MARGAO: Lume Quadros from Verna is not just a cheerful, interesting man to interact with but also a great two-wheeler mechanic to know. He started learning the ropes of nuts and bolts as a child, repairing cycles at home. After earning a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering in Kolhapur, Lume has elevated motorbike maintenance to a different level in Goa.
Motorbike mechanics are found in every nook and corner of Goa, all reviving life in sputtering vehicles. The modus operandi is simple—replace the old with the new, and invariably, the vehicle starts and gets going.
However, the story takes a different turn when a two-wheeler owner meets Quadros at his efficient maintenance workshop near Chowgule College in Gogol. “As far as it’s
serviceable, I prefer to repair parts. It may take a little more time, but it cuts costs and leaves my clients happy,” explains Quadros, who, after his diploma, tried his hand as a lecturer at MES College in Vasco for two years.
Quadros listens intently to a customer but decides what is best for the vehicle after taking it for a ride himself. “My relationship with a vehicle is different from that of my client. Over the years, I have developed an ear for vehicles, while for the owner, a vehicle is an object of necessity,” reflects Quadros, who fine-tuned his relationship with two-wheelers after being appointed the resident service engineer for LML Vespa in Goa in the 1980s.
“I practice my religion at work. I may not attend Mass, but I believe that by honestly trying to analyse what is wrong with a vehicle and repairing it with minimal cost to the customer, I am keeping God content,” muses Quadros as he cleans a carburettor.
“There’s a common myth that petrol or kerosene is needed to clean carburettors. I clean them with a dry cloth, and that’s because there’s a science behind it,” says Quadros, while diplomatically avoiding commenting on the fact that most roadside mechanics lack formal qualifications.
“Everyone needs to feel secure. People adopt different ways of getting that feeling, and it’s not my
job to cast aspersions on others because, like me, they need to make a living,” reasons Quadros.
After his stint with Vespa, Quadros started his own business with his brother, and they were the first dealers of a new brand in Goa. “I quit because I believe each one has their own style of making it big in life. Some prefer to wait, like I do, while others want to make it big fast. I couldn’t live with this misunderstanding in our partnership,” confesses Quadros, who, at 58, exudes positivity.
“I have boys who have come and learned with me, and they are doing well in different parts of the world. I like teaching youngsters and learning from their mistakes too. Mechanical engineering is fast evolving,” admits Quadros, who can often be seen taking a bike for a trial run or repairing an engine part in his workshop.
Quadros is a mechanic who doesn’t like to be told what needs to be done to a bike because the sounds and smells of a vehicle tell him a story that only he best understands.
“The new pipe I replaced last week has given way because I didn’t get to the bottom of the problem. I now understand why
the issue reoccurred and have made the necessary changes. You don’t need to pay me,” Quadros tells a stunned customer.
“Sometimes,” Quadros goes on to explain, “I do make mistakes, and being honest with customers is the best approach. Mistakes are part of life, and accepting one’s mistakes adds extra colour and beauty to life.” And perhaps, leaves his clients enjoying that extra mileage.