Tbh I've done that with a spray bottle on smaller molds. Just a light mist can save a whole pattern sometimes.

Those bent spring clips are a known weak point on some Spotmatics. Did you check the condition of the aperture cam follower? A worn cam can put extra sideways pressure on that clip, bending it over time.

That "wrong size tire dolly" part hits home. We run into that with our bucket trucks on narrow streets. My rule now is to ask for a photo of the site entrance if the address seems tight. A picture shows you things a work order never will.

Miss the clipboard? I think I lost my pencil about three years ago and never looked back. Sure, the paper log felt solid, but now I don't have to try and read my own terrible handwriting from a greasy sheet. Digital is just faster, even if it means one less thing to accidentally knock off the bench.