Quote Originally Posted by Melanie View Post
I'm sorry I have to disagree...

You can look at an internal combustion engine and figure which end turns and which end doesn't. You can figure where to bolt it down and couple it up. You can figure where to plumb the volts (if any), and fuel (and what kind) and where to plumb the water. But if you want to adjust timing, set spacing and clearances or other critical functions - guess what? You READ the manufacturers DATASHEET.
Learning how to read a data sheet (or similar / vehicle service manual) - is like learning a new language in my humble opinion. Applying what you've just read is a different story again. Why spend time pulling your hair out when there's plenty of people around willing to lend a hand! I personally feel that you take too much for granted, you've been a design engineer for what; 20 years? To appreciate what I'm saying, you need to fully recap yourself to a time & place when you just started out. But on top of that, you need to consider that not everyone is as smart or technical minded as yourself. You really need to learn how to bring yourself down to another person's level is probably what I'm trying to say.