Getting my hands dirty

My bike mechanic has won tatts or something and doesn't want to take my
money. He also said I should be doing basic stuff myself. Stuff like
adjusting the chain, oil change..... The problem is not that I am one of
the blanket babies, I do know how to use a spanner (I even have a tool
kit) but I just dont know how to service a bike and don't wont to kill
myself from some stupid mistake. I have come to the conclusions that if
you want it done and want it done right now you have to do it
yourself... so where can I learn these things? I really need to be shown
as I find it easier if I am shown rather than learning just from a book.
I am in Melbourne (Australia)
TIA

 

Well you either need a friend with a motorcycle and some knowledge and
some spare time, or some other sort of tuition. courses.com.au lists
Swinburne University
369 Stud Rd, Wantirna South
Phone: 03 9213 6777
as the only listing for motorcycle maintenance course in Victoria, but
its getting to that time of year when your local TAFE will be issuing
their short course directory for the next term or the summer term. Some
do basic bike maintenance courses. Also try
http://www.shortcourses.vic.gov.au

Lots of clubs and even some online forums run spanner days, where a
bunch of people get together to perform some routine maintenance, and
those without a clue can get some proper experience from someone with a
clue. The other alternative is to go back to this rich mechanic and ask
if he can show you how to do some basic stuff.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

So what type of bike is it?

Boxer

 

Well, he has a point about adjusting the chain: It's a 15 minute job
which will add over 10000 kilometers to the life of your chain if you
keep it adjusted properly (and oiled) and paying a mechanic to do it is
purely a waste of money. If your mechanic is so hell bent on you doing
the work yourself, surely he'd be willing to take your money one more
time and show you how it's done.

 

Start with an easier question: what colour is it?

-----sharks

 

Does it have 2 wheels?

Boxer

 

It's a bigger jab than you think. You have to remove the chain, then the
wheel and swingarm. Take the swingarm to your dealer and tell them you
think you're after a 30mm oversize swingarm extender. You will probably
find they offer to handle all your repairs from then on.

 

I can heartily recommend a local TAFE/CIT/college/adult learning class
motorbike maintenance course.

In the course I did a couple of years ago (in Canberra, it was actually
held in a real motorcycle workshop in Dahlitz motorcycles, in
Queanbeyan), you took your own bike, and did basically whatever you
wanted to do to it (bar rebuilding the engine), as well as covering the
basics like oil changes and chain adjustments. I really enjoyed it and
learnt quite a lot.

For example...I wanted to pull off my back wheel (just for the hell of
it), so I did that under the instructor's guidance (admittedly easier
than most bikes, being a VFR with single sided swingarm).

Another dude rebuilt his forks one weekend (after preparing for it by
getting all the bits together during the week, and ready to use on the day).
A woman with a virago 1100 pulled apart her rear drum brake assembly and
replaced the drum brake shoes.
We all bled our brake lines and a few people changed their brake pads if
they needed to.
We all learnt how to remove our respective fuel tanks cleaning the air
filters, going through the differences in each type of bike, how they
were attached, and which hoses to remove, and what to do when fuel
starts unexpectedly spurting everywhere. (my fault, '90 VFR750s have
a very tricky fuel tap cable actuation mechanism). I now have newfound
appreciation for bikes with automatic vacuum fuel taps as a result.

Anyway, if you pay attention and ask questions, you can learn a lot,
even if you don't actually get your hands dirty. (some people turned up
without their bikes on some weekends, and lent a hand if someone tried
something tricky needing 4 hands at once).

 

And flies?

-----sharks (ex-mistwagen)

 

Is it upright? Could it be in a box of bits!
MikeH

 

Thanks all, going to contact tafe.
BTW, it is a GPX250. 2 wheels, black........ ;-)
If the tafe don't work out I will find out how to take the swing arm off so
my rich mechanic can show me (not).
1 more question. I am now looking for another mechanic (for when I need
one) and would like to know if any in the inner Melbourne area (if at all)
offer loan bikes while the customers is being repaired?

 

nice and easy to service

why are you removing the swingarm ?

i would be more concerned about finding a mechanic that does a decent job
opposed
to who will supply a loaner

 

BT COME BACK! Your adoring public wants you!

justAL

 

Hey I am in the same class

 

I haven't even left, yet! ;-)


BTH

 

Now you're wondering if there was a message there somewhere?
MikeH

 

I don't dare ponder it, for fear of breaking my fragile little brain!


BTH