The "real tech is on medical leave". This is your opportunity to teach yourself some cool stuff that will help you with every job you do going forward.
Consider this:
-treat an M-Tronic saw like any other saw while checking it out
-have a systematic checkout procedure that you NEVER vary from
-don't assume that just because it has new technology that this new technology is at fault
-make it a point to learn something new every day, or better yet, with every repair
When I'm not turning wrenches or trying to keep up with my 3 sons, I'm a volunteer EMS provider in 2 VA counties. It took a couple of years to realize that my job (technician) and my joy (EMS) are essentially the same thing. My approach to a repair job or a patient requires the same information gathering process.
Form a general impression-
Read the service order. Then read it again. Look at the saw, blower, whatever and look at its condition and let it tell you about its age and condition.
With a patient, I look at them, the environment they're in (house, car, bed, etc) this is before I ever say a word to them.
Determine the chief complaint-
Won't start, dies during a cut, leaks gooey stuff, or is it in for the "general service"
Same with people-- feeling sick, projectile vomiting, vehicle accident, or specific injury
Determine overall condition and possible life threats-
Condition of fuel, how does it feel when you pull the rope, how does it sound? Any really obvious problems?
Is patient conscious and alert, what could kill them in the next 5 minutes while I check them over?
Assess vitals-
Try to start the saw. Use a flashlight and look in the fuel tank for creepy looking stuff in the fuel. Add fresh fuel and try to start it.
Talk to patient and get vital signs. Listen to what they say and how they say it. Listen some more.
Get the history-
Has owner tried to fix the saw (always suspect they may have screwed something up), when did problem start, has it been to shop before, for what, and when.
What is patient's medical history (same thing as above- if they can't tell you, ask family or bystanders)
Perform exam
Systematic check of all systems- Stihl has a great checklist that never fails it you do it all and in order. This clearly isn't needed if the saw is in for a specific complaint such as "bar adjuster doesn't work".
Head-to-toe assessment of patient if warranted by conditions (unconscious, etc). Otherwise a focused exam "I hit my hand with a hammer"
Interventions-
Repair the saw as needed. Then test cut a few times to be sure all is well. Re-read the service ticket to be sure you didn't miss anything.
Treat the injury and transport the patient to hospital if needed. Continue to monitor vitals and condition during care or transport.
After every repair or patient contact, take 30 seconds (or more) to ask yourself what went right and what went wrong. Think about how to do it better the next time. Even from a general service of a healthy saw, you can learn how it should perform- how the rope feels when you pull it, how the saw sounds, and how it performs. Remember these for next time because you need to know how things should be- this way its easier to see things that aren't correct.
Learn, learn, learn. Then remember.
