Bike mechanics
Discussion
Hoping for some advice..
Looking to either a) do a car and bike mechanics course part time in the evenings (manchester) b) get a bike, use a book, rip it apart, have a play, put it back together - learn.
Does anyone have any guidance on option A or B?
A - NVQ level 2? I do not intend to do the exams - and i would rather not have the homework.. A sounds better as i can ask silly questions.
B - What bike? What tools? What manuals?
Thanks in advance.
Looking to either a) do a car and bike mechanics course part time in the evenings (manchester) b) get a bike, use a book, rip it apart, have a play, put it back together - learn.
Does anyone have any guidance on option A or B?
A - NVQ level 2? I do not intend to do the exams - and i would rather not have the homework.. A sounds better as i can ask silly questions.
B - What bike? What tools? What manuals?
Thanks in advance.
Also depends on why you want to learn. Do you want to be able to fix your bike yourself and tinker? Option B is what you want, any bike with a good following will do, and you'll find all the help you need on specialist forums.
Do you want to work as a mechanic? Worth popping in to a garage and see if they'd need qualifications. If mechanic NVQs are anything like the warehouse NVQ I did, the assessor comes and watch you work over a few weeks/months, and gives you a certificate if you're good enough. That might imply you need a job as a mechanic or apprentice first, though I don't know.
Do you want to work as a mechanic? Worth popping in to a garage and see if they'd need qualifications. If mechanic NVQs are anything like the warehouse NVQ I did, the assessor comes and watch you work over a few weeks/months, and gives you a certificate if you're good enough. That might imply you need a job as a mechanic or apprentice first, though I don't know.
I'd just have a bash personally.
In about 5 years on my old Honda CBR600 beyond oil and filters I have done; stator, batteries x 3, fuel pump, clutch, valve clearances and shim changed, manual chain tensioner, balanced the carbs, new downpipes, 4 wheel bearings, rebuilt the rear calipers, chain and sprockets, throttle sleeves, heated grips, changed pads and discs, and three exhaust can changes. I'm fitting a new engine and servicing the front suspension over the winter.
I have no mechanical or engineering background and don't have anyone to ask advice from beyond the interweb. Even with a manual it can be frustrating, but the motorcycling community in general is very helpful.
If I can do these jobs anyone can I think. Just plan the job and take your time.
In about 5 years on my old Honda CBR600 beyond oil and filters I have done; stator, batteries x 3, fuel pump, clutch, valve clearances and shim changed, manual chain tensioner, balanced the carbs, new downpipes, 4 wheel bearings, rebuilt the rear calipers, chain and sprockets, throttle sleeves, heated grips, changed pads and discs, and three exhaust can changes. I'm fitting a new engine and servicing the front suspension over the winter.
I have no mechanical or engineering background and don't have anyone to ask advice from beyond the interweb. Even with a manual it can be frustrating, but the motorcycling community in general is very helpful.
If I can do these jobs anyone can I think. Just plan the job and take your time.
Prof Prolapse said:
I'd just have a bash personally.
In about 5 years on my old Honda CBR600 beyond oil and filters I have done; stator, batteries x 3, fuel pump, clutch, valve clearances and shim changed, manual chain tensioner, balanced the carbs, new downpipes, 4 wheel bearings, rebuilt the rear calipers, chain and sprockets, throttle sleeves, heated grips, changed pads and discs, and three exhaust can changes. I'm fitting a new engine and servicing the front suspension over the winter.
I have no mechanical or engineering background and don't have anyone to ask advice from beyond the interweb. Even with a manual it can be frustrating, but the motorcycling community in general is very helpful.
If I can do these jobs anyone can I think. Just plan the job and take your time.
After all that, servicing/sorting your exhaust valve would be a walk in the park!In about 5 years on my old Honda CBR600 beyond oil and filters I have done; stator, batteries x 3, fuel pump, clutch, valve clearances and shim changed, manual chain tensioner, balanced the carbs, new downpipes, 4 wheel bearings, rebuilt the rear calipers, chain and sprockets, throttle sleeves, heated grips, changed pads and discs, and three exhaust can changes. I'm fitting a new engine and servicing the front suspension over the winter.
I have no mechanical or engineering background and don't have anyone to ask advice from beyond the interweb. Even with a manual it can be frustrating, but the motorcycling community in general is very helpful.
If I can do these jobs anyone can I think. Just plan the job and take your time.
EagleMoto4-2 said:
After all that, servicing/sorting your exhaust valve would be a walk in the park!
Lol, I know. We misunderstood one another at the time but I didn't feel I needed to correct! It is now sorted, I just didn't want to start ripping parts off a bike that isn't even 3 years old yet as per some other people's advice!
Prof Prolapse said:
I'd just have a bash personally.
In about 5 years on my old Honda CBR600 beyond oil and filters I have done; stator, batteries x 3, fuel pump, clutch, valve clearances and shim changed, manual chain tensioner, balanced the carbs, new downpipes, 4 wheel bearings, rebuilt the rear calipers, chain and sprockets, throttle sleeves, heated grips, changed pads and discs, and three exhaust can changes. I'm fitting a new engine and servicing the front suspension over the winter.
I have no mechanical or engineering background and don't have anyone to ask advice from beyond the interweb. Even with a manual it can be frustrating, but the motorcycling community in general is very helpful.
If I can do these jobs anyone can I think. Just plan the job and take your time.
How many miles has it covered during that period? Thankfully my FX has only need a CCT so far.In about 5 years on my old Honda CBR600 beyond oil and filters I have done; stator, batteries x 3, fuel pump, clutch, valve clearances and shim changed, manual chain tensioner, balanced the carbs, new downpipes, 4 wheel bearings, rebuilt the rear calipers, chain and sprockets, throttle sleeves, heated grips, changed pads and discs, and three exhaust can changes. I'm fitting a new engine and servicing the front suspension over the winter.
I have no mechanical or engineering background and don't have anyone to ask advice from beyond the interweb. Even with a manual it can be frustrating, but the motorcycling community in general is very helpful.
If I can do these jobs anyone can I think. Just plan the job and take your time.
BuzzBravado said:
How many miles has it covered during that period? Thankfully my FX has only need a CCT so far.
I honestly don't have a clue. Probably about 12K but could a be a fair bit more or less.It's worth bearing in mind the only failures on Honda are the 2 CCTs, and a stator and two regulators. The batteries and some wiring, they cooked as well as collateral damage. I don't think that's too bad.
Oh and the pump failed because the contacts wore out. It is inevitable at some point, it ran for bloody ages without me knowing due to the carbs.
Everything else is routine maintenance with the exception of the bearings from a new set of wheels, and the clutch was changed because I burnt it, arseing around, it was fine.
Same goes for the throttle sleeve. I changed it for an R6 one as I hated the original.
I blew up the engine in September last year and it's waiting on a new one. I'm going rebuild the front shocks and have it as a budget track bike next year.
Watch this space!
Edited by Prof Prolapse on Thursday 30th June 11:45
theshrew said:
What is it you want to do / learn ?
Just basic stuff or be able to rebuild a engine etc ?
Both. Engine rebuilds - or at least the basics associated to it. I am not talking about porting heads or rebores. Just being able to replace cams, flywheels, clutch etc.Just basic stuff or be able to rebuild a engine etc ?
In theory it looks easy (based on reading etc), but in reality i do not have a clue on stripping brakes and replacing pads, let alone pulling an engine out of a bike.
I quite fancy the idea of the Honda CG125 - based on a prior suggestion. I might look on ebay.
At least it will keep me busy whilst i wait for summer to start... and wait for a S1000RR to pop up.
As previously mentioned there's a wealth of information on forums and youtube, but it may be worth looking to see what bikes have an active following before buying a particular one. Plus some bikes are a lot easier to work on. Carbs probably make more sense for you than fuel injection, and air cooled is easier to work on but you won't learn anything about water cooling.
Older CG125's had drum brakes, I'd suggest you want something with disks as you want to learn lessons you can translate to more modern bikes.
I went from never having done anything more complex than an oil change to replacing the piston rings on a TDM 850 just by following the instructions in the Haynes manual. In fact a Mk1 TDM might make some sense, they're cheap, easy to work on and have a very active owners forum with lots of guides on doing various jobs, but a 125 might be easier just because it weighs so much less.
Older CG125's had drum brakes, I'd suggest you want something with disks as you want to learn lessons you can translate to more modern bikes.
I went from never having done anything more complex than an oil change to replacing the piston rings on a TDM 850 just by following the instructions in the Haynes manual. In fact a Mk1 TDM might make some sense, they're cheap, easy to work on and have a very active owners forum with lots of guides on doing various jobs, but a 125 might be easier just because it weighs so much less.
Prof Prolapse said:
I'd just have a bash personally.
In about 5 years on my old Honda CBR600 beyond oil and filters I have done; stator, batteries x 3, fuel pump, clutch, valve clearances and shim changed, manual chain tensioner, balanced the carbs, new downpipes, 4 wheel bearings, rebuilt the rear calipers, chain and sprockets, throttle sleeves, heated grips, changed pads and discs, and three exhaust can changes. I'm fitting a new engine and servicing the front suspension over the winter.
I have no mechanical or engineering background and don't have anyone to ask advice from beyond the interweb. Even with a manual it can be frustrating, but the motorcycling community in general is very helpful.
If I can do these jobs anyone can I think. Just plan the job and take your time.
And that ^^^ is where I want to end up. I've maintained chain and swapped brake pads on the front thus far, but I've purchased some tools and am prepared to get stuck in. In about 5 years on my old Honda CBR600 beyond oil and filters I have done; stator, batteries x 3, fuel pump, clutch, valve clearances and shim changed, manual chain tensioner, balanced the carbs, new downpipes, 4 wheel bearings, rebuilt the rear calipers, chain and sprockets, throttle sleeves, heated grips, changed pads and discs, and three exhaust can changes. I'm fitting a new engine and servicing the front suspension over the winter.
I have no mechanical or engineering background and don't have anyone to ask advice from beyond the interweb. Even with a manual it can be frustrating, but the motorcycling community in general is very helpful.
If I can do these jobs anyone can I think. Just plan the job and take your time.
I want to chain the gearing on my bike which means C&S change. I had planned on getting someone else to do it, but the bike is just a weekend toy so no harm if it's off the road for longer if I take my time. Part of getting back into bikes again was to 'enjoy' the ownership and maintenance more. Got an exhaust to fit, too, on it's way.
Glad to know it's possible with patience, PH, and tea.
Both perhaps?
There are people with qualifications, not just in mechanics, that are poor at the job, not having much of a comprehension of what or significantly why they're doing something, let alone how. a) will show you some of that b) will allow you to practice it significantly
You'll know if you're good at it soon enough, if you don't like grit and oil on your hands, and kneeling, or crouching, shuffling about on the floor while in bizarre positions, outside in all weather, having to get the job done, or don't look after tools etc. or clean them, and work in a sense of order, and the hammer is far from your favourite tool, or mole grips, then that could be the starting point haha.
There are people with qualifications, not just in mechanics, that are poor at the job, not having much of a comprehension of what or significantly why they're doing something, let alone how. a) will show you some of that b) will allow you to practice it significantly
You'll know if you're good at it soon enough, if you don't like grit and oil on your hands, and kneeling, or crouching, shuffling about on the floor while in bizarre positions, outside in all weather, having to get the job done, or don't look after tools etc. or clean them, and work in a sense of order, and the hammer is far from your favourite tool, or mole grips, then that could be the starting point haha.
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