Free motorcycle repair course

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bitzz said:
I haven't taken that Conestoga course, but they could use this as a text book.
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That's a neat book. I might track down a paper copy for myself as a Christmas present

bitzz said:
"Licenced" mechanic is a weird designation.
I've known lots of "mechanics" over the years, and some of the BEST mechanics I know are not licensed and a lot of the licensed mechanics I know (ASE certs out the ying yang)... I wouldn't let them tune up my ten speed.
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I think part of this problem is that the licensing system for auto/moto mechanics is somewhat weak in Ontario. I do like saying "I'm not a licensed mechanic" to gently shuffle off family/friend jobs I don't really want to do though
 
bitzz said:
"Licenced" mechanic is a weird designation.
I've known lots of "mechanics" over the years, and some of the BEST mechanics I know are not licensed and a lot of the licensed mechanics I know (ASE certs out the ying yang)... I wouldn't let them tune up my ten speed.
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Being licenced for auto or motorcycle has to do with insurance liability for the shop, the ability to sign safeties, and pass the written test. It has little or nothing to do with actual technical ability.
I'm proof of that.
 
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GreyGhost said:
The one month program sounds like a trial for high school kids to see if that may be their path. You come out with more knowledge but far from competent but it cost you zero dollars. The one year program costs $4000 and you get a certificate (may help to get your foot in at an apprentice path shop). There is a good chance many of us already know most of what that course teaches. As with the shorter course, it spends lots of time on personal prep (reading/writing/math/career launch).

Motorcycle and Power Sport Vehicles Repair | Courses

Courses info for the 1-year Motive Power Techniques - Motorcycle and Power Sport Vehicles Repair Ontario College Certificate program at Conestoga College
www.conestogac.on.ca www.conestogac.on.ca

Mhy needs to find a program that focuses on the shop. Math touchup if required as related to diagnostics/repair but not as a standalone class. I don't know if that type of course exists anymore. The three listed seem to be similar early career programs. From course listings, Canadore may be slightly more focused on technical aspects but I doubt it is much different.
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I took a MIG welding primer course at Centennial years ago. My brother had picked up on it and we took the several Saturday sessions along with a dozen or so more novices.

You don't get a welding ticket in 20 hours. If you have some potential you learn to stick pieces of steel together making sparks and flashes.

Some people don't have that potential. Some spend hours chasing imaginary dandelion fluff across the room after flashing their eyes. One guy, probably more familiar with computer micro volts and amps, gasped when he heard the instructor mention double digit amps.

After the course the better ones were qualified to make small metal garden sculptures. If that whetted their appetite to go pipeline, they realized that doing perfect welds doesn't happen the first day.

For a modern vehicle primer course, especially motorcycles with a lot of aluminum, the day one curriculum should be "How to avoid stripping bolts"

Day 2 would be "If you flunked day 1, how to use a helicoil."

Some people learn that some trades are just not for them and their educational dollars would be better spent on other career choices.
 
Wind Shear said:
Call it a a love-hate thing. Agreed definitely very easy to work on, but in 3 years and over 25k I have had to:
- find and fix a melted headlight ground wire (due to bad design)
- diagnose an intermittent EXUP check engine light, which turned out to be a bad pot in the motor assembly (tossed it all and installed an eliminator)
- replace a slipping wet clutch?! (I suspect it was just old worn springs, but since I was in there, yada yada)
- figure out how to re&re and static balance a single sided wheel (with some creative help from the home depot plumbing aisle)
- learn desmo belts and service for 2 valve
- learn to live with the service reminder light for now, since you can't easily reset it yourself

Still love the thing though. Maybe I'm a masochist after all.
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- A single-sided swingarm stand with a crossbar for stopping the rear wheel from turning makes it easy to do solo. Still not sure why Pitbull of all companies doesn't offer it. Otherwise just tie one of the spokes to the stand with a ratchet strap. You can also use the rear brake assuming it's been properly bled and works, but better to do this with a helper so you can focus on not letting the socket slip.
- I usually don't balance my rear wheels, but if you already have a static balancer, google Marc Parnes for a Ducati adapter.
- You should be able to reset the service indicator with IAWDIAG
 
crankcall said:
The stigma of "oh you went into the trades" is slowly disappearing
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Stigma?
I am a boomer, went to school in the '60s and early '70s... we were at the height of the cold war and worried about the "missile gap"... but MORE importantly the engineering gap. The damn Ruskies had more scientific knowledge and our governments PANICKED.
ALL high schools had 4 and 5 year programs, 4 year for "techies", 5 year for admission to college/uni.
The 4 years was not for "dumdums", it was to prepare the students for a technical career. We had machine shop, auto, welding, draughting
In the '80s and '90s the cold war went away and we transitioned from a producing economy to a service economy... and to save money all the 'shop" classes went away, save for trade schools and we trained for service jobs (humanities, compu sci)
The balance tipped the other way... and NOW we have a shortage of trade workers
 
TK4 said:
Being licenced for auto or motorcycle has to do with insurance liability for the shop, the ability to sign safeties, and pass the written test. It has little or nothing to do with actual technical ability.
I'm proof of that.
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Another buddy of mine owns a 12 bay shop. Him, two other licensed mechs and three apprentices. Buddy decides to NOT renew his license.. OK, no problems for years and years.
One mech quit, and the other one dropped dead a couple of weeks later.
It was less than a month before the excrement collided with the ventilation device.
Insurance pulled, followed by his business license, followed by the occupancy permit, the apprentice board got involved and wants to pull the licenses of any apprentice that had EVER worked for him.
Twas a mess. Took a couple of years and a couple hundred thousand dollars to straighten out. He couldn't find any decent mechs, so he had to BUY one.
That was over ten years ago, and he STILL gets more fire, workplace safety, licensing, insurance and municipal inspections that anyone else we know... x5
 
I have never regretted being a machinist and turning down the opportunity of a colledge degree.
That piece of paper saying I was qualified meant that I was never unemployed unless I wanted to be.
I left the trade at one point in my life for the printing industry but when that turned sour I was able to fall back on my earlier training.
Before I retired my boss was incapable of finding a replacement for me
even if the shop was one of the highest paid with full benefits.
The only thing keeping the Canadian manufacturing alive is immigration.
Even China has the same problem now with over educated un-employables.
One should never turn down the opportunity for "practical" knowledge.

The vintage motorcycle group that I belonged to offered to teach a basic repair class at one of the few remaining high schools
that offered technical training.
As we looked into it further we discovered it was only a dumping ground for the "sweat hogs" waiting to be old enough to
qualify for "government assistance."
We where also advised to hire our own security staff.
 
guzzirider said:
The only thing keeping the Canadian manufacturing alive is immigration.
Even China has the same problem now with over educated un-employables.
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legitimately curious how you came to this conclusion
 
Scuba Steve said:
I would say probably true most plants are almost all immigrants doing the work.

Sent from the future
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Would/Do the local canadians not want to work in manufacturing?

Maybe the pay is low or something?
Could be other reasons
 
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bigpoppa said:
Would/Do the local canadians not want to work in manufacturing?

Maybe the pay is low or something?
Could be other reasons
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Our education system isn't helping people acquire the skills necessary to fill those positions.

I know of a seed company that was looking for field techs for the research division. Starting pay was +/- 80k with a F250 4X4 company vehicle. Position involved research & lab testing, but also field work and ability to operate farm related equipment so it required a specific biology degree. They managed to hire a couple people but most positions remain open.

Admittedly the position is very specialized and requires quite a bit of travel time, but not many overnight trips.

Back in 2010 I was chatting with my brother-in-law lamenting the loss of manufacturing in Canada. My contention was that by losing those plants and those jobs we lose those skills and opportunities for future innovation.
 
xrljoel said:
Our education system isn't helping people acquire the skills necessary to fill those positions.

I know of a seed company that was looking for field techs for the research division. Starting pay was +/- 80k with a F250 4X4 company vehicle. Position involved research & lab testing, but also field work and ability to operate farm related equipment so it required a specific biology degree. They managed to hire a couple people but most positions remain open.

Admittedly the position is very specialized and requires quite a bit of travel time, but not many overnight trips.

Back in 2010 I was chatting with my brother-in-law lamenting the loss of manufacturing in Canada. My contention was that by losing those plants and those jobs we lose those skills and opportunities for future innovation.
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Our over the top safety regulation and and lack of skills is killing manufacturing industry in Canada. There is a difference between safe and idiot proof.

Sent from the future
 
Scuba Steve said:
Our over the top safety regulation and and lack of skills is killing manufacturing industry in Canada. There is a difference between safe and idiot proof.

Sent from the future
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And we are quite adept at creating better idiots so all we end up with with orders of magnitude more expense, much slower and little benefit. Like with most things, getting 80% of the way there with 50% of the effort/expense makes a lot more sense than aiming for 100% at any cost (close to where we are now). Old school iron workers learned not to fall because they would die. With modern harnesses/working at heights training, some people make really dumb choices (like an inadequate anchor).
 
xrljoel said:
Our education system isn't helping people acquire the skills necessary to fill those positions.
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1000% agree, from my own personal experience even.
 
Scuba Steve said:
Welfare is easier and you don't need to get your hands dirty.
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Did you know a single person on welfare in Ontario gets about $750/month
Single parent with 2 kids: about $1450
What is easy about trying to feed and house two kids on $1450/month?
Do you get subsidized housing? There's percentage of your welfare check that gets clawed back.

Welfare recipients are NOT the problem.
Welfare fraud? about 10%... and it has been decided that to actions to reduce the amount of fraud would result in a percentage of recipients that are entitled losing their benefits.
 
bitzz said:
Did you know a single person on welfare in Ontario gets about $750/month
Single parent with 2 kids: about $1450
What is easy about trying to feed and house two kids on $1450/month?
Do you get subsidized housing? There's percentage of your welfare check that gets clawed back.

Welfare recipients are NOT the problem.
Welfare fraud? about 10%... and it has been decided that to actions to reduce the amount of fraud would result in a percentage of recipients that are entitled losing their benefits.
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I agree with you. Not many people are looking at social assistance as a comfy free ride, a few but not many.

The issue is the disappearance of low(ish) skill, moderate paying jobs in lower end manufacturing. No degree or specific skills required, but work ethic and dedication are rewarded with a living wage. Lots of newly arrived Canadians took those jobs in order to raise families who would have it better than they did.
 
TK4 said:
If you can find for me someone that wants to live at a bare subsistence level on welfare by choice I'll eat your shorts.
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Do you prefer ketchup, HP or mayo with my shorts?

I know a guy who's quite content with his $1250/ month disability cheque. He really is THAT stupid and THAT lazy.
 
TK4 said:
If you can find for me someone that wants to live at a bare subsistence level on welfare by choice I'll eat your shorts.
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Do you want her phone number? There is a whole welfare culture in Ontario pop out a kid every so often to keep payments coming

Sent from the future
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