Joe, My Dad was a pretty good back yard mechanic and he taught me to put a long screwdriver against the engine and my ear. Amazing what you can hear. Side story, the guy in front of my Dad in the line for job assignments in the Marines wanted to be a carpenter. They said nope, we need mechanics. Dad was thinking perfect, I want to be a mechanic. They said, nope we need carpenters. Go figure!
I was taught the screwdriver trick way back then as well.
I've heard lots of stories about the armed services putting guys in odd professions. Although I had some pretty good mechanics in my shop, I've heard of guys who worked as wrenchbenders being sent to cook's school in the army. "The needs of the service" and all that.
