Tip & How-To about Miscellaneous
* I've always kept this in the back of my mind when looking at a machine or device for the first time. Not knowing if I can even fix what ever it is I'm looking at. The owner just wants help and is willing to have your look at it. Even if they say it's 'New' but your eyes tell you it's not. Rust, Tool marks, Cracked (disturbed) paint, broken cable ties, missing clips, screws, bolts. All of these indicate someone else has been here. How long? Look for dust collecting on oil drips. New means shiny, clean, no dirt or grease (finger prints) inside the control "sealed" areas.
* Does everything "Look Right?" Is the shaft suppose to be bent? Why is the the gear missing teeth? Why are there extra or broken parts at the bottom?
* I used to think it was just me or does "That look right to you?"
* Sure, it's frustrating to "trouble shoot" electronics, or other non-moving parts. But even looking at a computer board for a "Burnt" part or at least using you nose to sniff for burnt stuff. (another tip, the "Nose Knows") may help you identify at least the board if not the individual component. You will have to change the whole board anyway.
* Even if everyone disagrees with you but your "eyes" tell you otherwise then you may have to stand your ground on your position. This happened to me after I was 3d guy called in to check a "New" hydraulic machine. Everything looked okay till I opened up a "sealed" panel that was never opened before. I found weld slag and tool marks. Compared to the rest of this clean new machine the inner box was a mess. My eyes told me the MFR took a used section to install into a new machine. I guess they could not get a newer component and replaced it with what was on hand. You could not really fault them but they did not do a quality control test. I guess they rushed it. Anyway, after a lot of finger pointing (and unpaid invoices) They flew in a Tech from Europe (we are in Hawaii) to pull it apart. Sure enough, the oil had metal flakes from the older components in the system. (They honored my invoice)
Aloha, ukeboy57
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