an experienced eye....

[rictus01]

Having just had a rather busy 10 days or so and been involved with 19 bikes in one way or another got me wondering.....

let me make this clear I don't do this as a job or actually get paid for it (although I seldom need to buy single malt these days... ), more from my point of view as "giving back" to motorcycling for all those that have helped my over the decades, I have been happy to help out people, but not as a cheap mechanic (although that to at times), but more I make people do the jobs themselves (I'm a great believer in doing rather than just talking about it), providing the tools and know how and more important a watchful eye they don't screwup their own bike, a simple 20 minute job might become a 2 hour one, but will be extensively explained along the way and various options discussed, with the "proper" way either demonstrated or done by them, hopefully they leave with not only the job done, but the knowledge to help others do the same thing not to mention a systematic approach and tool handling skills.

Anyway I was wondering what others do, I know there are the two extremes, from those who will take a bike fix it and hand it back to what I aim at which is a job where I don't need to get my hands dirty at all (although this actually seldom happens), then the mid ground where some using the owners help a little / lot; prefering to limit any practical input from "novice" hands.

just curious whether my system is common I suppose, do you help others and try to pass on skills or do you get help and hope to learn something new or just get things fixed ?

Cheers Mark.

[timwilky]

I tend to be the show and involve type. Explain what I am doing and why. Then watch to make sure they understood.

[jambo]

I've helped a few people out when I've been able, I've probably, on balance been helped more myself over the years. Certainly without the time and energy volunteered by people to explain to me what to do and help, I wouldn't be able to do the vast majority of what I can now.

If someone wants to turn up and have me fix their bike for them, what they want is a free mechanic, which is not something I have an aspiration to become. If you don't want to do it yourself that's absolutely fine, there are plenty of trained mechanics that will happily fix your bike for you. They will of course expect payment. After all, I expect to be paid when I'm at work.

If someone wants to do the work themselves but lack tools (which I have), space (which I sometimes have, if I've actually cleared my tools away), or someone to offer advice and check their work, then I'm happy to help where I can. I don't think mechanics involve mystery and people shouldn't feel that only a "professional" can make their bike feel and work properly (though sometimes, especially with bespoke electronics this can be the case).

Jambo

I'm no expert by any means, I could probably do most jobs on a bike but it's laziness balanced with cost of a pro doing it.

That said a friend of mine recently got his first 'big' bike, an XT600, he knows bugger all about bikes and maintaining them.

In fact, I actually taught him to ride initially, took him down to a green lane and let him wobble on my drz, he had never even sat on a bike before.

Anyway, his new bike is due a mini service so next month were gonna do all the little service jobs, he's gonna do the work in my garage and I'm gonna supervise so he knows for next time.

Let me know if you need help SP1. I'll come over.

You already know what a bitch the spark plug is, but easy if you have either the original tool out the toolkit, or a universal coupler in your socket set.

Getting the oil fully drained is a bitch too.

Dont leave it too late to order your air filter. The sponge around them has a tendancy to disintegrate when you remove the filter, so you cant re-use it, and its not a filter Ive found that Yamaha dealers tend to keep in stock.

[NTECUK]

Its good to get the owner involved .
Keep it up.
PS
fancy doing valve clerances on the 'prillia .
No i thought not.......

Also, XT's will run happily on whatever oil you can find. I use the halfords 15/40, but the actual spec is a Yamalube 10/40, and the slightly thicker oil has a tendancy to lock the clutch/gearbox up in very cold weather and make it impossible to push the bike in neutral. Start the bike and it warms up and frees up instantly, but a real bitch not being able to push the bike along if for whatever reason it wont start.

Back on the OP's topic. I never mind helping out, which includes getting my hands dirty, or even doing the job whilst the owner of the bike assists.

It also depends on peoples curcumstances, nobody wants to be a free mechanic, but somebody who geniunely cant afford it and genuinely needs help, then I dont have a problem doing them a favour. When I was a student with no money, and no experience, lots of people helped me and never expected anything in return.

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by NTECUK

Its good to get the owner involved .
Keep it up.
PS
fancy doing valve clerances on the 'prillia .
No i thought not.......

no I don't fancy it, but then if you've read the original post and you want to do it yourself that's another thing.

[NTECUK]

Originally Posted by rictus01

no I don't fancy it, but then if you've read the original post and you want to do it yourself that's another thing.

Working on Bikes a bit like a busman holiday for me.
But its my baby so i get on it in the winter lay off.(end of Aug????)
But I know its done then don't I