Pompano
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Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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The Best Mechanics Are In Baja! Here's One..
ONE OF THE BEST BAJA MECHANICS I EVER MET!
I was just coming up the Baja Road the other day, November 8th , and when I came to Jesus Maria to have my 3 carne burritos to go from Carmelita’s
stand..I happened to notice a tire shop..a llantera.
So I pulled in with my motorhome. I wanted to see if any of my six tires needed any aire. They take 70 lbs for highway use.
25 lbs if I am dunebuggying with the old Southwind 34’! 
I had the good fortune to meet a nice guy….Isaac…Taller Mecanico “Chakin”..and some of his friends.
Isaac quickly checked out all 6 tires and reported them all good…bene. Little things like correct air pressure make me feel good.
I liked the look and feel of Isaac’s tire shop, so I decided to have him look at a problem with the motorhome that has plagued me for months. The
dang electric step for the motorhome doorway has been sticking all across the nation. I wiggle underneath and bang the motor with a hammer and it
works..for a while. I am just lucky to have escaped severe injury from the damn step suddenly springing open on my head.
I asked Isaac if he knew any auto electric guys around town.
He grinned and said, “ Si..me”
Hah..I knew I had come to the right place then. He first checked the switches on the inside controlling the step…they were live and good…so then he
crawled underneath to check the motor.
While Isaac was underneath working on the step..and his buddies giving him encouragement, I wandered around the place.
I love workshops, garages, and the smells. Takes me way back in time.
Reminds me of my Uncle Norman’s farm blacksmithy. Ah..those were the days…
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.
I look back to check on Isaac …still underneath, but I hear the motor buzzing away. Sounds like good progress to me! His buddies are hanging
out...judging his progress.
.
Did you ever get to play with a block and tackle as a kid? I DID! I merrily hoisted and hoisted..and only dropped the engine on my foot once. Trust
me..do it once..and you never will do it twice!!
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Enough nostalgia..back to the present problem of the dang step.
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Best check on Isaac again......
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…...WHOA!!...wha?..Hey-dang!!  
JUST KIDDING…Isaac is a good guy and a great mechanic. He fixed that electric step in a very short time and was a real pleasure to visit with
besides. I had received estimates from RV service centers all across the USA..ranging from 250 bucks to almost $600. Screw that, I had said..and
kept banging away with my hammer. 
I was very satisfied with Isaac fix .. and asked how much I owed him? He smiled and said “100 pesos, Rogelio.”
Damn, now that was WAY too little, but I could not offend a new amigo by giving him WAY too much..so we settled on 150 pesos. Coming to Baja is
STILL the best damn bargain you will ever find..while meeting a new friend.
Kudos to you, Isaac. Bravo!
Isaac Valadez Aquilar
Ejido Villa Jesus Maria, B.C. Km 95
Carretera Transpenisular
TALLER MECHANICO “CHAKIN”
[Edited on 11-15-2010 by Pompano]
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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tjBill
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 10-6-2007
Location: Tijuana
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Looks like a nice Baja shop. Its just missing the grease covered kids and the grease covered dog.
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sanquintinsince73
Super Nomad
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Great story.
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Phil S
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-28-2003
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Mood: After 34 years. Still in love w/ my wife
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Typical story Roger. I almost went to sleep reading it. UNTIL I got to the girl under the vehicle. That woke me up. thanks for the pic's. As
always, your stories are interesting, and once in a while you throw in a 'ringer'.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Lordy me, Roger. You're going to have to take Co-Pilot to town and buy her some clothes. She seems to be running out of them. 
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
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I still am always surprised on how resourceful the Baja mechanics are. They could rebuild an engine with a single wrench, hammer and pair of pliers I
swear.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BooJumMan
I still am always surprised on how resourceful the Baja mechanics are. They could rebuild an engine with a single wrench, hammer and pair of pliers I
swear. |
Ohhh...why do you complicate their job with so many tools? Take away those pliers and the wrench and stand back.
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Ken Bondy
Ultra Nomad
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Mood: Mellow
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Magnificent story and photos Roger!! Mil gracias.
carpe diem!
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1761
Registered: 2-2-2010
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Great story. But what was the problem? Inquiring minds need to know.
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bajalearner
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 8-24-2010
Location: Tijuana
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Mood: in search of more
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ken Bondy
Magnificent story and photos Roger!! Mil gracias. |
Ken, I'm confused. Your Quote says "Carpe Diem" but your mood says "mello". How do you do both? Or do you hire people to seize the day for you?
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by chippy
Great story. But what was the problem? Inquiring minds need to know. |
Hola chippy and thanks..
Turns out it was a couple problems with the electric step not working.
First, the brushes were sticking..hence the Bang it with a Hammer cure.
Second, the green ground wire on the control module was rusted. It's connected to a screw on the step assembly.
Hey, it's Baja and I'm on the waterfront...everything rust's or corrodes here sooner or later...look at me.
Other potential electric step problem causes..in case you have this need...are these:
..needs to be greased well.
..needs to run periodically
..turn the key on and off while operating to reset,put in gear, but do not move.
..needs to have pin pulled from the activation arm and manually operate the steps a few times to make sure they are running free. Lubricating
liberally. Then check and make sure the motor makes a complete cycle. Then replace the pin, activate the cycle... and count your fingers.
..the motor needs to be replaced
..the step is possessed...needs an exorcism and a bruja.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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willyAirstream
Super Nomad
Posts: 1786
Registered: 1-1-2010
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You turned a non working step into a great story!
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