Finally got my timing belt change down to under an hour

Used to take me like 3 hours on a Honda 1.8L because I kept wrestling with the crank pulley bolt and lost the belt tension spec. Then after about 10 of them over 2 years, I picked up a holding tool from Matco for $60 and memorized the torque sequence. Now I can knock one out in 55 minutes flat and I'm not even rushing. Anyone else have a job that just clicked after enough reps?

3 comments

3 Comments

alicemurphy1mo ago

Ever notice how most things in life are just a slow grind until something clicks and suddenly you're wondering why it ever felt hard? I've had that with a lot of non-car stuff too, like learning to make the same three meals I always burn, or finally getting the hang of a video game boss after failing for an hour. The weird part is that the breakthrough never comes from trying harder, it comes from doing the same boring thing over and over until your brain rewires itself around the problem. I think that's why people who stick with anything long enough end up looking like wizards to beginners.

mianelson1mo agoMost Upvoted

Oh totally @alicemurphy, that cooking thing hits home, I learned to stop burning rice by just walking away from the stove instead of watching it boil.

gibson.morgan1mo ago

You ever have that moment where you realize you've been overthinking something the whole time? Totally agree with you @alicemurphy, the click always comes when you stop forcing it and just let the reps pile up. I had that with learning to parallel park, I was awful at it for years, then one day I just did it without thinking and now I can do it backwards with my eyes closed. And @mianelson your rice trick is genius, I used to stare at the stove too and it always got mushy. Now I set a timer and walk outside, comes out perfect every time. It's like your brain figures out the shortcut when you stop getting in its way.