I don’t mind the tightening of the process, esp. the 45 days, but I don’t personally like the use of the word ‘may’, since that’s potentially anything. If you have ever seen me try to change my oil, you know what I mean! I suggest the (only somewhat less vague) word ‘likely’.
Also, as a happy medium, is it reasonable to require just informing (@)Team_Automotive about a potentially lengthy project, like that other guy did today in separate thread regarding his transmission fix/change?
So can we simply attend a committee meeting for all the other equipment in the space ? Or are we going to have to start mandatory training in automotive ?
Just pointing it out that this is different than the way we handle other similar situations.
Hope the automotive committee meetings are going to be frequent…
I’m down with this level of common sense restriction.
My question is this: the timing of Auto Committee meetings is always on days and at times when I have work; I can’t take off to get to the meetings, and I’ve never been to an official meeting as a result. Will this change mean I’m ineligible to take on more complex projects than oil changes in the future, even though I have taken part in these kinds of projects in the past and am familiar with the committee leadership? If not, what criteria will be used to determine when someone who isn’t available during weekday evenings can qualify for working on stuff? Do training sessions, such as the lift training, count?
I’ve had a car stuck on the lift overnight myself, so I’m partially to blame here. There are definitely unavoidable, unforeseen circumstances- who could have expected a steering knuckle to shatter while sliding out an axle stub? But doing what we can to mitigate these is definitely important. I still feel bad about my whole run-in with this.
What’s the definition of “major”?
What’s the definition of “may” take longer than 4 hours? I’ve had oil-and-spark-plug changes take longer than that when stuff like stuck oil filters and broken plug wires happen.
I think it may be getting confused. It seems the rule states that you CAN take longer than 4 hours, if you jump through a couple of hoops, Becoming active in the committee is a good thing, you can help shape the rules.
I too expect to find it quite difficult to make an Automotive meeting, particularly as there seem to be none scheduled. I can appreciate the interest in preventing white van situations, but perhaps some other method can be devised to prevent them? A message to the chair/committee, a posting in Talk, a solid commitment to clearing the bay or a reasonable timeline for completion with penalties for failure perhaps?
Kris,
you’ve been a member for longer than 45 days right? (this is not targeting you by the way)
More automotive policy changes are coming
I am interested to have feedback to see if the following would be plausible and help our situation:
Could we have a “Queue Board” that could specify Lift vs. non-lift projects, also including estimated time/type of project - this could be helpful in knowing how many other people are waiting for automotive bay and maximize efficiency.
Possibly have a limit of 1 long project at any given time within an alotment of time to complete project. Maybe the member would need to speak to someone either at automotive meeting/Talk/whatever is deemed necessary.
Maybe have a long project queue that extends thru the month so people can work around the other large projects to keep high efficency of the bays.
I would be willing to help setup whatever system that may be beneficial for the group if that is desirable.
Any thoughts?
I agree with Zach - And like him I do 99% of my work at home. Fewer interruptions, more compressed air, my tools, my music, my fridge…just no hvac in my garage.
So far everyone that has responded to the “new rule” is a veteran member so it is a moot point.
If a new or potential member doesn’t want to wait or cannot wait 45 days to change an engine or transmission or similar - then I am sure they probably had an alternative plan in the first place. I don’t see that as a loss.
A possible option to committee meeting:
I would propose creating Automotive 101: cost $20. Could includes lift training, auto work safety, disposal of fluids and parts, - proper use of jack stands, floor jacks, what types of specialty tools and test equipment is available, use of bays, clean-up, returning tools, work rules, etc.
These can be held at various times (eliminates “I can’t make committee meetings”) would be about 75 minutes long is my guess.
Just pointing out that many members join because we have an auto bay. We have over 150 active lift users. Personally I would not want to join and have to wait to use a tool my membership pays for because a few bad situations ruined it for the rest of the folks. I like the idea of a basics class ( charge or don’t) but if you decide to go that way make sure you have plenty of teachers to help out. I know you are unhappy with the white van situation and understand why. Perhaps an alternative could be submitting a job plan for review of you or one of your committee members to approve if it’s a long project? It’s difficult enough to get in the bay on a weekend especially during race season and having an alternative to give to members new and old would be an option for you to consider. I don’t know the best way to handle this problem but I encourage welcoming new members. I’m curious as to what the rest of your committee would have said to this rule change if they had it in place when they joined. Not everyone has a home garage and tools and I know the auto bay is a big draw. In the end it is your call.
Maybe a class on moodle would suffice?
Any idea how many members join with the explicit intent of doing a specific automotive project and then cancelling their membership immediately thereafter? (i.e., basically a $50 rental garage …)
You mean, “no major work” doesn’t cover that?
I wonder if people that don’t do much car work are more susceptible to taking longer because they don’t know what they’re doing and therefore wouldn’t know if something is “major.”
I think Dave’s idea has merit. It solves multiple problems in automotive (lift training etc), and engages members in a more orderly way (and gives you a chance to recruit them into your committee).
The proposed rule would require regular and frequent automotive committee meetings, or it is absolutely a barrier to new members using the shop. You’re required to hold one monthly, but will that be enough? No other committee requires a “length of membership” to use tools. This seems over-the-top to me, given that a better alternative is available (auto 101).
Also, do remember that our rules require that changing a rule requires a committee vote.
Here is the hole in this logic.
I have been a member longer than 45 days. If I get delirious because I have a fever and decide to change my transmission. All who are following me into that bay are doomed to wait. FYI. I am not a mechanic.
Maybe some kind of queue or reservation might better handle the situation.
Meanwhile, I dislike freezing out new members. The 45 day rule does not address the fact that there are some great mechanics that join DMS and know their way around vehicles. Nor does it address the issue that a lousy mechanic is still a lousy mechanic at day 46.
It is an “easy” rule that does not necessarily resolve the issue.
I think my first project at DMS was buying and subsequently fixing my Jeep.
It started off as a simple coolant leak, turned into a whole ordeal…
I can think of several other members who joined to work on cars, and immediately wanted to put their $50 to use. Members who you’ve never even noticed because they were able to get the work completed in no time at all. They cleaned the tools and put them back without anyone even knowing.
As an avid automotive committee member, I don’t support making rules for one person, and I do not support this rule as written.
I don’t remember anyone suggesting that you can’t take on jobs that can reasonably be expected to be complete in 4 hours or less in your first 45 days. The vast majority of DIY auto work can be done in 4 hours or less. This isn’t going to block oil changes, brake jobs (if you have all your parts in advance like you should), shock replacement, AC repair, and the like.
The actual ask is that you have exposure to our culture and practices before tying up a bay for so long that several other jobs could have been done instead.
