How Many Of You Have Been Forced To Become Amateur Mechanics? | Page 4 | GTAMotorcycle.com

How Many Of You Have Been Forced To Become Amateur Mechanics?

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GreyGhost said:
As much as I occasional give those type of people a funny look, I am actually happy that they know their limits. I prefer them to the guy that poorly macgyvers a solution and causes floods or explosions.
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I respect someone who considers things like electrical, or car maintenance etc over their head and calls in a professional. I get it and I respect that.

But some of the insane things I've seen online are real headshakers. If you need help of a plumber spring and fall to turn on (and off) the tap in your basement that feeds your outside tap, well, perhaps home ownership isn't for you. Honestly, these examples I've posted are just a few - some of them that I can't think of off the top of my head right now make my eyes roll into the back of my head so hard I can hear the thud. People are just scared to do ANYTHING that's even a fraction of a degree out of their comfort zone, or requires spending 2 minutes online to educate yourself a little.
 
I have a neighbor like that, kinda. He asked if i had a torque wrench. Yup, here ya go. Came back half hour later. Doesn't work. It won't click. Put a socket on it, onto my wife's civics wheel. Click click. What are you torquing bud? Him... The oil filter on my bike! Arrggh!
 
Well, I have patience for people like that who at least understand that using a torque wrench is the proper method of reinstalling things, and clearly they read the service manual to begin with to learn that. They just needed a little more info that there's different torque wrench options out there. ;)

But, on another topic....show of hands....who uses a torque wrench for an oil filter? lol
 
PrivatePilot said:
Well, I have patience for people like that who at least understand that using a torque wrench is the proper method of reinstalling things, and clearly they read the service manual to begin with to learn that. They just needed a little more info that there's different torque wrench options out there. ;)

But, on another topic....show of hands....who uses a torque wrench for an oil filter? lol
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Finger tight and then as close to another 3/4 turn as i can.
I would have given him my small wrench, but he had just finished putting his snows on.
 
Matt Rain said:
My condo's storage locker is about 75% tools.

God bless centre stands
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No more storage unit?

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KWDRZ said:
When I started riding I took my bike to a mechanic once, now 7 years later I am rebuilding motors for people for fun on the side. I got obsessed with working on my bikes and absorbing everything there this to know about bike maitenance.

Also I recently decided I was ready to add a lift to my setup, after seeing it posted here. :) Looking forward to using it.
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The downside of being a bike mechanic is that you have to keep working on the newer ones constantly or you will get "lost". Imagine you are a very good mechanic at taking apart carburated bikes from the 1990's and then they bring you a 2020 BMW bike with recessed oil filter, ABS and synchrotronic shifting. You will look like a chimpanzee in the cockpit of a Boeing 747 just staring at the switches and blinking lights.



Chrispy said:
Living at a condo with limited storage for tools and space to work on the bike.. So I can only do the bare minimal, which Has to be oil change.. ? Had to go the mechanic route with tires, chain, valve, etc when the time came.
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That's no excuse, do you have a parking spot for your car? I have one and I turn it into my air-conditioned protected mechanic garage down in the basement, it's cold down there even when the temp is 30C + outside.
 
PrivatePilot said:
90% loving it. Still struggling with seat comfort. Sciatica is making life unpleasant and the seat (been through 3 now) and my butt are not meshing. I'm hoping I don't need to resort to something like a Russel Daylong as I have other things I'd rather spend $2000 on.
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What about a custom seat contoured to your “contours”? Lol
 
Pegassus said:
I have one and I turn it into my air-conditioned protected mechanic garage down in the basement,
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Many/most condos and large apartment buildings would lose their mind if you started building structures in your parking spot.

Heck, some lose their mind if you even park a motorcycle in front of your car. There was a story here not that long ago about that specific topic where the guy got a letter about having "1 vehicle per parking spot" or something stupid like that even though both fit in a single spot just fine.


mistersouthpaw said:
What about a custom seat contoured to your “contours”? Lol
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I'm looking at getting a Russel DayLong seat. Major dinero though so I need to get back to regular paycheques again now that I'm back to work before I drop $1500+ on a seat. ;) It may wait till off season - with not being able to travel to the USA for the rest of the year and with the James Bay Road being backburnered as well...honestly, I can't see a whole lot of super long trips happening the rest of this year. My wife and I are planning to go back up to Sault Ste Marie/Wawa and do the roads up there in August, but she only likes 300-400km/day so it'll be a slow pace. If I can manage an 1100km day and tolerate it (perfectly comfy, no...in unbearable pain...no) I can hang in for the rest of the year. The other thing with the Russel seats is you need to send them in your factory seats for the reconstruction, so needless to say I don't want to be without a bike to ride.
 
Pegassus said:
The downside of being a bike mechanic is that you have to keep working on the newer ones constantly or you will get "lost". Imagine you are a very good mechanic at taking apart carburated bikes from the 1990's and then they bring you a 2020 BMW bike with recessed oil filter, ABS and synchrotronic shifting. You will look like a chimpanzee in the cockpit of a Boeing 747 just staring at the switches and blinking lights.
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Yeah, no doubt things have changed a bit. I don't know a lot of guys with german stuff. The japanese keep is simpler. All in all engine technology (and most other components) has not changed much in a long time. A quick peek in the workshop manual for specs is usually enough. The design and process is always very similar. That's an 83 Maxim on the lift right now. Now that is easy to work on. Took 5 minutes to access the valves for clearance check, that was nice....
 
Turning wrenches on my bikes always provides great pleasure, I know the job is done right, and I'm way too cheap to pay someone else to do it.

My Guzzi is refreshingly low tech. Air cooled push rod motor, two valves per cylinder. My old Tiger, on the other hand, was more typical of modern motorbikes. DOHC, four valve head. With a shim over bucket design, adjusting all those valves was a big job. After measuring and performing the necessary calculations, the camshafts must be removed in order to change a shim. I used to spread this job over a couple of nights.

The Guzzi, by contrast, is such a pleasure to work on. Everything is easily accessible, the valves are adjusted by old fashioned screws and locknuts. I can have the task completed in about an hour, and that's taking my sweet time. Also, there's nowhere near the risk of screw ups as with a DOHC setup.

Several times I've seen young men bring their bike to Rosey Toes for a tire pressure check and chain lube. Unbelievable. :rolleyes:

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PrivatePilot said:
Well, I have patience for people like that who at least understand that using a torque wrench is the proper method of reinstalling things, and clearly they read the service manual to begin with to learn that. They just needed a little more info that there's different torque wrench options out there. ;)

But, on another topic....show of hands....who uses a torque wrench for an oil filter? lol
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Not me for common things (filters/plugs). I was putting a ball on my brother's truck and it wanted 250 ft-lb. I've never bothered torqueing one on before, but why not, it turns out that is about the max for my torque wrenches. Wifes brake carrier bolts sucked. 72 ft-lb but no way to get a torque wrench near them without a lift or handful of flex couplings.

I will never loan out precision tools unless I trust the borrower. They may not be malicious, but it is easy to screw things up just by not knowing what you are doing.
 
PrivatePilot said:
I'm looking at getting a Russel DayLong seat. Major dinero though so I need to get back to regular paycheques again now that I'm back to work before I drop $1500+ on a seat. ;)
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I suffered on my OEM seat for way too long, then got an ungraded one with a gel insert, comfortable for about 3 hours, not great on a 10 hour ride.

Have had my RDL for about 10 years, best money spent on an upgrade hands down. 10+ hour days and still comfortable.
 
We have a super small garage, and are renovating it atm so it's a huge mess. 4 years ago when I got my first bike, I took it to a mechanic for a quick look over and oil change, I saw him do it, and after paying what was a large sum, went home scratching my head. I didn't even know how to tension a chain, or have the courage to take the plastics off, was super paranoid.... Fast forward to now, and like a true gentleman, stripped her down myself for all the basics.

Only thing I'm weary about is engine work, like valve checks or even opening the case, that's the end of the line for me in skill, which I still lack, just try to use common sense, manuals, and lots of forums/youtube.

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PrivatePilot said:
In all seriousness, you'd be surprised at how completely and utterly mechanically inept many people are. It comes with a lot of things, vehicles aside - there are people on our local community facebook page who are calling in plumbers to the tune of $100 to replace a worn out flapper in their toilet tank.

A visit to Home Depot for a $5 part and watching a 30 second YouTube video on the topic and even a 12 year old could do the job. But nope, need a plumber.

Saw someone else who wanted a gasfitter to come in to plug their new gas bbq into the existing line because they didn't understand how to operate a quick connect and/or were scared to.
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Some people in my family may even be afraid to start a bbq despite being shown how


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PrivatePilot said:
Many/most condos and large apartment buildings would lose their mind if you started building structures in your parking spot.

Heck, some lose their mind if you even park a motorcycle in front of your car. There was a story here not that long ago about that specific topic where the guy got a letter about having "1 vehicle per parking spot" or something stupid like that even though both fit in a single spot just fine.
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and that's just another reason to avoid condos :LOL: karen territory: condos and gated communities
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