For those who have completed major restorations / builds that have spanned multiples of years... how did you get through the final months?
I'm at a point on the 170 project where I should be looking at the light at the end of the tunnel but, instead, it seems like the more I try to finish, the less motivated I am to get it done.

How do folks cope with BuildBurnout?

Have more kids.

Zzz wrote:Have more kids.

Crazy but not so crazy.

From past experience with boats and other projects equally as painful, finite deadlines seem to help, especially if you have a nagging wife

I'm just the opposite. I wont set a definite deadline because that increases the chance to hurry and screw something up or miss something. I actually get slower as I finalize a restoration or rebuild....then I call in someone just as picky as me that hasn't seen it and have them spend as much time as they want, trying to find something I missed.
It drives some people nuts, but I don't have anyone having emergencies that way so I'll stick to it. I've seen more than a few that hurried and got pushed into something they wished later they hadn't.
A lot of people take a month or two break and get back into it...that seems to help. I wind up doing that as we are busy putting up hay from about mid July through mid September.
John

I dont have kids and my wife fully supports (and contributes) to the project so, I don't think those are the issues. In fact, I am able to put 40 hours a week into the project.

Timeline goals are wonderful thoughts but are rarely met due to unforeseen setbacks like a bad motor. I did my best estimate, times two, plus twenty percent on the project which put it at four years. I'm on schedule so I dont think it's a pressure thing.

I'm talking about burnout. Everything is in place to finish the project except that I'm tired of working on it and just want it done so I can go fly.

Bagarre wrote:Everything is in place to finish the project except that I'm tired of working on it and just want it done so I can go fly.

^^^THIS^^^^

schedule a work party with some buddies to relight the passion for it, make the shop a place you want to be.

What are the next steps that your putting off?

Easy, don't have anything else to fly, that has always been my expeditor. Nowadays, for the first time, I have the wherewithall to build a plane without first selling my current bird..But I'm too busy flying it to build another in my spare time.

Find someone to help. Maybe a friend who's between projects or an A&P looking for work on the side. Not a boss, but someone knowledgeable to help make decisions and do some of the work.

Depending on the amount of motivation you need, you could go as far as hiring Bigrenna to pay a weekly visit!

But seriously, knowing how self-directed you are, if you're suffering burnout it gives me serious doubts about my ability to do a resto.

I'm totally with you on the burnout. I'm currently dealing some burnout of my own.

There's no way I'd have anyone else help, especially on the finish work. I had "help" a few times on my project which always ended up creating more work for me, usually rework.

Only thing I can offer is to power through. It sucks but of you ever want to fly the thing you'll suck it up and get to work. Or you can just sit in the airplane making noises while pretending to fly to Alaska[emoji16]

whee wrote:I'm totally with you on the burnout. I'm currently dealing some burnout of my own.

There's no way I'd have anyone else help, especially on the finish work. I had "help" a few times on my project which always ended up creating more work for me, usually rework.

Only thing I can offer is to power through. It sucks but of you ever want to fly the thing you'll suck it up and get to work. Or you can just sit in the airplane making noises while pretending to fly to Alaska[emoji16]

I have spent evenings sitting in it drinking beer, thinking about Alaska

The 'help' part really is a two edged sword. From my experience, nothing gets done except for the 'help' questioning my decisions and going through all the things they'd do differently on the project - which can be less than motivating.

The list of things left is rather small but everything seems to be contingent on some other thing being done first so figuring out sequence is tricky. If I drill one more hole to mount one more bracket only to discover it interferes with something I'll install next week......
I made a punch list today that is about two pages. Everything from "Bracket for oil pressure sensor" to "DelAir Battery STC" and everything in between. That should help reduce the amount of time I just stare at the thing.
Today was "rear seat mic jacks" ...
Sometimes, it's just good to talk about it. One day at a time.

As far as a second girlfriend, I sold '81D shortly after pulling the wings off '95D.

Rear seat mic jacks and rewriting my intercom was one of those jobs that I’m gladiator don’t have to do again anytime soon. (Did mine on a flying airplane - lots of time upside down under the dash)

But other than contortionism, it was a pretty fun job.

Punch list is great. I put my punch list in a gantt chart so I always knew what was next. Analysis paralysis is real so sometimes I had to make the best decision I could on where and how to start and sometimes I got it wrong. But that's usually better than doing nothing.

whee wrote: Analysis paralysis is real so sometimes I had to make the best decision I could on where and how to start and sometimes I got it wrong. But that's usually better than doing nothing.

This is a real killer for me.

The other is having to remove a part that I've already installed three times because of one more thing that needed to go one before it.
That's tomorrow. Remove the glove box and transponder to access the ignition key (again) to install the engine monitor tach wires. This will be the fifth or sixth time I've removed the glove box and transponder to get to something. But leaving it out of the airplane drives me even more crazy.

If it’s a short list, I find lists helpful. If it’s a long list where some tasks are dependant on other tasks, then it needs a bit more planning.

Try posting your list. Perhaps those here that are knowledgeable can help you put it in order. Then a critical path plan and schedule on a gantt chart can be created for you. Then you just chip away on it in order, and your progress will be evident.

Being guilty of mission-creep myself , some observations:

1. Avoid downtime drudgery. Unless you have another flyable aircraft, keep the primary flyable between day-sized projects.

2. Lists are good provided one differentiates between needs & wants i.e. do I really need this GTN750 & GMA35? Or can I just get by with the GTR225B's integral intercom along with a portable GPS? (yep, for now).

3. Failing the above (guilty!), making completion a contest keeps me going (made a bet with another C180 owner in similar situation, tho sold him two removed 430W's to slow him ...)

Back to the diversity antenna install ...

Walk away and take a break from the project.

Don't think about it or go to your hangar again for awhile. Give your brain some time to forget it all.

After a period of time, you will miss it and you'll have more excitement and energy to get back into it again.

This is why hobby rotation is so important. So many aviation folks I've met are all about aviation and only aviation. I get it, they're really passionate about it and don't want to do anything else, but that sounds really boring to me. Aviation is just one of many hobbies/passions that I rotate through.

When anything is not fun for me, it's time to quit for awhile and do something else.

Besides your Super 170B, what else are you interested in and have a spark of joy at the thought of doing?

Sell it to me cheap. Hahahahaha.

Hobby rotation stopped when I took this project on. My idea was to treat it like going back to school for a degree. Nights, weekends no distractions until it’s finished. I didn’t want it. To drag out and be a 10 year never ending why is this still in my garage project.
Other folks are telling me that taking a break now will kill the project and I should keep pushing on.
One recommended a major cleanup and reorganization of the shop. Not that it’s a mess but it might be good therapy to see everything In good order.

We also decided that, once the 170 is flying, we’re moving out of the area. So that is a motivating pressure added. It also makes hobby rotation difficult as it feels like I’m delaying the next phase of our lives.

I think I’ll grab a broom and sweep the floor for a day or two. Might even find more items for the punch list that way.

Cheers.

I'd make a detailed list of all remaining items. Make the items small and digestible - like down to one hour or less tasks.

I'd then filter the list by priority, lead time, and 'have to' versus 'may do'.

I'd make the list as long as it needs to be so that it covers every final detail. I would not include items that can be completed after return to flight. I'd make a separate list for that and perform all that tinkering later.

Then, like the benefits of having a workout partner, post descriptions and photos of items you knock off the hitlist here like you've done in the past. Many of us, including myself, will be looking forward to seeing the next thing from you, and you may get the sense that we're sitting here waiting to see it. That feeling tends to push me along.

I was taught to do at least one thing a day - no matter how small. Make it part of the routine to get to the project. Even if only one rivet is driven, that's one less for tomorrow. Some times with the project are more productive than others. Sometimes, the driving of that one rivet leads to other things you didn't intend to do but get wrapped up because they're there staring at you.

The thing will never be 'done', so don't worry about that. It'll never be perfect in your mind, even though it'll look perfect to all of us. The smallest details that bother one now, will be forgotten completely after the first five hours of flight.

Keep up the good work, and get back in the air!

-Glen

David,

Quit whining and just finish the thing. Social media blah blah isn’t gonna get it finished. The last plane you did looked absolutely stunning and I have no doubt that this one will exceed that. Stop posting unless it’s pictures of newly completed items on your punch list!

I’m saying all of this to spark a fire, not to piss you off.

I can send you a hug if you need one.