Learning Mechanics

[hightower]

I'm interested (personal) in learning my way around the bike properly. Not just changing oil and that, but how the whole thing fits together (butterfly valves etc???).


Anyone know of any decent reading materials etc for learning the generics of how bikes work etc, without having to take my fazer to bits.

[mickvp]

For me, it was taking a bike to bits.

I've been a mechanical engineer for 15 years, and I've got to say I learned more with a Suzuki DR400 I bought in boxes and built up from scratch than I have from any textbook.

Readings well and good, but buying an old wreck of a bike and playing with it will give you a better practical understanding, far over and above reading about the suck, squeeze, bang, blow ever will IMO.

[stevierst]

Haynes manual is a must for every biker, no matter how much you know your way round machines. They may have the odd error in them, but worth their weight in gold!
Start off with the easy jobs and build your confidence, you'll soon be a seasoned pro!

[chaz]

have a look on youtube, you can see how it's done, much better than reading how to do it? but always check with the manual to make sure they are doing it right?

[caretaker]

as mickvp said, nothing gives you more confidence than stripping and rebuilding a wreck, preferably chunks at a time. in your first week/month, strip the back end then refit. a haynes manual is invaluable. then do the front, and work your way around. no need to replace or renew anything unless you want to. look on ebay for crappy old stuff that nobody wants.

[johnnyg]

Got to agree about the Haynes manual, use it as reference whilst trying some of the procedures, start easy and work up your skill level and confidence. Feels great when something comes good and you have done it yourself and the exasperation and frustrations you will no doubt encounter are all just part of it, a great big hammer helps with that bit.

[Dead Eye]

Theoretical understand is helpful as a basis, but if you know how it works, the only real option is to get on with doing the jobs. Some of them can be a bit daunting and you need to make adequate allowances for time

[AdieR]

Haynes manuals are useful, don't know your location but your local college will be useful for the practical element.
Many college courses will be car based (but still useful for bike work), IIRC there's a bike-specific course available in Hull.
Being able to strip and rebuild is one thing, being able to diagnose a fault (esp perhaps electrical faults, which confuse many people) can be a whole other matter.

[Dave48]

I live in the "City of 1000 Trades" as it used to be where more or less anything you can think of was made, especially in metal. When I was a lad(many years ago) I started by learning how to repair my bicycle & as time went on progressed to second hand bikes,scooters,cars & partly because money was always tight & partly due to my curiosity slowly learnt how to do the work needed to keep them running. Machines were a lot less sophisticated then & easier to deal with electrics, carbs etc. Having said that, the Fazer FZS is a user friendly bike-so as suggested get a Haynes manual-do you have any friends with mechanical knowledge? Slowly build confidence by tackling the easier jobs at first, progressing to more involved tasks. The money you save will fund the building of your workshop/toolkit over time and your understanding of the workings of the bike will make you a better rider as you develop mechanical sympathy. The new bikes now have become like new cars-too complex for the average owner to work on but Fazers represent the last generation of machines that can be understood by ordinary people without diagnostic workshop equipment. Even a simple oil & filter change@ dealer will cost you £55/hour labour on top of material(@ full retail) & VAT so go for it!

[rustyrider]

Haynes manual is OK but the factory one is better.  Why not go here http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php?action=downloads;cat=2 and get both?

[hightower]

I understand the practical side is the best way, but that's easier said than done when the only bike you have is the only vehicle you have and is needed working daily. I'm quite comfortable jumping in and following a manual - it was more the "this is what an engine is made up of" and "this little valve on the exhaust does this" and that sort of things.


I just thought the more I know about how a bike works (not meaning how to turn a bolt) would make it easier to diagnose/fix issues. I don't know what an EXUP valve is, whether they are standard, whether a bike can run with or without it. It's that sort of stuff I was looking for.

[Fraser]

You certainly have the right kind of inquisitive mind to make a good mechanic, soo many people are happy to be just a fitter !!


There are a number of reference books available and Google is your friend ! Search out manufacturers manuals and not just somebodies opinion/idea of how they THINK it works.





Runs and hides from incoming

[adeejaysdelight]

When I bought my first bike, the biggest job I would do in my car was change a bulb or check the fluid levels. When I got a bike I decided to just go for it. It was a brand new Honda 125. On day 1 I went for a ride to Loch Lomond in the day and took it apart in the evening. I have never stopped taking bikes apart since. And most of the time I put them back together.


Like Mick, I am an Engineer (although I am a sound engineer, not mechanical). So I understand the process of taking something apart to repair and rebuild. I also have the benefit of having a friend who is a Master Technician. I have kind of been his "apprentice" for the last 17 years, spending lots of our social time together repairing stuff, or building stuff (and playing FIFA, going dancing, holidays, pulling girls...).


My point is, have a bike that you can take your time working on. A second bike. Get a Haynes manual and get in there. Be prepared to break stuff and make mistakes. But when you get it right, it is wonderful.

[fireblake]

This year I took my wheels off, discs off, rubbed down and resprayed the wheels. Swinger off, rear shock out and greased all the linkages up and also replaced the front wheel bearings. All relatively easy for one person to do and immense satisfaction after it all went back together knowing that there was some good quality grease in there too. I also bled the brakes.


Mickey

[Razgruff]

I trained on trucks that went into the detail of engine gearbox axle rebuilds and recons.
You can't beat the practical experience of stripping and rebuilding stuff, but you need to have the theoretical background knowledge to understand what you are looking at and what it does.

I would start by learning systems and components, Carbs are a good place to start, lots of theory and a small component that can be stripped on the coffee table 

There are loads of good sites on the net for learning the theory of various parts and I'm sure you can pick up many bits for buttons at auto jumbles and such, for just taking apart and seeing how it works.
I wouldn't go for a whole non running bike or basket case until you feel confident that you know how each bit works and it's job within the whole system. else it could get expensive as you lose focus on why you brought it and get the "I got to get it running at all cost mentality"

Don't skip electrics, majority of faults will somehow be electrical related, learn how to use a multimeter, it will become a good friend

[Dead Eye]

I would highly recommend having theory behind you if you work on your only vehicle and study how to do a job. However, this only really helps up until the point you finally do the job - at which point practical experience is where you gain.

I find theory fascinating though so revel in the chance to read articles and watch tutorials on the subjects. Haynes may be helpful for a specific task, but the theory behind the internal combustion engine is shared between all manner of vehicles and engine designs. I would suggest some basic reading from "How Stuff Works" maybe (not sure on exactly how much you know) and even to find some videos on YouTube demonstrating different tasks.

I managed to find a channel from someone in Spain who showed the entire process of them rebuilding the engine from a Mk2 Golf GTi (I owned one at the time). It wasn't as dull or boring as some of the tutorials as they guy was just getting on with the work and explaining what he was doing as he was doing it without getting too bogged down in detail.

[Kentish]

My mate went through the same thing as this. He purchased a honda xr125 which were running sweet. He rings me up and says "I have taken my honda apart to see how it all works"

Problem is he soon realised taking things apart was easy. Putting them back was the hard part. Lol

[Lazarus]

Haynes manuals are useful, don't know your location but your local college will be useful for the practical element.
Many college courses will be car based (but still useful for bike work), IIRC there's a bike-specific course available in Hull.
Being able to strip and rebuild is one thing, being able to diagnose a fault (esp perhaps electrical faults, which confuse many people) can be a whole other matter.

as AdieR says - check your local colleges. They may offer bike mechanics courses (I know one up near me in Kilmarnock does this from Late September on and they envourage you to bring your own bike in to work on it.