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Well, I’ve taken coffee makers apart and cannibalized them to make a good working one. Whenever possible, I repair instead of replace.

My dishwasher was leaking so I had to pull the motor and the pump to redo the seal, works like a charm now. That was kind of a fascinating exercise because the pumps on them are bi-directional, if the motor spins one way, it pumps water into (through) the system, and if the motor spins in the other direction, then it pumps the water out of the system!

But you are right. I would guesstimate that 95% of the time when something breaks, your average Joe (or Jill) doesn’t have the time or inclination to fix it, even assuming they knew how..

I finally got around to fixing the broken pull cord on my troybuilt 5550 generator a couple of weeks ago. That was an adventure. The biggest aggravation was having to take the float bowl off to get the housing clear.

I would have taken the carb off but it had oddball fittings that would strip if I did anything but use the special tool that I didn't have for it. Putting the float bowl back on and aligned right took a few tries but I got it. I also remembered why I don't like working on carbs of any kind. I really don't know where to get a hold of something like that. It is a Briggs Stratton which I am 99% sure.

I was never the greatest small engine guy in the world but the old generator starts right up. There is a tiny bit of slack in the cord. The oil pressure safety switch is apparently defective on some models like mine. It will run fine for about 45 minutes or so then start to stumble and almost shutdown and then it will come right back. I need to track down a replacement switch.

Maybe when the surgeon releases me this Friday hopefully I can get back to doing stuff around here. I feel so much better overall than before going in. My gall bladder blew out on me recently and I had the first real surgery of my life. Looking back it may have been giving me problems for a very, very long time. At least I have become reacquainted with Bonanza and Gunsmoke. Favorites of my Grandfather.

But you are right. I would guesstimate that 95% of the time when something breaks, your average Joe (or Jill) doesn’t have the time or inclination to fix it, even assuming they knew how..

It's funny. I have been repairing industrial equipment for almost thirty years. I fix everything. I fix things that others would throw away. It's really hard for me to understand NOT trying to fix something.