hired throughout the years... now think about them working on your car.

 

[ropensaddle]

I won't let nobody touch my stuff. When I take stuff in for state inspection I either have checked the vehicle out and its ready to pass or the mechanic and I go over the truck and find what it needs. I get a sticker no matter what and if something is broken, well, I don't like broken things so I fix it.
I am thinking of investing a couple of bucks and building a spare drive train for the f150 OR get another one that runs just like it. I like the build idea then I can sup it up and know and I mean KNOW FOR SURE that the stuff will be put together right.
I want you all to think about all the complete idiots you all have hired throughout the years... now think about them working on your car.

I may never need them But I have two spare and good four speed grannys with pto and three dully rears that will fit my 79 f350dump and a spare power steering gear! I think it will last two more lifetimes lol.

 

[treeman82]

I'm no mechanic. Proved that long ago. As far as what I will do myself goes... oil and filters obviously, change the blades on the chipper, etc. A friend of mine is a good mechanic, so I'll have him do engine related work if he's got the time... like he just did my water pump a few months ago, and when the weather improves a bit have him do the intake manifold gasket. When it comes to fabricating I have another friend who is very good at that... so I just have to buy the materials.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

Im from a farming background, so taking anything you own and use to anyone else to fix was considered more of a personal failure than eating your own young.

I dont have time to fix everything, but chippers, stumpers, saws etc are pretty straight forward most of the time. But if Im really busy I will take gear to a shop, mostly because getting the parts and doing it can be a painful process. I hate having to wait on shops to get there crap together, so i try to have at least 2 of most things.
I have a pretty good collection of tools, got a couple welders and collection of hammers. Im set. I also have a very knowledgable ex mechanic for a father in law, hes worth his weight in gold.

This site has been a MASSIVE help, if you use the search function and have the patience, there is a goldmine on info. This site had both cost me and saved me tens of thousands of dollars. Thanks guys!

 

[treemandan]

Im from a farming background, so taking anything you own and use to anyone else to fix was considered more of a personal failure than eating your own young.

I dont have time to fix everything, but chippers, stumpers, saws etc are pretty straight forward most of the time. But if Im really busy I will take gear to a shop, mostly because getting the parts and doing it can be a painful process. I hate having to wait on shops to get there crap together, so i try to have at least 2 of most things.
I have a pretty good collection of tools, got a couple welders and collection of hammers. Im set. I also have a very knowledgable ex mechanic for a father in law, hes worth his weight in gold.

This site has been a MASSIVE help, if you use the search function and have the patience, there is a goldmine on info. This site had both cost me and saved me tens of thousands of dollars. Thanks guys!

I hear ya on that eating your young thing but when the program got messed up on the dishwasher I was eager to pay the guy 85 bucks to come in for 2 minutes and hold the hidden reset button. About and hour after he left I found the manual but we did have clean forks in the end.
When the heater goes down I have the wife call the oil company's emergency
service so by the time I have the thing apart and diagnosed the guy hopefully will have the part I need and may be able to give me a hand bleeding it or cleaning up the fuel. Its not the cost of the repair but how fast and how well sometimes.

 

[TreeClimber57]

it rebuilt but got an estimate of 12k I did it my self for 2500.00 it still hurt but not as bad.

$10K difference.. somebody gouging IMHO.

 

[TreeClimber57]

Im from a farming background, so taking anything you own and use to anyone else to fix was considered more of a personal failure than eating your own young.

I dont have time to fix everything, but chippers, stumpers, saws etc are pretty straight forward most of the time. But if Im really busy I will take gear to a shop, mostly because getting the parts and doing it can be a painful process. I hate having to wait on shops to get there crap together, so i try to have at least 2 of most things.
I have a pretty good collection of tools, got a couple welders and collection of hammers. Im set. I also have a very knowledgable ex mechanic for a father in law, hes worth his weight in gold.

This site has been a MASSIVE help, if you use the search function and have the patience, there is a goldmine on info. This site had both cost me and saved me tens of thousands of dollars. Thanks guys!

Agreed.. think there are a lot that can say the same on here.

 

[gwiley]

I almost always at least try before I take it to someone. More than once I have called ahead and said "Look, I am going to try to fix this myself, but if it doesn't work out can I bring you the pieces?"

Most mechanics and shops are friendly enough to chuckle through that line and then offer a few pointers.

I figure that I save a few THOUSAND dollars a year doing my own welding and repairs. That translates to a lot of equipment....

 

[TreeClimber57]

I would of went belly up a long time ago if I could not do my own tinkering.

I agree.. and even if busy usually can find time to do some of the small stuff.

 

[treemandan]

I almost always at least try before I take it to someone. More than once I have called ahead and said "Look, I am going to try to fix this myself, but if it doesn't work out can I bring you the pieces?"

Most mechanics and shops are friendly enough to chuckle through that line and then offer a few pointers.

I figure that I save a few THOUSAND dollars a year doing my own welding and repairs. That translates to a lot of equipment....

A guy did that to me with a Saab motor he had taken apart. Of course the whole car had to come to, that's what sucked about it.

I did not mention earlier that if a saw needs a carb or internal work I drop it off at the shop. I choose my battles and have Pawns at my disposal. I would consider my saw shop more like my Knight cause they move funny but work real well if you think about.

 

[gorman]

If you have a shop to keep all your stuff I would say it would certainly pay off to start learning how to DIY on most stuff. If you don't have a shop then start saving and have an ACTUAL mechanic fix your stuff. Not a hillbilly with a wrench. I've tried to save money in the past and it doesn't make sense paying someone to fix your stuff if you have to take it back to them for the same thing 2 or more times.

 

[Sagetown]

Major Engine and Hydrolic work I let the other guy fix it. Other than that it gets fixed at home. I put together an inexpensive set-up ~ generator, air compressor, and small welder, on this 4x4 trailer that helps when I break down in the field.

 

[Tminus]

I put together an inexpensive set-up ~ generator, air compressor, and small welder, on this 4x4 trailer that helps when I break down in the field.

I hope you tie those down somehow, I'd hate to be the guy behind you otherwise.

 

[ozzy42]

I do A lot of mechanical repairs myself on vehicles and the stumper.
Don't get too far into the saws,only do the simple stuff.

I steer clear from electronics on vehicles.
Computers,sensors and relays =Bah Humbug.

I did fix the check engine light on me old PU though.1x2 pc of duct tape covered that puppy up good.LOL
That don't work for the low fuel light though,,,,,,well,,,,,,not for very long anyway.