Way back in the mid 1990s, I tried to get a job at a Sylvania plant, but they wouldn't hire me as a mechanic or line adjuster because I hadn't been through machinist school. So I just started as a temp and just got on, to try to go permanent/full time later.
I was sent to work on a brand new line, it was being installed by the germans, the new skinny Neva flourescent tube. So getting started, it had a lot of kinks to work out, and I was on the second shift. So the line would be shut down a lot, trying to work out all of the bugs. Most of the tech guys were fresh out of machinist schools too, as the experienced ones had 1st shift, so they were pretty poor at fixing anything.
One night, the line shut down, a spindle had locked up, and the foreman was sending all of the temps home. I asked if I could hang around and clean, etc., as I needed the hours.
While working, I was watching the "machinists" trying to work on this problem. They had on one of their benches this spindle, with a large cogged gear on it, and it was locked up, and they couldn't get the nut loose that held it onto the shaft. They had the bearings here at the plant, but since they couldn't get the gear pulley off, they couldn't fix it.
The were calling Germany to get the whole thing overnighted, which meant that the line might be shut down the next night too, and the cost of having it "overnighted" would be in the thousands, the foremen were chatting about their dilemma.
I was sweeping nearby.... When there was a break in the action, they were talking about taking it to the other side of the plant, and putting it in their "soft-jawed" vice, etc.
I asked one of the guys that I had made friends with, "Do any of your guys have an impact wrench? I can get that bolt off in 10 seconds"
"No", was all I heard after he checked with the other guys.
"Well, can I borrow a ratchet and a 1/2 inch socket?" I asked after looking at the bolt.
"But everything here is metric!!!"
"OK, whatever...... 13mm!!!
Do you mind if I tap on the handle of your ratchet?
The bolt backed off easily, and the gear pulled off right away, as the equipment on this line was practically brand new. I handed the stuff back to the guys and picked my broom back up, and started sweeping again, the line foreman were just staring, not saying a word.
It usually takes just a little impact/tapping to get things done.....
I never did get hired there, Obama shut the plant down not too long ago.....
