i have a hyundai 210 lc-7. couple of weeks ago, i lose the button on the dash that controls 2 speed travel...wouldn't change modes, stayed on turtle mode. last week, the "rock and roll vs. normal digging" mode button quit working. i'll have machine back to shop in about a week, thought i'd limp it thru til then. well, thursday afternoon, i lose the button that allows me to use my auxiliary hydraulics..we're putting in steel seawalls with our allied vibe plate, so i HAD to have that mode. got in touch with mechanic that works on this normally...and he's 200 miles away! he told me to take the printed circuit board out of the dash with all the switches, unplug, take back to shop. turn air pressure down to 20 p.s.i on my blower nozzle, get some electrical contact cleaner...spray with cleaner, dry with low pressure air. took about 20 mins. going back and forth between cleaner and air. can't believe how much crap washed out of those switches. ALL of the buttons started working again. put the board back in the dash, plugged in, and ALL the modes are working perfectly now. made me wonder how many mechanics/shops would have told me board was dead, and THEY had to put in a new one at whatever those boards cost? next time he's in town, there's a HUGE steak and all the cocktails he can pound down!
That's a real nice gesture but you might want to offer to pay him first and then offer a meal when he won't take money. Most of the really good wrenches just want to hear that a suggestion worked.
Allot of little secrets come from experience. I know a few not many others know about the equipment I work on. Some don't appreciate some one with experience especially if they have been there a while, working on the same equipment. You get to know the quirks.
I agree with John C, most wrenches are just happy to hear their suggestion worked. On the other hand, you're a fortunate person dayexco, not many folks have a "go to" contact that they can get on the phone and quickly fix a problem for them. You're a lucky fella.
I have a service manager who helps me all the time over the phone saving me a lot of down time. A $100 bill ever once in awhile helps.
i've known this guy for over 35 yrs. he worked on my dad's stuff back in the early 70's when he was fresh out of tech school. were i to throw $100 bills at him, he'd jam them down my throat. he stops in the coffee shop i frequent at breakfast time anytime he's in town, he's never paid for his meal. to many of you this may sound cheap, trust me, he charges me whatever when he's here, if it's something he can assist me with a phone call, he's always refused to take a dime ..i would NEVER infringe on our friendship by expecting any freebies.
It can be a tough call but I wanted to do something to show my appreciation. He seemed real pleased that I had acknowledged his help.
Dayexco your fortunate to have that relationship with a good mechanic. I also have a few good folks to call on when a machine is down and they can help you over the phone. One for yellow iron, one for skids and mini's and one for trucks. Like you said, they all charge when they are there and that's fine, because their knowledge is what puts food on their table. They know they have my business and more importantly understand that in order to have good customers, their customers need to be working so they are able to pay the bill when something big breaks. Developing good working relationships in this business is a key to success. Like Willie says - "A good mechanic isn't expensive, he's priceless.":drinkup