Shop organization: Tools in a tube
Every shop has a special location. Sometimes it’s a shelf, sometimes it’s a drawer. It’s where we keep all the “tools” that come in a tube. They’re usually community property, except for the occasional extra expensive items that reside in a manager’s office. Of course, I’m talking about sealants, anti-seize and thread lockers, the chemical
The evolution of transmissions
The easiest thing to say would be: The manual transmission was first and the automatic came second. End of article. Well, that’s true… sort of.
Looking at alignment from a few different angles
It could be argued that modern alignment equipment has seen some of the most enjoyable advancements over any other automotive equipment in recent years. It has become so technician-friendly that many shops are providing no more than a five-minute crash course to new technicians coming in. This makes it easy for seasoned technicians who are
The ins and outs of transmission diagnostics
Are new cars harder to work on than old? It depends on who you talk to. And if old cars are deemed easier, what takes the blame for the difficulty on the new versions? You can be certain that it’s computers and electronics. Someday we’ll all be gone, but until then there’s a group of
Keeping comfortable in the bays: Shop climate and happy techs
Here in the Midwest region of the country, we are in the middle of the short spring season where the temperature always seems to be just right. The bay doors are open, and everyone is happy. It’s not too hot or too cold in the shop. But as we always say in Ohio, give it
A guide to automotive lifts and lifting equipment
“Need a lift?” This greeting isn’t something you hear too often anymore. Sure, hitchhiking used to be common, but it also used to be safe. People were different. Times were different. Now, it’s just too dangerous. Whether you are picking someone up or being picked up, you are potentially taking a chance with your life.
Organization: A matter of patience and planning
I recently read a book about a pair of deep-sea divers who discovered a German WWII submarine off the east coast of the United States. After meeting its demise, it had settled on the bottom approximately 250 feet below the surface. It was one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I learned a
