# A letter from Scotland

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-letter-from-scotland/87027>\
**Category:** The Show\
**Created:** [September 6, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-letter-from-scotland/87027 "2014-09-06T01:47:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ScottishListener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@ScottishListener](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ScottishListener)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-letter-from-scotland/87027/1 "2014-09-06T01:47:27Z")

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Dear Tom & Ray,

Your recent hyperbole about the decreasing number of spare parts remaining after each job, as a metric of improving mechanical ability, had me chuckling merrily.

It’s a wonderful evening here in Bonnie Scotland and having just completed the replacement of some corroded oil cooler pipes on my beloved Mazda Rx8, I find myself accompanied not only by some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the world, but also my laptop, 3 screws and a rubber thing.

I’m at a _complete and total loss_ to explain these leftover parts. I cannot think were they would fit and the car operates perfectly. Since you are experienced in these matters, can you please share professional advice on what I should do next.

Yours Sincerely,

Craig, near Glasgow in Bonnie Scotland

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-letter-from-scotland/87027/2 "2014-09-06T02:26:20Z")

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Tom & Ray have retired. However, hang onto those parts. After the “Yes” for independence you may need them.

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**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-letter-from-scotland/87027/3 "2014-09-06T02:29:45Z")

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- Often times one disassembles many parts of …what is an assembly when the replacement parts are purchased.  
You could have some of those parts left.
- Sometimes there are many screws holding brackets, covers, trim, etc. and you fudge a bit when reassembling because those you use seem like plenty.
- Sometimes replacement parts come with a CHOICE of possibly needed pieces and it’s understood you’ll have some of those left like screws, bolts, and seals ,  
and, where you re-use your originals even though they sent new ones or vice versa…

These theories also aptly apply to home repair as well. I have had MANY left over parts while assembling plumbing, furniture, and toys.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-letter-from-scotland/87027/4 "2014-09-06T02:44:03Z")

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My first experience with repairing anything was at the age of about 5, when my _Robert The Robot_ toy stopped working. Without my parents’ knowledge, I took it apart and–believe it or not–I was able to get it working again.

However, I had a part of some kind left over after I had reassembled it and verified that my repair worked. At that point, I decided that if it was working, there was no sense opening it up again.

My mother then realized that I had fixed “Robert”, and she asked, “What was wrong with him?”. I held up the extra part and announced, “He had too many parts, so I removed one of them!”

Even as a child I had some mechanical aptitude and–apparently–an appreciation of the concept of irony.