Who are our mechanics on the board?

 

ASE Cert, and blessed by Kawasaki & Uncle Sam to wrench on the USMC Bikes..... Now all I have to do is get swat Under my belt.. What's up???

 

No specific problem, just wondering how many people out there consider themselves mechanics.

LOL...funny thing is most people that ride harleys consider themselves pretty good mechanic...coincidence? hmmmm.

Thanks.

 

still looking for those people that work as, or consider themselves mechanics.

The reason this time is to get an opinion on a certification....course....I'll just send the forums link to my bud and have him ask damnit.

 

Mongo... I'll tell you straight up.... Certifications to me, don't mean ****... Anyone can teach a Monkey to **** a basketball.... A real Technician, knows how to troubleshoot, as well as repair what caused the defect in the first place...... I have noticed that anymore, myself included, that the certification used to mean something, but not anymore.... Too many Mechs want to get the title, and all you have to do is study a few books.... No work is required....

My .02 worth...

 

thnks for the link mongo.

does anybody have those harley certs or what do you think of them?

I've been looking at one that would take about a year to finish just covering harley and i'm wondering if it's really worth it. seems like i'd really enjoy the job, but i'm looking for more opnions. how much do mechanics gernally make?

here's the school i'm looking at, they have a harley sponsored proglem so i'd get a harley cert.:

http://www.trade-school.org/uti/moto...-institute.htm

 

hahaha....but I don't want to **** a basketball.....i want to be a mechanic....or should I reconsider the job I want?

 

jyj.. Be whatever you want.. I am merely stating that there are people that have certifications out there (Auto, Bike, Truck, etc...) that shouldn't have them... They are idiots with a sheepskin... I'll bet you know a few.... I myself think that nowadays, certifications are over-rated and exploited ....

 

seriously, i've seen you screw worse man.

 

Im with you devil hog, ive been a mechanic since 12 and ive seen guys w/ ase who coulnt do squat! had to fire a couple of them also. im not cert but can get a job almost anywhere!!!!! REDNECK
________
herbal vaporizer

 

I agree with devil hog. A piece of paper does not make a good mechanic. My husband has no qualifications at all but everyone who has heard of him bring their bikes here to get fixed when they are broken.
We have a bike shop only 1/4 mile up the road with qualified mechanics but they would still rather come here, because they trust him and know he does a good job.
That to me is worth a lot more than a certificate.

 

I started riding motorcross when I was only 6 years old but my dad was a big vintage racer back in the day, so he had me and my brother wrenching our own bikes by the time we were about 10. I could do a complete top end and clutch job on my Yamaha YZ80 in the pits between moto's. Started welding my own frames at 13 and built two TZ250's from basket cases to race in the formula II class when I was only 15.

But now days I split most of my time doing restorations and fabricating parts for old Yamaha RD's/R5's and also my new British chopper business.

We call ourselves BLACKBALL CHOPPERS and specialize in rigid chopper frames for British motors such as Norton/BSA/Triumph. Currently we have two frame models available but are alway working on new concepts and ideas.

If anyone is interested in one of our frames please email me and I'll give you further info.

Thanks, Travis

 

Started wrenching on my own stuff in 1973. Started work in a Kawasaki shop in 1977 and then at Honda in 1979. Started my own shop "EASTSIDE PERFORMANCE" in Tempe (now in Mesa) Arizona in 1981. Set many national records dragracing in the 80's including National #1 plate in Pro-Gas in 1988. Specialized in hot rod Japanese and began tinkering with HD in the early 90's. Now we do primarily hot rod HD work. We have won the Unlimited Domestic class at the AMI Brute Horsepower Shootout in Datona for the last three years. Our turbo Harley streetbike makes 279 h.p. at the rear wheel. Lotsa fun. I will be happy to answer anybodys tech questions about any make of bike.

TJ Jackson 480-649-4440

 

i know this subject probably still isnt open, but, i have to agree with the others, a piece of paper doesnt mean crap.
Yea, im a girl, but my husband has been a mechanic for freaking ever since he was 10. Hes 40 years old. he was certified at one time, but keeping up the certification he did not.
Yea you can learn **** from the books, BUT, the best way is hands on!
a mechanic can make whatever amount of money he chooses to make. hubby runs his own shop, charges by the hour.
i think its funny the little guys who have just got out of school and just got certified think they know it all...when ya tell them they are going about it the wrong way, or show em a short cut, or even, tell them they are full of crap, they look at you, and say are you certified, i am....wow !!!
im not putting down anyone who is certified. alot of shops require certifications. i just think hands on and doing it all your life, is more certified than a piece of paper and honesty and knowing what youre doing, and no comebacks.
just my 2 cents worth.
kelly

 

Learn what you can of the fundamentals which can be found in books at the library or old magazines.
Basics:
The tools and how the are used.
The principles and functions of the internal combustion engine.

If you are have a mechanical aptitude, you can learn more by doing, than being taught.

I know a big franchise Yamaha / Triumph shop owner who will not hire a wrench with a degree from the big schools.
He says that everyone he saw from them are so over educated that they spend more time diagnosing a problem than fixing it.

Everything is a process of elimination---keep it simple.

If you just want to wrench, experience will get your foot in the door at most shops quicker than a paper.

Travis,
I have two chopper frames for Triumph 500's that I am thinking about getting rid of if your interested.
My son lives in Greeley and has a 750 Triumph project chopper he needs help from a good shop that speaks British.
Let me know how to find your shop and I will let him know.

 

****, I've been riding motorcycles for 28 years now and always worked on my own scoots. It's the only way to go.