This brings back some memories, girls working on a tractor.

[John Schmidt]

I've often been asked where/how I got any mechanical ability I happen to possess. My standard answer is "raise four teenage daughters."  You learn how to fix things early on. It starts with broken dolls, then small push toys, next is doll baby buggies.....the projects keep getting bigger as they grow until one day you're under the car fixing it and one of them is laying next to you on the cement....getting dirty and greasy. I'll never forget one time I was changing out tie rod ends on an old but serviceable Toyota station wagon. My only fair-haired blonde(daughter #3) was laying next to me, big oversized gloves on, baseball cap to keep the hair out of most of the dirt, and when I looked at her one time she had a huge grease spot that nearly covered her nose. She had just sneezed and when her head jerked her nose hit something under the car, hence the big blob. I started to laugh and when questioned, I pointed to her nose. She gave it a cross-eyed look, tried wiping it off with her glove only to smear it across the cheek.

Another time I was replacing the headliner in our '74 Pontiac Ventura(wish I still had it) and my eldest wanted to help, hoping that in doing so it would win some extra use of the car for what she referred to as "social events."  I showed her what to do, using some rather pungent spray adhesive, and do it in the open....preferably on the front lawn where the breeze could keep the air clear. That car had a preformed headliner base that looked like a large piece of special cardboard....I'm sure it wasn't but did look like it. The old material was removed, the surfaced given a bit of a brushing to clean and rough it up, then sprayed with the glue...allowing it to tack a bit. My daughter, not wanting to take the extra time needed to make it a 3-process application/repair, decided to first install the base piece and then spray it in the car, followed by attaching the new material. I watched from inside and after a few minutes she comes staggering inside....seems the only thing open were one car door and her sinuses. I went out and finished the job for her. FWIW....I still let her have a little extra time with it, just had to wait until she got her sea legs back.

My second oldest needed new brakes when living in Houston shortly after her first husband and daughter were killed in a car accident. She was working but had no extra money to hire it done so decided to try changing the brake shoes herself. She borrowed a Polaroid camera, already knew how to remove a wheel and figured out how to removed the drum after doing some reading on the subject. Once the drum was off, she took some pictures of what it should look like when done, borrowed a few tools from neighbors and over a period of a couple weeks she actually changed the shoes on all four wheels.

I could go into more by telling on daughter #4, but I guess what I'm most proud of with all of them is they learned to be self-sufficient at an early age. What I've written is merely a dimple in their personal adventures, my youngest once called out a cop that had stopped to help her jump her car. She quickly told him he was doing it wrong, he needed to attach the negative cable last and remove it first.

I could write a book, just not my cup of tea. One thing about the video....my gals didn't wear dresses during most escapades. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiHawGcqtPs

[Serk]

I've caught my kids telling each other "Don't worry, we'll take it to Daddy, he can fix ANYTHING" a few times... While they may be a bit mistaken and overestimate my ability, they definitely keep me on my toes and keep the creative juices flowing!

I did take my eldest out a while back and had her take the tire off and put it back on a car just so she had at least a basic understanding of the process...

[Wizzard]

Growing up on a farm I can fix anything. Thanks to my Dad he allowed me to scatter his tools all over as I overhauled engines,, welded, soldered, and could do almost anything mechanical by the time I was 14.
I caught my son abusing his time on video games when he was 10 and as his punishment I picked up 5 old lawnmower engines and put them in my shop with my tools. Grounded him from his video games and told him he had to tear all the engines down, Lay out the parts, research what they were and what they did and come get me when he knew them all. He did and to this day thanks me for doing that.
He is now 32 and can fix most things also. (without duct tape)

[Daniel Meyer]

Awesome Dad's are awesome 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Awesome Dad's are awesome 

Mine sure was ! Just turned 60, and I’m still using things he taught me. 

[Skinhead]

I learned by working alongside my dad, and tried to teach my kids, but they were more interested in sports and girls, than learning to work on mechanical things.  Since they have grown up and moved out, they give it their best shot, but they still say they wish they'd have spent more time learning when they had the chance.  Working in construction and at a car wash, they picked up a few things, and are actually getting better.  I still get the constant calls about the car, appliances, and wiring, but at least they know enough that if you don't  KNOW what you are doing, call dad.  If I don't know, we look it up on youtube.

[Wizzard]

Awesome Dad's are awesome 

Mine sure was ! Just turned 60, and I’m still using things he taught me. 

So was mine,, I had an exceptional childhood as I have grown to find out as I got older. Appreciate and miss him all the time.

[John Schmidt]

My dad wasn't mechanically inclined, but the summers I spent on the old "Schmidt" farmsted sure made a difference. My uncle was one of those that if you wanted something to last you learned how to fix it, and if I wanted some old piece of machinery to mess with....fix it so it works. Only thing wrong with that....if I got it to work he "suggested" I try it out in the field for a day. As a result, I've been twisting wrenches and baling wire since I was just past learning to walk. I think I could take a bicycle apart, repair it and put it back together in my sleep. Same goes for washing machines(before they went electronic), dryers, dishwashers, most engines before they all went computerized. As most of you know, it pays off one day.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Awesome Dad's are awesome 

Mine sure was ! Just turned 60, and I’m still using things he taught me. 

So was mine,, I had an exceptional childhood as I have grown to find out as I got older. Appreciate and miss him all the time.

ditto. We were not poor, but never had much money. But we had some great memories.

[Wizzard]

a month ago,, my daughter remodeled a room in her house. Studded, drywall finish and hung sliding doors that she made out of old barn boards. It looked fantastic. I asked here where she learned how to do such things and she smiled, hugged me and said, "I watched you Dad"
Made my day.

[msb]

When my daughters (2 years apart) came of age to get their driver' licences, we had a few of conditions:
1) They would have to own and drive their own cars, so both got part time jobs early on in high school so they could purchase something reasonably decent when they turned 16:  2) They had to learn to drive a standard transmission (since most vehicles they would be purchasing would be small 4 bangers and those with automatics at that time weren't that great for getting around in our decidedly less than flat terrain: 3) they had to learn to change a tire, check the oil and tire pressures and refill, and jump start in case of a dead battery....this was part of their driver training. I think it's served them well, now 31 and 29 respectively, and certainly eased especially the Mrs's concerns when they started to explore the Province and beyond on their own.

[John Schmidt]

Awesome Dad's are awesome 

Mine sure was ! Just turned 60, and I’m still using things he taught me. 

Oh my, now you're making me really feel old. My oldest daughter would be 60 in three months.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

I learned by working alongside my dad, and tried to teach my kids, but they were more interested in sports and girls, than learning to work on mechanical things.  Since they have grown up and moved out, they give it their best shot, but they still say they wish they'd have spent more time learning when they had the chance.  Working in construction and at a car wash, they picked up a few things, and are actually getting better.  I still get the constant calls about the car, appliances, and wiring, but at least they know enough that if you don't  KNOW what you are doing, call dad.  If I don't know, we look it up on youtube.

My son could care less about learning to fix things. He was just fine with me doing it. Even if I made him help, he wouldn’t try to learn. As to YouTube, I’ve found it to be a great help in finding shortcuts to fixing something.

Awesome Dad's are awesome 

Mine sure was ! Just turned 60, and I’m still using things he taught me. 

Oh my, now you're making me really feel old. My oldest daughter would be 60 in three months. 

sorry John. (Great thread you started) 

[Jess from VA]

I've caught my kids telling each other "Don't worry, we'll take it to Daddy, he can fix ANYTHING" a few times... While they may be a bit mistaken and overestimate my ability, they definitely keep me on my toes and keep the creative juices flowing!

I did take my eldest out a while back and had her take the tire off and put it back on a car just so she had at least a basic understanding of the process...

I tried this exact thing with the wife.  And she called me a snuggling flower.  

[NewValker]

When my kids were young, I worked in a body shop and fixed and painted cars in my garage at home. Son had no interest. Then he shot an-arrow into the sky...that went thru the hood of my truck when it came down...he got his bow confiscated & his ass kicked. Then he spent the next weekend learning how to do auto body work. Hood came out like crap, but it was an old truck anyhow. Do believe he learned that lesson.
Craig

[da prez]

  I would not let my daughters get their drivers license until they could change a tire by themselves and do an oil change. I did not care if they ever had to , I just wanted them to know.

                                  da prez

[solo1]

My dad became sick at 45 years, didn't learn much except responsibility and fairness (but that was enough).

I repaired my junk cars, motorcycles, water heaters, furnaces washer, dryer, electrical wiring,, Xray equipment, and film processors (at work) etc.  Did some carpentry work but get frustrated when I go to my son's home and look at the family room I built. Couldn't do it now.

Now, i can't do much of anything.  Arthritic hands, etc. It's even hard to work the slides on my semi autos.  I hate to look at things that I did and can't do any more.

Oh well, I passed it to my son, Mark.  He can do just about anything but still asks me for verbal help, LOL.

[The emperor has no clothes]

My dad became sick at 45 years, didn't learn much except responsibility and fairness (but that was enough).

I repaired my junk cars, motorcycles, water heaters, furnaces washer, dryer, electrical wiring,, Xray equipment, and film processors (at work) etc.  Did some carpentry work but get frustrated when I go to my son's home and look at the family room I built. Couldn't do it now.

Now, i can't do much of anything.  Arthritic hands, etc. It's even hard to work the slides on my semi autos.  I hate to look at things that I did and can't do any more.

Oh well, I passed it to my son, Mark.  He can do just about anything but still asks me for verbal help, LOL.

I realize this is easy for me to say, I'm not in your shoes. But, I think you ought to look at the things you have done and be proud.

[Serk]

And she called me a snuggling flower.  

[MarkT]

After taking apart bicycles and sorta putting them back together I started out at about 10yrs "supercharging" my 3hp B&S engine I was going to put on a minibike.  Didn't have the bike and had no idea how that was going to happen but I had the motor!  I just made a ductwork that took the cooling air from the magneto fan and directed it to the carb.  Pretty sure it didn't help anything.

[3fan4life]

After taking apart bicycles and sorta putting them back together I started out at about 10yrs "supercharging" my 3hp B&S engine I was going to put on a minibike.  Didn't have the bike and had no idea how that was going to happen but I had the motor!  I just made a ductwork that took the cooling air from the magneto fan and directed it to the carb.  Pretty sure it didn't help anything.

It may have.

One advantage to riding on a crisp cool day is that the Valks seem to be a little peppier.

They really seem to like the cooler air.

[old2soon]

It was Dad that taught me which end of a wrench to hang onto while operating said wrench. Dad also taught us to measure twice and cut once. Yes-you can use my tools-but you MUST clean them and put them back where they belong-NOT where you found them. If you lose any tool(s) you WILL Replace them with like or better quality than the one you lost. Also while patience was Not my Dads long suite he did take the time to splain the WHY of checking the oil and coolant levels and tire pressures and and having a working jack and the list goes on. Can't help but wunder What He'd make of all the digital equipment we use today! Before riding my Phatt Ghurl yesterday checked ALL the fluid levels tire pressures and pre tripped lights horn and brake action. As to my question about digital "stuff" my digital tire pressure gages split it down to the 10th of a P S I G. Can't do dat on the older stick type gages. To this day after I do any job in the shop tools are cleaned BEFORE being returned to the box or shelves. Even if I was 10 when Dad started training us-I KNOW I was younger-that were over 63 years ago. And those lessons are Still embedded. Thanks Dad.  RIDE SAFE.

[Bighead]

Pulled many a engine apart with my dad.....he was a mechanic on tractors and loaders,road graters nd the loke in his younger days. I bought my first car at 14 and pulled the engine replaced all oil leaking gaskets (it ran fine just leaked everywhere) by myself if I got stick the ol mqn would come out and help.
Thanks Pops ( thankfully still with us) my early 20's years I was married and damn near starving.made friends with a guy who could do most any thing. From him I learned electrical,drywall,framing and a whole lot of other stuff that I have used many times over the years....also helped to put food on my table back then...Thanks Dale....you are still a true friend.

[Skinhead]

My Dad taught me.  Today is his birthday, he would have been 90.  Happy Birthday Pop.  I miss you.

[DavRed]

Same here..... Daddy could fix anything. Including the Briggs and Straton motor I tore apart from our lawn mower. I took it apart as per the instructions in 6th or 7th grade.....(Without his permission) That's another topic.... But WE got it running again...