Recommend me...

[Spanner Man]

Evening all.
A good tip in these days of digital photography, is to take pictures as you go, these can really aid you when putting your bike back together.

Cheers.

[yorkie_chris]

A good way to learn about the basic stuff is to buy an off road bike or even a cheap road one.
Best would be 4 stroke, aircooled single that you can get a manual for and just play with it, start taking things to bits and putting them back together and making sure it runs good when you've finished.

Chris

the only problem with haynes is they take brand new bikes apart not 18year old xj600's where all the bolts are knackerd and previous owners before have changed wiring and things.

[yorkie_chris]

The typical "unscrew and remove" instruction...

(translation: "jump on the breaker bar and round off, grip with vicegrips, beat with a hammer, apply angle grinder, replace..")

yea thats what i'm on about and then "follow steps back from 8-1 to re attach"
but you've fecked the thread or bolt? i think you've been there too.

[yorkie_chris]

Me?

Noooo I've never monstered a component and welded/tiewrapped/drilled out/araldited anything back together in my life!

#angelic face#



But back onto topic, such experiences are how you learn, if you can work on a sh|tbox and get it running then a new bike/car is a doddle, brings out the inventiveness most of us have too

[Spanner Man]

Morning all.
Good point there Kwak regarding removal of stubborn/knackered fasteners. Haynes should really give a bit more instruction as to what to do when one comes across such things. Otherwise people go down the 'Yorkie' route & just beat the beggar!

Cheers.

How does an engine work? Suck, squeeze, bang, blow, of course!

Well, a 4 stroke does...

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Spanner Man

Otherwise people go down the 'Yorkie' route & just beat the beggar!

Cheers.

No need to make me sound like such a butcher!

I can be gentle...

[rictus01]

As I've been teaching this for years now I've found nobody who couldn't be taught to do most of the service stuff themselves (even had one of the ladies change and engine herself with minimal assistance), I don't do very much these days, but do privide the "how to" instruction for thoughs requiring it*, getting them to do it themselves actually teaches the practical skills, rather than merely reading or watching.

Of course a knock on benefit I've found is thoughs already taught pass on thoughs skills to others** and have become useful contributors on here.

*you provide the parts/muscle & time to fit in with me, I'll provide the rest.
** my only fee.

Cheers Mark.