Maintenance Course
Maintenance Course
Author
Discussion

bradders

Original Poster:

889 posts

300 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
Have recently bought a Caterham R400, jointly with a mate maily for track days. A couple of weeks ago, it suffered some serious engine problems (currently awaiting taking apart), which prompted me to have a look for courses in the area - pref night school type ones, but I can't find anything relevant at all.

First port was the local council website, but the only courses they have are day release, which is not much use for me. Tried Google, but drew a blank so far. Has anyone got any info on privately run courses or organisers of such?

Cheers Bradders

E30M3SE

8,493 posts

225 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
What about local colleges.

Somnophore

1,364 posts

205 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
There aren't many at all, seems to be you occasionally get DIY car maintenance courses in an evening but aren't really in depth at all, and anything more in depth is focussed towards day release for apprentices etc, there's nothing like that for recreational purposes unfortunately.

bradders

Original Poster:

889 posts

300 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
Hmm, seems like my lack of finding something is the norm. Local college courses can all be accessed via the council portal, and they don't have anything.

Would assume that there's not much demand otherwise someone would have cleaned up!!

Will have to resort to trial and error.

TheCarpetCleaner

7,294 posts

231 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
I have put a couple of threads on here about it, with many, many people also asking the same thing - no joy.

I contacted a few technical colleges in my area - there was one that said "call us for details" - and when you called they said all details were on the website, which they were not rolleyes

It seems there is a very high demand for this kind of thing, but nobody wants to supply. I personally would pay some good money to do this, and would definitely hold a few evening classes if I had the skills myself.

skip_1

3,514 posts

219 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
The Wakefield college evening course (ABC Car Maintenance @ Skills Excange in Castleford) is better than it sounds (I just completed it). Started off slowly but Mike who runs the course (and has attended some PH meets) is enthusiastic and goes into much more depth than the course guidelines. Opportunity is there to bring in your car and sort it on the ramps under his guidance etc.

Edited by skip_1 on Saturday 3rd July 16:02

bradders

Original Poster:

889 posts

300 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
skip_1 said:
The Wakefield college evening course (ABC Car Maintenance @ Skills Excange in Castleford) is better than it sounds (I just completed it). Started off slowly but Mike who runs the course (and has attended some PH meets) is enthusiastic and goes into much more depth than the course guidelines. Opportunity is there to bring in your car and sort it on the ramps under his guidance etc.

Edited by skip_1 on Saturday 3rd July 16:02
Cheers mate. That sounds like just the job. Looked on the website and details are sketchy at the mo, as it starts in September. What was the start time?

Cheers Bradders

skip_1

3,514 posts

219 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
It was Wednesdays 7-9pm. It started off slowly with basic checks, bulb changes, jump starts and changing tyres etc but moved onto fixing brakes, dismantling engine blocks - looking at the pistons, valves etc and a bit of gas welding, dent repair and so on. Also touched on explanations on gearboxes etc.
There wasn't really any emphasis on fault diagnosis, but I think the lecturer Mike would help with that.

Personally I feel more competent at doing any mechanical work now. If you think the course is suitable I'd want to check that Mike Tuero will be running the course next year (he said he was doing so).


Edited by skip_1 on Saturday 3rd July 16:29

bradders

Original Poster:

889 posts

300 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
Brilliant info and the timing is perfect for me to get over to Xscape. Will give the college a call on Monday to confirm Mike will be running the course.

Thanks for all your help.

Cheers Bradders.

Edited by bradders on Saturday 3rd July 16:54

skip_1

3,514 posts

219 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
No worries, if you have any questions just PM me.

You also get a student card so can get a £1 off at the cinema etc. Bonus biggrin

TheCarpetCleaner

7,294 posts

231 months

Saturday 3rd July 2010
quotequote all
Anyone know of anything local to berkshire?

bradders

Original Poster:

889 posts

300 months

Monday 5th July 2010
quotequote all
Enrollment on 15th July. Cost not yet fixed, but no more than £300. Not certain to be Mike Tuero running it yet, but they hope he will be able to. Smashing.

Thanks again for helping.

Cheers Bradders.

bradders

Original Poster:

889 posts

300 months

Thursday 16th September 2010
quotequote all
Again, a big thanks to Skip_1 for the lead on this.

Attended the first of 30 sessions last night, and Mike Tuero is indeed running the course. A fair bit of the evening was H&S and introduction to the workshop related, but the promise is definitely there for a very quick transition into hands on.

Although a structure was discussed at the start of the evening, it became clear later on, that pretty much anything goes, time allowing. Far more involving that the spec for the course gives - looks like a bit of bodywork, engine strip/rebuild and welding will come into play. Mike also said that those wishing to use the course for a specific project are encouraged. Very much bring what you wish to run, so to speak.

For anyone in the not too distant area of Castleford, this is definitely one to consider next year. Or even as a late entrant this year, if they allow such - there's no lesson next week, as Mike is heading back to Canada for a family reunion - so you've got 2 weeks to join in, if you fancy it.

Cheers, Bradders

skip_1

3,514 posts

219 months

Sunday 3rd April 2011
quotequote all
bradders said:
Again, a big thanks to Skip_1 for the lead on this.

Attended the first of 30 sessions last night, and Mike Tuero is indeed running the course. A fair bit of the evening was H&S and introduction to the workshop related, but the promise is definitely there for a very quick transition into hands on.

Although a structure was discussed at the start of the evening, it became clear later on, that pretty much anything goes, time allowing. Far more involving that the spec for the course gives - looks like a bit of bodywork, engine strip/rebuild and welding will come into play. Mike also said that those wishing to use the course for a specific project are encouraged. Very much bring what you wish to run, so to speak.

For anyone in the not too distant area of Castleford, this is definitely one to consider next year. Or even as a late entrant this year, if they allow such - there's no lesson next week, as Mike is heading back to Canada for a family reunion - so you've got 2 weeks to join in, if you fancy it.

Cheers, Bradders
Just saw your reply here, glad the advice helped. Have you enjoyed the course so far?