This weather is bad for vehicle maintenance.

[Offgrid]

I've got a mountain of minor tasks to do on the Convoy and the 740, but I've been spending time on the beach looking at the bikinis, and other essential tasks. Despite buying a bunch of specialised tools to simplify the tasks, I haven't got round to doing any of them. I did manage to force myself to change the wipers on the 740 windscreen, but that is about all. I need to change the serpentine belt on the Convoy, as it only has about 2/3 of its width due to a failing tensioner. I've gort the replacement tensioner and belt. It's a really easy job now that I have learnt how to release the tensioner, but I'm enjoying relaxing in the sun. I bought a couple of replacement air horns for the 740, as ';m down to one that is hanging on by a thread.

So how am I going to kick myself into doing these jobs? Is this a function of age, or do you guys have similar problems?

[EssexExile]

Is it a function of age? In my case yes, I can get down under the car fine, but getting back out and upright again is not easy. My days of changing gearboxes in the snow are over.

[Ian21401]

Also a function of age in my case. Similarly my brother. For most of our lives we have both been very active DIY with house, garden and cars. Lately we are somewhat lethargic. Suffering from “inertia” (ie the physical force that keeps something in the same position or moving in the same direction.)
Despite having a multitude of tasks waiting to be attended to (which in the past would have been rattled off in quick time) we have to set ourselves small goals each day and hope to tick off one or two of them.

[DaveNP]

My life seems to be doing things other than the things that I know I should be doing, sometimes it's because more important things crop up but I'd have to admit it's often because the alternatives are more attractive. When it comes to car maintenance my excuse is it's too wet, too cold, too hot, too sunny and so on, what I want is a day that's not too hot and not raining, in other words about three days in the year

[BrianH]

I thought is was just me! I feel all these things.

I've got to get going. My wife says it's fiddling with the car, but its essential to keep a 32 year old 245 GL in fighting order. I got so frustrated I put the 245 on the club site for sale, but Alex Smith has now got the LPG and petrol working a lot better. Got to pay the bill yet, though. Its incentive to do what I have ear marked for some months.

You have to fight entropy, every thing tends to fall part. The only way forward it is put in energy to fight it.

245 GL 1989, with a 2.3ltr red block on LPG 820k mls. from new.

[Pidgeonpost]

Quite a relief to read that I'm not the only one suffering this. Grovelling around on my back has become increasingly unattractive, yet rising costs make some diy essential, whether on house or car.

[Ian21401]

Originally Posted by BrianH

I thought is was just me! I feel all these things.

I've got to get going. My wife says it's fiddling with the car, but its essential to keep a 32 year old 245 GL in fighting order. I got so frustrated I put the 245 on the club site for sale, but Alex Smith has now got the LPG and petrol working a lot better. Got to pay the bill yet, though. Its incentive to do what I have ear marked for some months.

You have to fight entropy, every thing tends to fall part. The only way forward it is put in energy to fight it.

245 GL 1989, with a 2.3ltr red block on LPG 820k mls. from new.

Entropy. Not a word that I was familiar with so had to look it up. Yes, it certainly applies

[Offgrid]

Originally Posted by Ian21401

Entropy. Not a word that I was familiar with so had to look it up. Yes, it certainly applies

Well now that I have hit my 80th birthday, I need to enter a period of extrophy.

Always remember that it is a scientific fact that people who have more birthdays live longer.

[S60D5-185]

Thankfully, this thread has proved that I am not alone.............😁

[ITSv40]

I have to be 'on the go' otherwise I get miserable. When I had a heart attack at 60 and two ops to fit five stents I thought my world had collapsed. Now at 67 and retired I am back up to speed. Three cars, one and a half acres of garden and a house built in 1677 keeps me busy. I absolutely hate paying anyone to do anything for me, so car maintenance, gardening and DIY are my hobbies. When it is wet, I am in the garage, when dry in the garden and when wet and cold in the house tinkering, servicing and rebuilding my collection of clocks. I like anything mechanical to work on.

I did concede defeat last Friday, so stripped off, slapped the sun cream on and lounged in the dappled shade of the apple tree for the day. Chatted with 'er indoors, read the paper and surfed the forum.