I can on occasion "fix" some things - I was at a client's home the other day (I work in the home support field) the windows had been disassembled in their townhouse, to remove the screens for outside window washing... The "man" of the house was unable to remember, how they went back together. I wasn't there when he took them a part, which is a decided disadvantage for me. If I've had a hand in taking something a part - I might remember, how it goes back together. If there's enough parts involved in the disassembly, I've been known to take notes etc..
Anyway, I figured it out and got the windows reassembled.
Just the same, trust me when I tell you, that whatever innate gifts others have been given, to flip something on the "barby," while rebuilding their car; gave me, a very wide by-pass.
I suppose mechanical "aptitude" is like other natural talents on the spectrum, some are more present in some individuals than others.
A couple days ago a sequence of events unfolded, that lend to reinforce my lack of enthusiasm for mechanics.. I had just recently reinsured my motorcycle for another season of riding. That in itself was a feat, what with the "normal" logistics of the insurance company all but gone due to Covid precautions. So after going to the office a couple different times (and leaving) line ups and sitting in the parking lot etc. - didn't appeal to me. Then receiving renewal notice and then a communication that my account would slip into "overdue" (on an "optional" comprehensive package ... I hadn't even authorized to be renewed) - I finally got in touch with a live representative and after probably an hour on the phone got everything clarified and my insurance.
The next thing was to see if the bike started (I suspected it might not as it had been sitting for quite sometime). Indeed after turning over a dozen times or so, there wasn't enough charge in the battery to continue..
I had been given a "trickle-charger" when I purchased the motorcycle .... There's no where down in my condo building underground parking to plug it in so, the next option was to take the battery out and recharge it in my place. I got the battery out easy enough and overnight it was fully recharged...
Then came what might have been, the simple task of putting the battery back in and reconnecting it - except it wasn't. If you subscribe to the stereo-type then the fact, that I ride a "Harley" might imply that I have the mechanical prowess, to go along with it. I am no "backyard mechanic" - wouldn't help me to be in the front yard either (if I even had a yard). Two bolts to screw into the battery to hold the battery leads in place and two other wires that I'm going to guess power the lights etc. until the engine is running..
The battery fits down in a compartment (not much bigger than itself) under the seat. The leads are not long enough and the space to cramped to be able to sit the battery right back in place and then screw the bolts in. So I had to hold the battery in one hand (the weight and width of the battery making it challenging to do so) while starting the bolt in, attaching the leads and then trying to turn the bolt the rest of the way in. Of course my hand fatigued and as I let the battery sit down inside, the lead pull the bolt out of the battery (as it hadn't turned in far enough to hold). The next thing I saw was a glimpse of the bolt disappearing out of sight and then the tell tale metallic sound of it falling somewhere into the abyss.
I looked under the bike .... Nothing! The parking garage floor looked to slope slightly... I looked further a field to see if it rolled somewhere... still nothing. I tried to look into cracks and crevices in and around the motor etc. of the bike... too dark. Which led to my next technical challenge with another nemesis of mine tech gadgetry (i.e. in this case my phone and how to open the "flashlight app") I'm swiping and poking, shaking and stirring all to no avail.. I suddenly had the urge to swipe the phone up against the concrete wall of the parkade!! No wait, breath... finally after God knows how many swipes (and why this one in particular was different the control panel appears to turn on the flashlight. For the love of all that is holy I'm not trying to bring the Apollo astronauts home... I just need some light to look for this bolt!!
I looked from what I thought was every conceivable angle and from both sides nothing. It went through my mind that it must be a standard size, I could likely just get a replacement or even a new battery if worse came to worse. But then a darker notion impressed upon my mind ... "it's probably not a good idea to have a loose bolt drifting around that could get lodged who knows where & really cause a problem.
Then I started over again. Suddenly it appeared!!! (as though it wasn't there before)... I reached down and in with my index and middle finger to try and fish it out. There was this ever so brief physical contact and then an abrupt disconnect, as the errant bolt now slid inside this tubular piece of the bike's frame.. How in God's name am I going to get it out of there. I took a break to ponder the dilemma and yes there was more breathing involved (okay I might have thrown a screw driver across the length of the parkade at one point it made an impressive set of sparks when it skipped off the floor and a satisfying smacking sound when it impacted the wall. The walk to retrieve along with the release of that pent up angst gave rise to me remembering I had a small bar magnet in my apartment, an actual flashlight and various needle nose pliers.
I went up to retrieve my tools and came back down on the elevator perhaps looking the part of a deranged MacGyver (tools in both hands and hanging out of pockets......)
The magnet didn't seem to work - though I couldn't see where I was trying to direct it too. The same went with the needle nose pliers however they gave me the reach that allow me to "feel" the target which I managed to pinch and get a hold of.. and then like a surgeon removing and occlusion or demolition technician disarming a bomb, I deftly extracted the bolt from its unintended resting place.
I got up from my contortionist type position lying half under the bike with the prize in my hand!! Alas it was a sweet triumph but once which was destined to be short-lived!! I proceeded to go about once again reinstalling the battery. I was most certainly aware of what could (and did happen) but apparently not nearly enough to approach the matter differently enough that it wouldn't happen again!!!
What do you suppose the odds would be that the bolt would wind up in the same place? I don't know either ... but suffice to say, it did not so once again I'm searching the surrounding area and then go over the bike with a fine tooth comb trying to determine where it lodged itself this time.
I finally found it again!! This time despite my hand cramping etc. from holding the battery up high enough for me to turn the bolt ... I made sure that it was in far enough that it could pop out again. That procedure gave me some notion of how to ensure success with the second bolt which attached the other battery lead. (Yes this whole scenario involved only one of two leads to be attached!!)
Once the leads were securely in place, the battery seated back down in it's cubicle and the seat replaced - I put the keys in the ignition. First of all the headlight and gauge lights beamed favourably (at least I knew power was going somewhere). The moment of truth was upon me. Choke out, a couple twists of the throttle, a squeeze of the starter button, the engine turned over no more than a couple times and flashed into life!! The entire underground parking was filled with the melodic tones of the V-twin's Spring resurrection.. Okay, okay - it was likely more in truth an obnoxious thundering cacophony echoing off the parkade walls. However, after what I had just gone through that proceeded it - it truly was music to my ears and admittedly a source of great satisfaction.
I went up stairs, got some of my riding gear together and prepared to go out for an inaugural's Spring ride! Ah but not before, upon opening one of the saddle bag flaps to stow some stuff, I jiggled the bag enough that I dislodged it from it's mounting bracket. (the bags are meant to be removable, should you want to take them off)... I had never had them off since getting them installed (more to the point I wasn't sure how it went back on). Seriously!!! Now I need this learning curve? I suppose so, because I've got it!!
I got the bag back on in some fashion, as it turned out a block later, not entirely according to the suggested factory install (as it fell off again!!) Eventually with enough monkeying around I figured out how it was to be mounted and with a little body english this time I heard it snap into place and the retaining clasp close!!
From that point forward there was nothing left to do than to enjoy the ride!!
End note:
It may be that the Creator doesn't intend that everyone be "mechanically inclined..."
But patience is something that most anyone can benefit from and through employing some of this virtue an old dog can learn new tricks.
R. O'Neill (May 12, 2020)
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