What's the worst that can happen if you were to text a friend "Heya mate, bit of a long shot - do you know anyone who can help repair a 1983 Reliant Robin?"
Best case, they know someone or can dig through their contact and help you solve your problem.
Medium case, they text back "No - has your shitbox died again? Can't believe you still have that thing :-)" and you can have a pleasant back and forth.
Worse case, you get a "no". Oh well, at least texts don't cost 12p each any more.
I just think it is nice to chat with your pals. But, sure, stick to scans of old manuals on Archive.org if you just want pure information.
you are a parasite on your friends. why would i text my friends to ask them to do work when i can google it? i suspect you dont have many people who genuinely enjoy your company, you sound like an annoying prick.
Asking people to help you (within reason and without exhausting their resources), actually makes people like you more.
You have to be a minimum amount of likeable in the first place, though.
most sociable redditor lol