Champion Grader - Fuel Gauge Diagnosis Snowballs Quickly!

I was called to figure out why the fuel gauge stopped working in this old Champion motor grader. I wasn't expecting this!

[@GregMcCarthyUK]

Never a truer word was spoken. Very professional. Everyone makes mistakes.

[@danielb4346]

Amen! : )

[@dustinhedin]

Agreed. My parents made plenty. I'm one!

[@j.c.smithprojects]

agreed....talking badly about the previous guy is classless. it also could prevent them from calling you again.

[@WatchWesWork]

Right. Everyone makes mistakes.

[@Mishn0]

Unless you're the only game in town, it probably WILL prevent them from calling you again. I know it would me.

[@KristaMae]

Talking bad about anyone is classless. People would try to get me to trash a dealer ... I never would. Stories get embellished to where the truth is meaningless. What about ___? I've met the owner guy, seems nice enough to me. And that was the truth I knew. Did I perform the service? Do I even know which vehicle it was? Nope. Everyone makes mistakes. I own mine, do my best to get it right, and move on. Reputation isn't from not making mistakes, it's from how they're handled.

[@KristaMae]

@@Mishn0 even if you're the only game in town. I've seen businesses started because only game in town was rude to a guy. So that guy figured it out. Everyone else noticed and started paying that guy to do it.

[@davidsawyer1599]

@@WatchWesWork accept my Brother in law. He's always right. Just ask him he'll gladly tell you. Great advice BTW. There are problem solvers and there are finger pointers.

[@bcbloc02]

i found an alternator hooked to ground once, it didn't charge well but made a great heater!!

[@WatchWesWork]

Follow the smoke!

[@IBWatchinUrVids]

@@WatchWesWork Every machine is a smoke machine if you use it wrong enough.

[@Mishn0]

I let the smoke out of a motorcycle wiring harness that way once. Tried to jump it on the outside of the main fuse, backwards polarity. Oops. Fully faired bike (Honda Pacific Coast). It took quite a bit of work to snake that harness out to fix the burned wire and check to see if there were any more!

[@JD-iu3vi]

@@WatchWesWork In electronics we have a term called "The smoke test".

[@Volcker1929]

I work in IT and one of my first questions to the customer is "what changed or was touched recently". That gives me a good starting point. I've learned a lot from you, thanks for the videos.

[@WatchWesWork]

Yeah that's a good way to narrow it down!

[@billywird]

Yes sir it seems redundant but a good service tech is a good detective.

[@thesteelrodent1796]

Still a good practice, but these days in IT a lot of problems boil down to "there was an update to [insert program name here] and now [insert other program name] doesn't work". The amount of things that go wrong and need to be fixed thanks to automatic software updates is ridiculous

[@phillipkeeling7327]

A little late here but as an old retired electrician I was struck by two things in this video. You’re very quick and correct analysis of the problem and you’re statement at the close of the video about diplomacy. I was called out on hundreds of service calls in my job and many times it was obvious that the problem was something done by uncle Harry or cousin buddy. And many times we were just minutes away from disaster. I learned to keep my mouth shut cause the culprit was probably standing next to you or was a beloved friend or family member. You’ve got to get it fixed. The last thing you want is some outraged handyman you’ve insulted stomping around

[@Woodwhore]

You're an unusual guy Wes. I mean that in the most positive way. I love watching you work and I always take something away from your videos. I have little experience with large equipment but the process for troubleshooting is the same be it large or small and you do that very well. Good job. One of my favorite channels.

[@pedrobatista4439]

If that thing was any of the newer machines with all the electronics and plastic over everything, it would have burned straight to the ground. Wise words in the end. Great job Wes!

[@WatchWesWork]

I'm surprised the damage was a minimal as it was!

[@kevingrainger2530]

A 7ft long heating element, that's hilarious

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Very good troubleshooting! And you're an expert on human relationships. Good man, Charlie Brown.

[@glennchartrand5411]

When I get into a situation where the previous mechanic made a mistake and I cant avoid telling the customer about it, I just let them know that the reason I knew what to look for is that I did the same thing once. When one of us older guys walks up to a problem that had you stumped and they immediately recognize a mistake you made...its because they made the same mistake.

[@ianrutherford878]

not necessarily...maybe they saw or heard about it happening or maybe they are mentally sharper---some are some aren't.

[@mdouglaswray]

Well said

[@thomas7529]

That last little bit about professionalism is absolutely true. Learned that the hard way when I first started working in automotive garages. Now if only customers can start showing respect and courtesy, then we'll be getting somewhere.

[@WatchWesWork]

Well that's a long shot!

[@billywird]

Well the problem can be that people have no concept that machines fail and of course they do not fail at their convenience. And if they are having a continuing problem that nobody seems to be able to fix that is a problem. When people get angry their sense of right and wrong and common decency flies out the window and we say things that we really regret. This is of course on both sides. My philosophy is the customer has rights, and the business has rights and there should be respect for both.

[@jtthill5475]

Well said Wes, there is no up side to down grading previous work. You are totally right about fix it and inform and move on. Thanks for sharing.

[@curtmazur5155]

"Down grading" as he works on a grader.

[@Mike.Howard]

Love the comment at the end - well said that man!

[@toms4123]

Still have not quite worked out yet why I find these videos so fascinating (I have nothing to do with big Diesel engines) but I am always glued to the screen. Wes certainly is a wizard.

[@GuyinWY]

You couldn’t be more right Wes. Even if the customer didn’t work on it last, everybody has a bad day and makes a mistake or misses something. 👍

[@WatchWesWork]

Right. Fix it and move on!

[@billywird]

And the key words here is not "everybody makes mistakes" but "I made a mistake" or in this case the customer owned up to his mistake and it makes it a lot easier to console him. Wish him a nice day and move on. Most of the time the customer is more than happy to pay for the service call.

[@keith73z28]

Pushing 50 yrs experience, with Automotive Education, and I can still miss something. Still learning and getting better. Thanks for the editorial. Good advice Wes. Back when i was in Mechanics class we didn't have smart phones, but now that we do it is a good idea to take pictures before disassembly.

[@WatchWesWork]

Yes, especially if you don't know the system very well. This guy is in his 70s and I don't think he does "smart" anything. Which is fine with me. Simple mistake. He actually got pretty lucky. Could have burned the whole building down.

[@keith73z28]

Yup.

[@jonka1]

I prefer to draw it out by hand. That way I'm learning by driving the system into my brain. Also put lables on wires, sometimes they look the same and it's so easy to get it wrong.

[@mdouglaswray]

OR make a drawing. Or stick on a piece of tape or something. Haste makes waste.

[@mdouglaswray]

of course, paying the bill politely also works great

[@Gemini1694]

You are a true professional, Wes..love your videos ❤️

[@SteveSummers]

Thanks Wes, That was interesting.

[@IHcubcadet]

Nice work man. I agree completely with you about when you find something done wrong just keep it to yourself and get the job done everybody goes home happy, and they will call you back for another job sometime.

[@HiddenValleyHomestead]

That was a great video! Very excellent diagnosis and fix as well as wise words! Love it. Don't underestimate these "meatless" vids sir!!!

[@WatchWesWork]

Heh. Well there wasn't much to it. Just an actual situation I ran into.

[@Dripfed]

Nice speech about not crapping on the customer at the end there. Lots of people try to fix things, and lack the tools or knowledge in the end, so surrender and bring it to the professional. Or they just overlooked the obvious and lack that second pair of eyes at home. They want to learn and should be encouraged. A more practical population is a happier population. Subscribed because of your positive attitude. 👍

[@pearcemachineshop5200]

I like the Wes top job mate, and good advice tagged on to the end. Al.

[@jamesfarley355]

Customer's remember the grace and professional courtesy long after the repair. It is a reflection on the character of the man.

[@Oddman1980]

Good advice when dealing with repairs. We aren't being paid to psychoanalyze or teach, just here to turn wrenches.

[@Bob_In_South_Texas]

Your ending statement was wonderful. I wish there were more people like you.

[@johndunbar2393]

I love the dry, 1980 Chevy Chase style of humor you have............"I've never run a motor grader before. How do you do it? Do you have to have 8 hands?" I was literally laughing out loud! That was great! Thanks for the laugh man! Have a great weekend!

[@WatchWesWork]

Well it's not for everyone, but I find it amusing as well...

[@Volcker1929]

Simple Life at least half the fun of this channel is the jokes.

[@johndunbar2393]

@@Volcker1929 Agreed. I have the same sense of humor. Some people aren't sure how to take it, which in turn makes it even more funny.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

Stay humble. No one is perfect! Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@Revoku]

your final words have made me think about how I go off when I see work done badly and get pissed about it, how going off about it can cause problems for me and others, I shall remember that advice forever, cheers.

[@kennyk6345]

Your comments on professionalism were spot on. Some folks just don't get it.

[@MattOckendon]

Love the professional courtesy advice - fully agree. What was refreshing here was the honesty on both sides. Customer could have saved himself some labour hours by telling you what had been done recently.

[@thaifoodlover5296]

Most people who have worked on a vehicle and screwed something up and then drop it in your lap are embarrassed with not knowing what they did wrong. You are right, rubbing it in won't generate a repeat customer. I've had friends stop by and say something like "can you look at my back brakes? I changed the shoes, and now the rears won't work." Then you find they weren't bled, etc. They didn't know how to do that, or even how to adjust the shoes". I then offer to help with their next project, or direct them to KZbin tutorials. In Pennsylvania, we help our neighbors if we can, especially if they are elderly. We also have several local mechanics who will always do a great job. Others. not so much. As you know, what some people diagnose as their problem may just be the tip of the iceberg once a trained eye looks at it. You relate your customer interactions very well.

[@JourneymanRandy]

I have never seen that. Had many weird things happen. One machine we have blew up alternators until I traced the positive wire with a rotten spot from road spray. Good advice, never trash who hired you. Take care Wes

[@FelicianaDelacruz]

Great advice to be sure. I worked in a field where I checked the work of other people amd instead of berating them and making them feel about 2" tall, I would spend whatever time it took to show them the mistakes and walk them through how to correct them and avoid them in the future and people are far more appreciative of that then being humiliated. I always learn something new with your videos and even though I am not a mechanic, it's helped me know more about my car and how to discuss problems with my shop folks, so you're doing an incredible service to everyone by sharing your knowledge and skills with all of us.

[@ramosel]

Ending comment was spot on. Letting them know about the problem without any commentary is the best practice. Your professionalism will get you call backs. Fixing it and being an ass could put you on their no-go list.

[@WatchWesWork]

Right. Everyone knows that guy who is really sharp but a pain to work with. I don't want to be that guy.

[@jamiepilkey]

To your point about keeping your trap shut about finding mistakes in jobs, something I've always held to be true is that the only thing more annoying than incompetence is super-competence. No one likes someone who is way better at their job than they are. It's the opposite end of the Peter Principle spectrum. Love watching you work Wes, I hope you keep at making these videos! The best part is I get to watch and I don't get yelled at for holding the flashlight wrong

[@bruceboman9801]

Watch the "archy sparkies". Love that. End note is a sign of a true professional. Keep up the good work Wes and thanks.

[@mdouglaswray]

Another great video! Excellent and quick diagnosis of a serious problem. Tip on professionalism is 150% on point and excellent advice. Guy was probably delighted you didn't soak him for a lot more money - as many would. Men like you make the world a better place.

[@matthewgross6958]

That’s what happens when you let your brother Daryl, Daryl and your other brother Daryl work on equipment. Township should tell their employees no working on equipment! Your professionalism is exactly correct! Well done.

[@rockcrusher4636]

Excellent Wes, spot on.

[@JayJay-nw8rd]

Thanks Wes, I check almost every morning to see if you posted anything new, I’m glad I checked today! Also, good for you being a class act with your advice at the end, thank you!

[@rambler6891]

Well put Wes! Entertaining and instructive as always, thanks for posting it😁👍

[@wildgoose7444]

You're a credit to your profession Wes,love the channel

[@rgmoore]

Wes, I appreciate you sharing this video and the words of professionalism.

[@jeffsandler3339]

Great job and good advice thank you Wes !!!

[@nicholashardy8735]

Great final words, great attitude. As always.

[@robertgreer5229]

Great job and advice! I love the short and sweet too! 👏🏻👍🏻

[@dhewitt2514]

Great piece of fault finding and some very sound advice 👍

[@darrinmoneer8518]

Well said!!!! GREAT LIFE LESSON !! Thank you Wes

[@plasma4342]

Great video and great advice. Perfect length for me to watch at work. Keep up the great work!

[@joejakubec9708]

Excellent adult advice in sharing information with the customer. Someone taught you well.

[@kerrygleeson4409]

Another great video Wes thanks for sharing 👍🇦🇺🚜

[@keithlester9152]

You are a wise young man. Very impressive.

[@MKMALM2024]

Well done. Great advice at the end

[@JoeHynes284]

love the last part Wes! You the man!

[@davidbeattie4294]

It was really interesting to watch how you went thru the process of diagnosing and fixing the problem. It was worthwhile posting this one. Thanks,

[@TedBishop1]

Great video Wes Good business philosophy Be safe out there.

[@mudpuddle8805]

Excellent video and sage advice. I love going through the process of determining the cause of a failure and how to fix it. Two thumbs up!

[@paulmonk7820]

Great attitude!

[@wildefox1478]

Pretty cool, thanks for sharing what you found. Nobody is perfect, everyone makes mistakes! Love the sound of the L10 Cummins!

[@esurcylimaf4335]

Such a wise head on such young shoulders.Well spoken Wes and great work.Cheers from Australia.

[@smplyizzy]

They were very lucky to find someone like yourself and with your skills.

[@stevenkavanaugh4027]

Be Professional. Best advice, ever. I"ve worked in the pool and spa industry for the last 15 years, and have trained many service technicians. "Keep your mouth shut!" is often the hardest thing for them to learn; until that awkward moment when...

[@the_hate_inside1085]

When what?

[@jackalek]

Please carry on! Don't leave wondering!

[@suburban404]

When you make the man of the house look bad in front of his wife.

[@cereus57]

Well said Wes!

[@Rems61]

You'll go far in business, I have the same attitude in my business dealings as you. Never tell your customer he is an idiot, after all he is paying you. You can think to yourself but never tell the customer. I have been in business for myself 50 years, and it has worked well for me.

[@charlescarriere76]

Very professional. Your a good teacher. Must come from a good family. Keep the good work Wes.

[@kennyrenshaw3086]

Genius Love watching your stuff 👍 Keep up the great work

[@JasonTheMunicipalMechanic]

I ran a grader for a little bit as an equipment operator. You really only use a few levers the most and you learn where they are like typing on a keyboard. I don’t really like running graders they can be frustrating. That’s funny most likely the guy who worked on it is the guy that is paying you. Great advice. You can’t really take something back once it’s said. I’ve said things I have instantly regretted and I’ve been happy I didn’t say something I was thinking.

[@alanrobison3298]

I wish that we had mechanics like you here in south Texas. You are one of a kind my friend!

[@williamspidel9349]

Thanks Wes for the end comment on true professionalism. Sometimes we forget that yes, someone else had worked on it before.

[@wornoutwrench8128]

Number 1) Champion grader. UGH! Did battle with more then one of them in my career. Number 2) Would take the champion over the 14M we got at work just before I retired. Can you imagine the damage that would have happened if you crossed the polarity on it! Your little life lesson at the end was spot on.

[@WatchWesWork]

Yeah I think reversing the cables would have nuked every computer on the thing. I worked on a CNC milling machine one time where the guy before me accidentally hooked 110VAC to the 12VDC bus. Fried every board in the control cabinet. They scrapped the machine.

[@normanbuchanan9710]

very well said Sir, your professionalism is impeccable.

[@allenwhite9729]

Very good advice.I enjoy watching you work on trucks and heavy equipment.I grew up doing it also.Thank you for the videos.

[@silverado123]

Good job Wes. Very true words.

[@jamesmoore3346]

I went to work for an industrial hydraulics company once. Seems you spend more time is a class than you do working. One class was actually about etiquette. Never bad mouth the mechanic before you as we all are capable of making mistakes. Very good thing. I cannot count all the mistakes I've made, lol Your a good man Wes, you have to admit we do see some strange things in our line of work.. Lol..

[@thecorbies]

Excellent advice on the customer relations part. Regards Mark in the UK

[@ChristopherDarby]

Good advice Wes!

[@bsagreg]

The advice given at the end of video was well taken. Definitely worth a like, subscribe, and share.

[@dalescommonsense7676]

Good video and really like what you said at the end you always come out on top being a professional about it.

[@mdouglaswray]

Very wise. That's why I love your videos. Get it fixed, get the work done, analyze later. Your follow ups are always informative and often entertaining.

[@peterwooldridge7285]

Great advice Wes

[@joshpowell7113]

Excellent closing comments.

[@robpeters5204]

This is the first time I have ever watched your videos and I am so frikkin happy that there are guys like you in the world today. You are exactly like myself. Everything you did from start to finish was on point and very professional especially when you too the time to explain on what to do and how to do the job. Not many people out there can be a professional and still be a grounded individual out there. Most of them have inflated egos and run with it. I couldn't be more proud of someone like I am of you. Keep it real!

[@WatchWesWork]

That's quite a compliment. Thank you. I'm just a regular guy doing what I do.

[@GearScar]

What you said at the very end is so underrated, I've experienced that a few too many times in the past, and I learned 2 ways of dealing with it, first take the project somewhere else, second learn to repair things yourself. No one starts out as an expert with repairing anything, its all a learning experience, and the last thing you need is some hotshot mechanic calling you a dumba$$ for trying to do something yourself.

[@WatchWesWork]

Right. All it does is give our industry a worse name.

[@assessor1276]

Well said Wes.

[@craigorford9932]

Wes you have wise words,And you have mostly got another customer good vlog

[@simonrichard9873]

Wow, an old grader with the same tires all around!

[@jeffrypresutti3139]

It always best to repair the damage and send them the bill. Great professionalism.

[@ermancroney3805]

Well said. Thank you Wes.

[@henryrollins9177]

Your thinking is very honest and plain...i agree 100%. I work in mining facilities, but only during commissioning, start-up and ramp-up stages... Sometimes the things we find are hard to believe, but the guys that hired our company are the ones that designed and built the plant, expended hundreds of millions, sometimes thousands of millions...and they want it running and producing YESTERDAY. No time or reason for recrimination/excuses/justifications... Cheers from the Patagonia, SouthAmerica.

[@WatchWesWork]

I've worked in similar situations. We call them "outages", where plants are shut down to fix critical systems. It's costs the customer $ millions to shut down. They do not want excuses. Just fix the thing correctly and do it as fast as humanly possible. But, the quality of labor available to get the work done is appalling! It's amazing it gets done at all.

[@michaelashcraft8569]

I am a former US Navy Corpsman, and, a retired Physicians Assistant, in some instances being wrong can cost a life or limb, so, yeah, no one wants to be wrong! I'm my business uh oh, or, oops is really bad! Love your vids. Doc Mike USN

[@WatchWesWork]

Yeah, thankfully no lives are at stake here.

[@leevanruler119]

Well spoken - professionalism will lead to way more opportunities in the future!

[@luigitorchia8866]

Job well done.

[@robertkeime4907]

Great video…..very smart approach to dealing with customers

[@mikkel1249]

it was a good video made by a gentleman , we can all learn from our mistakes

[@larrymatsumoto7730]

Great video Wes totally professional

[@wolfc7280]

Just found your channel, really liking it.

[@kerryclark1926]

Totally agree with your last comments! BTW, more short videos like this as well as your main videos would be great.

[@thomasolsen8052]

Good job. Wasn't long ago I was doing the exact same thing as you. We used to have a constant lineup of trucks and tractors to repair.

[@alwayssearching1882]

Love the video Wes!

[@paulcooper2897]

Solid advise! Words i have lived by for a long time