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Off topic and matchbox, but fixed my washing machine today so 600£ saved for a new one now it will run 10 years more

Dr Jazz wrote:Off topic and matchbox, but fixed my washing machine today so 600£ saved for a new one now it will run 10 years more

10 years more...as long as that, that must have been some fix...

Ghosty.

Dr Jazz wrote:Off topic and matchbox, but fixed my washing machine today so 600£ saved for a new one now it will run 10 years more

Think of all that money you can spend on tankers now Jazz

Keep that up jazz and you will disrupt the local economy when word gets out that buying new is not the only option. I have done all kinds of redesigns and updating through the years to our 'very well used' appliances. There are usually some plastic bearings or weak links meant to fail after 4 years, so I enjoy seeing how easily I can turn one man's cast-off into a dependable unit that we can use for several more years.
I see yourself enjoying a nice Mint Lesney Toy for that kind of repair, Happy Hunting! kwakers

I was surprised how simple a washing machine is inside. My wife was soooo close to buy a new. I always try to fix stuff and this was a new experience. Also if the watter pump breaksdown now I know just how to fix it

Next stop is restoring the loft, so I can get some space in my isolated shed for my racing bikes The only tanker I really want is the red NAMC... one day.... one day

Well done Jazz !
Reminds me of my oven repair. One day I noticed the light in the oven was staying on with the door closed. Found out the lil plastic thingy they used as a switch had broken off. Figured it would be a simple inexpensive switch replacement, but no! They incorporate the lil switch into a larger mechanism that serves as a door lock, for when the oven is in the self cleaning mode, so that you cannot open the door and flash fry your eyebrows off and that piece they wanted something like 60 euros for it! Well I found the broken off tab for the switch drilled it and pined it back in place with a finishing nail and some epoxy and it's worked great ever since, stronger than new. It's like Dick says they design these things to fail, so that ya have to buy an expensive part. But us handy dandy's will get around that

What kind of racing bikes do you have?
zBret

zBret wrote:Well done Jazz !
Reminds me of my oven repair. One day I noticed the light in the oven was staying on with the door closed. Found out the lil plastic thingy they used as a switch had broken off. Figured it would be a simple inexpensive switch replacement, but no! They incorporate the lil switch into a larger mechanism that serves as a door lock, for when the oven is in the self cleaning mode, so that you cannot open the door and flash fry your eyebrows off and that piece they wanted something like 60 euros for it! Well I found the broken off tab for the switch drilled it and pined it back in place with a finishing nail and some epoxy and it's worked great ever since, stronger than new. It's like Dick says they design these things to fail, so that ya have to buy an expensive part. But us handy dandy's will get around that

What kind of racing bikes do you have?
zBret

Nice fix zb. I've also found sometimes the parts that get a lot of use or stress are sometimes made of weaker material or have weak fixings.

Obsolescence built-in, me thinks...

I used to work in Audio and Hi-Fi sales and servicing and the same products with the same faults used to come into the shop,...and "do you think this should have broken so soon, I don't use it all that much" was a common question from customers!

...then..."how much is that going to cost to repair"...and very often the cost was more than the item was worth and it was cheaper to buy a new one. This left me with a choice of items I fancied having a go at repairing and then keeping if I wanted, or it was sold cheaply in the shop as 'Reconditioned' !

The last thing I repaired myself at home, was our toilet flushing system with parts purchased cheaply from a factors store and the job was easy, but then I am mechanically minded and not afraid to have a go.

Ghosty.

zBret wrote: What kind of racing bikes do you have?
zBret

Hi zBret

The word "racing bike" is translated from danish it is those bikes with pedals...... cycling is my second hoby

I have 8 bikes 3 of them are racing bikes I have build bikes since I was a kid and made my pocket money as a bike repair boy at our local bike store from age 15-18. The racing bike I use most at the moment I have put together with parts bought online from, Italy, germany and UK. It is a all black alu bike with full Ultegra equipment weights 7.6kg

I also have a vintages Peugeot bike from France. Bought it on a flee market in France from the original owner who bought it in 1985 he had never used it

I am planing to build a new bike soon, but need some cash

Hey Jazz,
Yes I was thinking that you speaking of the ones with pedals, that's why I asked, as bicycles are a hobby of mine as well.
Sounds like you have some nice ones and enjoy riding and putting them together.

I have a few bikes myself, and like to restore them. I have a Mercier 10 speed, vintage 1975, that I recently did a resto on. Gotta love those french bikes with all their unique "french sizes"
My daily rider is my homemade long-tail cargo bike with an electric hub motor. I forget exactly what it weighs, but I know it's quite a bit more than 7.6kg ! I think my battery weighs that much!

Happy riding
zBret