Best Of

LOL on the 2-year-old washer breaking down. In our 4-unit condo building, we have an old heavy-duty Amana (Maytag) washer and dryer, both 40 years old.

One of the other owners got a "deal" on a used LG front-loading washer and wanted to replace the Amana, so I said OK, we'll put the Amana in the corner and try out the new LG.

The "new" LG washer ran for a few weeks, then started banging. Needed new dampers under the drum. I replaced those with new. Then the electronic controls went out. Couldn't get a new board, and it was going to cost $200 to send the old board out for rebuild, so the washer would be out for at least a week. I said we have a perfectly good Amana sitting in the corner. Let's get rid of this LG junk and put back the Amana. So we did.

I have had to replace some 40-year-old worn out parts on both the washer and dryer, and grease the washer transmission, and now both of them run like new. I've told the other owners, when I leave, never get rid of those things. They're built like tanks, parts are cheap and easy to get, and they're dirt simple to fix. They'll run another 20 years if they can find someone like me who's willing to fix them.

I know your original point was about the difficulty of new guys learning both old and new tech, and I'm sure that's true. The value of learning on the old tech is that you begin with simple mechanical components and learn the principles that make them work. Then you have some basic understanding and can move on to advanced technology. But if you don't understand the basic principles to start with, you're never going to learn them by swapping control boards.

"thermodynamics and good logic proved to be irrelevant."

QFT

I think that is why I am not a multi-millionaire. I used to just fix stuff. I only recommend replacement of equipment when absolutely necessary. All those franchise contractors are making big bucks with their salesman technicians making big commissions on new equipment sales

Maybe the pendulum will swing back but I doubt it. When I think of the twists and turns,

I would go through to fix something…..I don't know everything has changed.

Equipment doesn't last as long

Parts become unavailable (sometimes)

No shops in most high schools or junior highs

The "I want it fast" mind set"…..just google the answer

If it's over 5 years old it is junk.

The lack of parts sometimes is aggravating.

few weeks back our electric dryer quit. I don't even know the age but its over 16 years old. I was just going to replace it but then thought what the hell I will take a look.

Bad thing is its stuffed in a closet so to get into the back of it I have to disconnect and take out the washing machine.

Dryer is a Whirlpool. The high limit (fusible one time) was open. Of course this shouldn't trip unless the operating thermostat is defective.

Went online and the exact parts were still available so ordered those $60 and it lived for now. The operating stat checked ok but had some dryer lint stuck to it. Replace it and the fusible link.

I think the MFGs should be required to have replacement parts available for a certain number of years 15-20??

I taught at the union hall for 6 years or so. I liked it but gave it up. As time went on the students didn't seem to care about learning anything they want to google the answers.

They paid good to teach so it wasn't the money. But I would have to plan my day on the nights I taught to be able to get to the hall on time. Not easy when working out of town. Have material ready to teach and make copies etc it takes some effort on my part. Then go in and most of them (75%) don't want to be there and they have been working all day (I get it we all went through it) so I lost interest. Too bad.

I got into it with them one night about replacing motor bearings. They said "why would you ever do something like that get a new motor"

I explained If you have a 75 hp motor on a roof for a pump or water tower or air handler or something the cost of a crane and the extra labor could be $5000-$10,000 + the motor.

For 2 guys a day and the cost of the bearings you could change them on the roof.

But they told me the contractors they work for would never do that.

Parts changers that is all we have now

Why whenever a steamer gets installed totally wrong all of a sudden no one owns it?

But they install a new pilot and in that case they own it?