View Full Version : Motorcycle maintenance course
Hola
I've decided to do a maintenance course, it's not a run of the mill one showing you how to adjust chains etc though!
http://www.south-thames.ac.uk/CO2006-24a-24/Motorcycle_Repair_and_Maintenance_-_Advanced_Skills
This practical course covers topics including Balancing multiple carburettors; Resetting "Shim type" valve clearances; Resetting double over head cam timing, Big end crank shell bearing replacement; Setting ignition timing "two-stroke" with DTI and meter; Rebuilding gear shafts; Repairing electrical faults; Removal and refitting steering head bearings; Clutch remove and re-fit; Fork seal replacement.
Looking forward to it!
Now it leaves me in a bit of a quandry, I work in I.T and as easy/well paid as it is...it simply doesn't leave me satisfied at the end of the day and I find it a bit boring now (having done it for eons). So I'm thinking of (eventually, naturally) opening up my own little one/two man motorcycle mechanic garage. Have any of you got any input...i.e. is it an outright foolish idea? If so, why?
Happy new year, Peace and love y'all :)
timwilky
02-01-13, 12:38 PM
Damn silly to think anyone will let you near their pride and joy by virtue of you having attended a course.
By all means do the course and then see if an established firm will employ you whilst you then learn the trade. Oh and expect to be far worse off in the mean time.
Damn silly to think anyone will let you near their pride and joy by virtue of you having attended a course..
Never insinuated that though, did I?!
It's funny you should say they wouldn't let me near it though. Reckon half the employees in brand garages are any more clued up than people who've just passed various courses? Highly doubt it, they usually ARE the ones who've just passed the courses!
good mechanics are hard to come by as most so called mechanics are actually fitters.
one man bands are ok if you are very very good but most people these days want that shiny shiny showroom with a badge attached to it. in reality being a mechanic is a crappy dirty job.
by all means do the course and learn but i would not look to open a garage based on some part time course as they can't teach you everything.
Oh I wouldn't open a garage until I've got a master mechanic qualification and a good few years experience under my belt, I'm far from daft haha! I'm more interested in the climate really, are bike garages as subject to people tightening their purse strings as other industries...or are they always going to be relatively busy?
I know being a mechanic isn't exactly glamorous, but anything beats sitting in a stagnant office, looking at a computer screen all day.
Spank86
02-01-13, 01:44 PM
Never insinuated that though, did I?!
It's funny you should say they wouldn't let me near it though. Reckon half the employees in brand garages are any more clued up than people who've just passed various courses? Highly doubt it, they usually ARE the ones who've just passed the courses!
yes but they are in branded garages, or in garages owned by someone who knows what they are doing.
And when it goes wrong you can take it back and complain till it's fixed.
I certainly wouldnt use a garage if I knew it was run and owned by someone not backed by a big firm and who's main experience to date was course based.
My uncle was a very good mechanic for a garage and when he went out on his own it still took him years to turn any sort of profit.
yorkie_chris
02-01-13, 02:23 PM
are bike garages as subject to people tightening their purse strings as other industries...or are they always going to be relatively busy?
Most bikes in the UK are expensive toys that get very occasional use.
The use (and hence servicing of them) and adding shiny toys to them is the first thing to get cut out of peoples budget.
It's also very seasonal.
By all means learn how to do it but easy and well paid has advantages...
Most bikes in the UK are expensive toys that get very occasional use.
By all means learn how to do it but easy and well paid has advantages...
True and true. Think the boredom is killing me slowly though, hence the want for a big change...
yorkie_chris
02-01-13, 02:39 PM
Learning how to do it I would definitely recommend, doing it full time on the other hand... take the money...
Get a spare bike to p*ss about with and modify for fun. That will keep you entertained. Learn how to make custom bits and bobs.
Can't do a full time course unfortunately, life/financial commitments and living in London have squashed that idea!
Where did you do your course and how did you find it? How in depth did it get?
Fallout
02-01-13, 03:04 PM
How much servicing have you done on your bikes before? I am the same as you. I hate sitting behind a computer all day and have always been on the look out for jobs that don't involve an office. The idea is much better than the reality though! One full day in the garage wrestling with bolts and fairings and wires and fluids is enough for me for a week or two, then I'm pleased to be back inside on my ****. I don't think the reality lives up to the idea in your head.
yorkie_chris
02-01-13, 03:16 PM
Can't do a full time course unfortunately, life/financial commitments and living in London have squashed that idea!
Where did you do your course and how did you find it? How in depth did it get?
(I edited my earlier post for clarity.)
Course... lol.
Personally I don't think the required mindset for fixing things can be taught. I think you need to gain it yourself.
The Idle Biker
02-01-13, 03:23 PM
I think Winder off this forum did the same or at least a similar course, at the same college. Could be worth dropping him a line to see what he thought of it?
timwilky
02-01-13, 03:31 PM
I have to agree with Chris that aptitude is probably the primary requirement of anyone looking to undertake a mechanics role. (I think that is what he was saying)
You need to understand the purpose of a system/component. Be able to place that in context when examining a new problem, resolve that problem and be able to feed that experience back into the next similar issue.
Well yeah, as a computer engineer I'm not blind to the need to look beyond the problem and see what outside factors could be causing it. But that's way beyond the point. There's a science to doing things like cam timing, valve clearances and so on...it's not quite something that requires the je ne sais quoi of something like cooking.
The course is a shade over £200 (I'll likely get it for much less with being a fair bit older than 19 according to the site info) which in my book is cheaper than taking the bike to a garage for a full service and getting them to check the valve clearances, so it's money well spent in my eyes!
How much servicing have you done on your bikes before? I am the same as you. I hate sitting behind a computer all day and have always been on the look out for jobs that don't involve an office. The idea is much better than the reality though! One full day in the garage wrestling with bolts and fairings and wires and fluids is enough for me for a week or two, then I'm pleased to be back inside on my ****. I don't think the reality lives up to the idea in your head.
Yeah this is all true, I think that if everyone bought into that attitude though...we'd have nothing but office jobs haha.
I think Winder off this forum did the same or at least a similar course, at the same college. Could be worth dropping him a line to see what he thought of it?
Ta, will do that :)
Learning to do this stuff for your own satisfaction is a great idea and will boost your confidence.
I do however agree with the sentiments from YC (who ought to know), Timwilky et al. Really good mechanics or technicians are artisans, have the feel for what they're doing and can sense things being right or wrong. This comes from natural aptitude and experience. It's just like playing musical instruments or being an artist or sportsman, you can teach someone all you like but if the natural talent isn't there..........
Being self-employed isn't an easy option. I've been S/E for over 20yrs, the easiest times are when I get a short term contract back in a company, effectively being employed again for a few weeks or months. Turn up, do your job, submit the invoice, get paid (eventually), easy. Having to find ad hoc work on a day to day basis is tough, and if you have bills to pay it can be really tough, and usually the returns are modest compared to typical "employment" type jobs.
I left employment partly for reasons much like you describe, but don't jump out of the frying pan only to find yourself in the fire. Sure, look into different things, but keep your eyes well open. S/E can be great, but you need to be very savvy about what you choose to do, cashflow is king. Also be aware of the "rights" you lose when becoming S/E, plus the hidden costs (liability insurance etc).
Sound advice. I'm not quite planning on doing a part time course and opening up a garage though...so don't worry haha!
What do you do out of interest?
Dicky Ticker
02-01-13, 07:51 PM
Not to discourage you from taking your course but after almost 50 years in transport engineering I have come across quite a few with loads of qualifications but absolute rubbish when you put a spanner in their hand. Understanding and aptitude are primary and the rest is just a big meccano set is what I was told as an apprentice.Over the years I have realised that it is not as simple as that. Being able to diagnose the problem in the first place is half the battle.Being able to fix it is another kettle of fish. I know lots of fitters but very few mechanics.
Aye, it's all fair comment! I'd like to think I'm capable of being a bit of a mechanical sleuth rather than just someone who bolts on bits and bobs...but we shall see, I've sent off the application for the course anyway. Think I'm due an interview then start on the 19th
What do you do out of interest?
I worked in the auto industry, powertrain design/development. I left 20 odd years ago and have done occasional work for various R&D type companies ever since but that only accounts for a few months a year typically (but it pays all the bills). The rest of the time I do odd jobs for people around here, making stuff, pretty much anything anyone wants (if I can do it), like this store shed for example
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh268/Hi-vis/recycleshedsmall_zps9705da18.jpg
Ace, it's just good to have a broad knowledge base of things like that I think, comes in handy!
So how was the course? They're advertising at Ryka's for course this September.
Full time (3 days a week) or 10 week evening class.
south-thames.ac.uk
0208 918 7777
Utter rubbish, binned it off after one lesson. Get your hands dirty and learn yourself - such a waste of money, I got a refund.
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