We are very car and motorized stuff centric here. And have a lot of old stuff that needs new stuff to be useful. Suddenly the 13 year old is looking at stuff and saying things like: "No Dad, I think it goes that way". As I type, he is replacing the carburetor that he just cleaned on the old ATV. Pretty cool!
SPG123 wrote: We are very car and motorized stuff centric here. And have a lot of old stuff that needs new stuff to be useful. Suddenly the 13 year old is looking at stuff and saying things like: "No Dad, I think it goes that way". As I type, he is replacing the carburetor that he just cleaned on the old ATV. Pretty cool!
You are winning at parenthood!!!!! That is really cool!!!!
I had that ability. I would find projects my dad had started and finish them. The best that I remember was when I was no more than 12 and I found a carburetor that he has taken off and taken apart for one of his cars. It was in a box in pieces with the rebuild kit. I took it one afternoon after school and cleaned it and then put it back together. I put it on the car took all the gas from our shed that was for the tractor and the lawn mowers and stole the battery out of my moms car and got the thing running. Dad was beside him self. Mom less so when she went to try and go to the store. A new rule was imposed on me. As Dad put it "You are not to take any parts off Moms car when fixing things". I actually have used that rule and applied it to my wife's car as well. One of the "rules" of marriage I guess.
Nice! I love seeing kids able to repair and modify things for themselves, without our input. Seems like many can't even do basic bike maintenance anymore.
My 16 y/o is starting to combine some planning, critical thinking and finesse with his 'Hulk-Smash!!' style of mechanical work. He played a starring role in the Battle of the Bushings last weekend:
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In reply to dean1484:
That's hysterical! I can only imagine how the discussion with mom went 
I am glad to hear someone is getting their child involved. My daughter claimed to be interested yet whenever there's work to be done on -her- truck, she is involved with something else. little does she know that when the carpet shows up, it is not getting done without her leading that charge. because IDGAF if that cheap truck has carpet at all.
XLR99 wrote: In reply to dean1484: That's hysterical! I can only imagine how the discussion with mom went
It was funny as Dad had to side with her but at the same time was thrilled that his car was running. We still get a laugh about that some 40 years later.
My 15 year old built his own race car. I provided advice, muscle and welding on the cage. I love his enthusiasm.
In reply to dean1484:
Your dad must've been psyched about all that free labour. Isn't that why people have kids?
Glad to see a young'en interested. Most just want the easy way and just buy it. My dad used to bring home junk for me to attempt to fix, most were beyond repair or would be dangerous if I did get it running. Used to build my own bicycles out of junk bikes and build carts to drive downhill.
ssswitch wrote: In reply to dean1484: Your dad must've been psyched about all that free labour. Isn't that why people have kids?
Yep but I think he was planing things. I would get chapters of the ford shop manual read to me for my bedtime story. It did not take me long to catch on what dad and I were going to be doing the following Saturday.
I actually liked it. It had pictures.
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