It was supposed to read "Punched Manuals"

[SLarsonIH@domain.elided]

Sorry John,

<< But Steve, are you anal with your Scout maintenance... or am I alone in
this world? >>

You're standing alone there buddy. I figure I save more time if I only work on
things when they're broke instead of maintain them, especially when it's an IH
product. ;) Actually, I'd probably spend a whole lot more time doing
maintenance if I (insert lame excuse here) had a garage, more time, more
money, better weather, wifes car wasn't in my working area, etc.

I tend to work on the Scout in the area that's just about to break. You know,
just before the brake shoes and pads become rivets on rotor or drum (metal to
metal), just before the smog test for tune ups (every two years),  replacing
the alternator when the needle on the amp gauge starts going erratic, that
kind of thing. I do a lot of maintenance things just before going on long
trips and off roading. And, since I commute with it 170 miles a day, I usually
know when something is not quite right, fairly early.

Of course, if I only used it around town, or did mud wheeling, or lived in
another state than our mostly dry and warm California, maintenance would be a
much, much higher priority than it currently is.

Knowing how to fix a car can have its drawbacks. To illustrate, let me tell
you a true story. When I bought my Scout II 6 years ago (seems like
yesterday), the starter would occasionally zing, indicating a bad Bendix
drive. I've never replaced it and sometimes it'll zing up to 10 times in a
row. However, it ALWAYS starts. I know I should replace it, but it doesn't
hurt anything, and I can always pop start the Scout, since it's a stick, if I
need to. I suppose I really should replace it, or at least put a replacement
one in the Scout. Maybe I'll replace it this summer when it's warm.

STeve