EDITOR NOTE: Well this is a new year. So I’m going to reprint a series entitled Just the Tip authored by Thomas Brobst. His 'make-do-with-what-you-got' and ingenuity makes for interesting reading and maybe help a poor soul out of a perplexing repair. See if you agree with me this is fun reading.
Just the Tip
Tip #1
I’ve been working on old cars since I was in high school... close to 50 years now. I suspect any day now I’ll get good at it, haha. I’m not a pro, just a hack, but I always get the job done even though it occasionally takes me two or three attempts. But for me it’s not about getting the job done for the lowest cost or the quickest turn-around. It’s about understanding the workings of the car... or motorcycle, computer, vacuum cleaner, whatever the machine happens to be... and about understanding how things work and the tools and procedures used to effect a repair. I’m always interested in what other people are working on and how they solve their particular problem. What was their troubleshooting method? Did they drive the car and listen to the sounds? Did they use diagnostic equipment? (Maybe I should buy that piece of equipment. Can’t have too many tools). Or did they learn about it from someone else. When it comes to DIY’ers a lot can be learned just by sharing stories. What works, what doesn’t. Even if the result is a dismal failure it can be educational, not to mention entertaining. It’s most exciting when I find out some trick or shortcut that never even occurred to me. Something that maybe isn’t common knowledge... at least not to me.
So, in the interest of information sharing, and my own self interest, I propose a new column in our esteemed newsletter where we can all share tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years. Since I’m not retired (yet) I don’t have time to write, or read, a long column so I envision it to be short and sweet. It will share useful tips that members have learned over the years. I propose it be entitled "Just the Tip"!
I already have compiled a list of tips that I can offer to kick it off... one tip at a time. But I know my knowledge is limited and the collective knowledge of our club would put mine to shame. I also know, from experience, that as soon as I publish my first tip someone reading it is going to think "What a doofus. I have a better way to do that!" ha-ha. That’s good! That’s called brainstorming and you, whomever you are, should submit that better idea. Send it to me at thomas.brobst@gmail.com or to our editor Greg Prehodka. Between the two of us we’ll get it published and credited, of course, to the submitter. How’s that sound? Also, the tips don’t have to be earth shattering, cure for cancer level stuff. As long as they’re useful or entertaining they will be appreciated. None of my tips are anything more than that as you’ll see. So, let’s begin...here’s my first tip...
Tip No 1: Cut to my garage. I’m working on my MGA. I’m trying to terminate some wires under the dash. It’s cramped. I’m scrunched into the cockpit and straining my neck and eyes to look upward underneath the dash. But, WTF!? Why can I see what I’m working on? If you recall the part where I said I’m getting old you will understand that I wear reading glasses which, of course, are designed to intercept your line of sight when your looking down, like when you’re reading a book. Fat lot of good they do me when I’m straining to look up, right?! I don’t know how many times I was frustrated that I couldn't see what I was doing before I realized a simple and elegant fix. I flipped my reading glasses over. Duh! Now I can see whilst looking up! Yes, I look like a dork, I know. But who cares when I’m in my garage.
 
normal position  up-looking Position
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My reference to this being an "elegant" solution wasn’t a fashion statement. Rather, it is engineering parlance for the ratio of the benefit of the solution divided by it’s cost or effort. In this case it is a supremely elegant solution. So, now I do it all the time. If you wear reading glasses give it a try. It’s really my favorite tip.
So, there. I did it My first tip. Was it useful? Stupid? At least a little entertaining, I hope. Can you suggest something better. If so, send it in. I promise your tip probably can’t be any worse than mine. ha-ha
~~ Tom Brobst
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January 2022
