A10 - most irritating bike I've owned

[Butch (cb)]

There's bikes and there's bikes. Some are just going to be a pain in the nuts. Sometimes you really do have to move on.

Good luck with the sale.

[Joolstacho]

When it boils down, it's as much about mental attitude as mechanical aptitude isn't it.
You need a stubborn streak for sure.
Some have it, some don't.

[Black Sheep]

Some years ago I got the bike I had always wanted - a 1954 Velocette MSS (don't ask). What a pain that turned out to be. Timing miles out, carburation miles out, dynamo burnt out, petrol tank leaking, clutch fried, gearbox pretty much unusable. It took a lot of blood sweat and tears to finally sort it out, especially the clutch and gearbox. At times I was tempted to put it on eBay but couldn't bring myself to foist it on some other poor sod. So I had to persevere. Now it's a first kick starter and a pleasure to ride. I'm pleased I've got it. 

[Joolstacho]

Yep, I've run my Velocette Clubman for about 40 years. It'll get buried with me*, that's how much I love it.
And YES it's been a pain many times. Nothing REALLY worthwhile in life is easy.
(*Actually I'll pass it on to someone who will cherish it... with luck!)

[muskrat]

I've had my A7 plunger for 38 years. Rebuilt once.
I'll get cremated and the ashes  poured into the hole in the backbone. If I can't take it with me I'll go with her.
Cheers

[mikeb]

i laughed out loud when i read your initial post RD. someone finally said it!
my a10 is a keeper but when i first wrecked it it was more a grudge match i wasn't prepared to lose

put it to the back of the shed again? or if there's truly no joy in it then out with the big hammer or down the road!

[Slymo]

Fixed my leaking fork with plumber’s Teflon tape.

[kiwipom]

hi guys, Slymo its good for that `PTFE`tape , commonly known as `Plumbers Tape For Emergencies` not used for a permanent seal on plumbing systems, cheers

[edboy]

maybe its an age thing.
as an old fart it was measuring and metalwork that described engineers not where do i plug my laptop in and what page is the watch with mother flowchart located.

[Rex]

When I was a lad that would classed as the (very skilled) job  of a fitter, whereas engineers had letters after their names and designed aircraft, bridges and space rockets.
Now the bloke who fixes the washing machine is an engineer, the one who lays the carpet in the front room is a fitter and the little Thai bird who sticks on false nails is a technician.

[ChasF]

When I was training as an electronics engineer a few years back (I don’t think the term ‘software’ had been invented!) we were always taught that engineers were problem solvers whereas technicians follow a procedure, process or whatever. My problem solving training has served me well ever since no matter whether it be an electronic, electrical, mechanical or even a civil engineering issue that has to be solved.

Old bikes are, in my experience, reliable if put together correctly and, these days, avoiding the many dodgy pattern parts available. Most of the problem solving involves overcoming bodges or hamfisted spannering which have occurred over the many years and miles of service.

[edboy]

yes, we are no longer called engineers. i m called a train maintainer now and that includes fixing washing machines , repairing lino and carpets and sticking nails where ever the job requires them.
letters after your name in top management but usually apprenticeships on shop floor.
however the new apprenticeships are not craft ones, in my book. the real glory now is changing some electrical box somewhere that logged a fault. wow.

[lawnmowerman]

The word engineer (Latin ingeniator) is derived from the Latin words ingeniare ("to create, generate, contrive, devise") and ingenium ("cleverness").

There are many different specialisms in engineering but all share the same qualities of being able to adapt and think "out of the box" rather than following a set process.

Jim

[Rex]

I always understood that the word "engineer" stems from "one who looks after engines", and similar to "grenadier"  soldiers who specialised in grenades, and bombardier etc etc.
In the US train drivers were termed "engineers" up until recently (and maybe still are).

[worntorn]

Here in Canada an Engineer is someone who has attended University. It's arguably the toughest course load to navigate, more difficult than medicine or business. We have a lot of respect for Engineers, at least until the dam breaks or the floor collapses.
We rely on them to figure out how to build difficult items and we expect those items to perform their tasks, be safe to use and durable. Most of the time they get it right.

Other than that we have the striped hat wearing "Train engineers" with the word "Train" always added to differentiate from a degreed engineer.

My expat UK friends seem to refer to anyone who picks up a tool of any kind as an engineer, so, as with many things, the same word has a different meaning in the different countries.

Glen