Where did you learn to wrench

[2010 bulldog]

My family owned a body shop and auto parts store in Angels Camp California. After that I went to Machinist Mate school and "Nuke" school in the Navy. Today I'm an tech for Chrysler Engineering.

 

[Ray]

Great Stories!! My mother remarried my step father soon after my father died in 1962 and he had lots of stuff that we were not used too. You couldn't help but noticing over the years even though he had a lot of stuff, vechicles, boats, guns, tractors, he never really took care of anything. I think he used the oil light as a guage to check the oil. Even as a kid this didn't make sense to me. On the other hand the guy across the road a real wrencher was always working on cars and anything and everything. I learned at lot over the years from him. A friend of mine's dad was a real wrencher too and like an electrical genuis. Either one of them in their day could work on and would work on anything. I learned a lot from them over the years. I always wanted to dig into stuff but usually make a mess on it, and had to get these guys to help me out. They taught me a lot. I always wanted to use the equipment in shop class like the lathe and a few other pieces of equipment that seemed to be off limits to most of us. Sevearl places I have worked over the years I have watched and learned from the older guys that make it look easy. When they see you are interested in most cases they are very eager to show you the tricks of the trade they learned the hard way, trial and error method. y wife and I got married 35 years ago this month and we were making enough money to pay the bills and when a vechicle needed brakes, tune up, etc. etc. etc. I tried to do it basically cause we didn't have the money. Many occassions I called these guys that were always helpful even to the point of coming to our place and putting it back together themselves. Mostly they showed me how to put it back together. Now over the years I have collected a good set of tools, and get to pass it on. My wife and daughter think I can fix anything I put my mind too. I have a lathe in the garage and most shop equipment, except a welder, I never liked fire. If I have learned one thing on my own and by the grace of God it is persistence. When the ehc on the scooter died I didn't even know where it was, but with some good instructions by Jake and a little pointing me in the right direction a couple times we got that fixed. Easier than I made it out to be actually. Several times you folks had to point me in the right direction on fixing little things on the scooter, that is much appreciated. It is not as pretty and spotless as most of your bikes it has a few character marks from prior abuse, kind a like the old guy that rides it.

Thanks everyone,, Have a great 2012,

Ray

 

[Ghostflame]

I started wrenching @ around 12 on my 1973 XR75, I used to pull the top end off and re-ring it and hone the bore when it would start smoking. When I was 15 my dad gave me our 1967 International Scout with a blown head gasket. I tore it down and got it running and the then tranny was screwed up so I tore that out and fixed that too.
I pretty much fix anything myself that I can as long as It's not to far over my head. I hate taking something to a shop when I know I can do it myself.

 

[8ball]

went to auto mechanics in high school and that year got a basket case of a old 305 honda superhawk. I figuered if i could put that box of parts back together and sold it for 250$ icould keep doing it and not have to get a real job. well it worked for a while. then i got in to a sheet metal apprenticeship and learned how to move metal( that's what the old hillbilly called it that was my journeyman), so now my fabrication skills grew by leaps and bounds. not too much that i won"t tackle anymore. the trouble is always figuring out if working on something is more cost effective than going to work for i make a pretty good wage, then i can have it done and still be making money. my advice, never pass up a chance to learn it will be invaluable when your sitting on the side of the road wishing you knew what just went pow. just sayin

 

[Nomad2day]

My dad wasn't into cars or anything but our neighbors raced on the dirt track in Florida where I grew up. Yea, my dad hated them. Firing up the built motors in the 55 Chevrolet's they raced all night long. I grew up in that garage with them helping whatever it took to build and maintain race cars. I was riding a Suzuki 250 Savage trail/street bike which I learned to build from scratch and started racing dirt bikes and building them. Came up riding Kawasaki line of street bikes, 350,500,750,900 and 1000s. I was also into VW's and dune buggies being in Florida. Went into the Army and my best friend worked in the motor pool so I begin working with him on jeeps and APC's for something to do. I begin working with electronics as well in the Military and became Satellite communications instructor after my stints in the Infantry and Pathfinders. Man I loved the 101st Air Assault. Needless to say I was into muscle cars. When I came back from Germany in 1977 I built my 69 Charger and things spiraled from there. Blown cars and trucks, turbo cars. Did a couple frame off restorations on my vettes. Moving on to the V-twins was just a matter of time. I worked as a electrician and maintenance tech after I got out of the Army. Finally moved into the programming side doing automation, robotics, vision systems and so on. Used that skill to start tuning bikes and converted my Big Dog to a wide band system, eliminated the EHC and built the motor with help from John Sach and some members on here.
Wish I had time to go to a few classes as Vince81 did. One of my good friends here owns a large independent motorcycle shop here which is a source of info and answers when needed and my running partner which also works were I do owns his own motorcycle business. Rigid Cycle Works. Builds from scratch and is one awesome fabricator. Built his last exhaust out of a set of headers to fit his bike. Nothing he cannot do V-twin or crotch rocket.
Needless to say I help him and he helps me.....
I love this stuff...
Neil

 

[RRRUFF]

When I was a kid I started taking old lawn mowers apart and trying to make them run. Then just started progressing. Bought an old harley that had caught fire and the guy had taken it apart and lost interest. Brought it home in a ice chest and a pile. Put it together and it ran. Learned alot from my job also. I really enjoy working on bikes the most though. Right now I am in the middle of a Jeep CJ7 engine conversion.

 

[stlmikie]

I'm just one of the let's do it guys. If it needs done and done now, my hands are getting dirty.

 

[nine lives]

Started working on bikes when I got my first one at 8 or 9 years old, got a 73 Yamaha MX 80 for my birthday, brand fuckin new, it was great. Worked my way up in cc's through the years, did some racing, kept wrenching. Went to trade school learned welding and fabrication, built all kinds of shit from small tig welded pieces to large off shore oil rig equipment. Probably one of a hand full of people in the world who welded gold, platinum and iridium for the defense and glass industry. Still doing cycle repairs as a side business but having a full time job I try to limit how many bikes I work on.

 

[TimNY]

Building your own

Hmmm All sounds very simular. I started young also taking bicycles appart
then mini bikes and dirt bikes. Really learned alot in high school working on my Camaro Z28 rebuilding engines -constantly replacing the trannies.Switched over to bikes in my early 20s - Pans - Shovels and now my home built 2011 custom based on BDM Chopper .
Kdub
If you really want to build your own bike. I say do it. Do your research,pick out a frame and buy it- the rest will follow .One part at a time .It took me two years and quite a few $,was worth every minute and dime I spent.
If you need any help, The help is here and on other great web sites like Club Chopper.
Trust me when I say there is no other feeling on earth riding a bike down the road you built yourself.
Good luck Tim

 

[1BADK9]

I suppose my limited skills have been gained through neccessity. Buying machines young with limited maintenance funds forced me to learn to fix things as I broke them. I started with skateboards and bicycles that needed repairs, then at age 12 I got my first motorcycle a Yamaha 100 enduro that was stripped down to a "dirt bike". I learned minor repairs and maintenance work on that gem. Then at age 16 a YZ 400 was mine and it had a MANUAL with it and I read that cover to cover and did everything I could do in it. I learned the best thing you could do with any machine was get the damn service manual or any literature you could get on it. During the "pre-internet era" I pretty much own a Chilton, Hayes, or factory manual for everything that has been parked in my garage. There were many years that I just plain ole couldn't afford to take my POS to the shop every time they broke. I spent some years with a few VW's and that forced me to learn alot of repairs. I aint gonna lie to you though. I draw a difinitive line in the sand in regard to what I will tackle and what I will not fuck with. As I get older there are more and more aint gonna fuck with its, than gonna tackles.

Here's a good VW repair video, reminds me that no matter what you know there is always an easier way.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQhfcdQf1QA"]The Original Fast Volkswagen Belt Change. - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Always enjoyed taking things apart, even though I didn't always know how to put them back together. My parents never would let me touch the computer as I always was messing with things I didn't need to be doing. But now I'm a whiz with computers and can take them apart put them back together. I've built a couple from scratch, honestly it's amazing how simple these machines are.

I started with bicycles, seems like a common theme! I tore them down switched parts, etc. Made good friends with one of the local bike shop guys and I use to ride to his place and see what kind of parts he had laying around from kids whose parents would buy them the next best thing. I took what they didn't want for cheap I used to fix all the neighbors bikes. I remember I bought a rusty bike from a kid around the neighborhood spent weeks getting the rust off it looked new the kid was so pissed he sold it to me for $20.

When I was a teenager my best friend got a dirtbike and I was jealous, I managed to find a 1975 Kawasaki F7 175cc beat to crap I could buy for $200. (Mind you this was probably 1996-97). Bike was already 20 years old and it showed, bought it with a broken clutch cable. Anyways still rode it without a clutch cable, I pushed it all the way to the sand pits near my house kicked her over and dropped it!! Wheeelie!!!! I just about shit my pants. Anyways, I spent more time fixing it than riding it. Ended up putting in a full set of clutch plates, springs, etc. Never did any engine work. It was all trial and error, looked things up on the internet.

Next came a 1988 Honda CRX little 2 door go-cart. I learned a bit about cars with that. Brakes, Shocks, Springs, exhaust. I also had a buddy doing bodywork at a vocational school we turned my garage into a paint booth for a couple days my parents were not happy. I spent a lot of time working on this and I swore off cars/trucks for years.

Had a 1988 Kawasaki 600R - Never needed any work except fork seals I was living in an apt at the time with no garage brought it to the mechanic. Then got a 03 CBR 600R never needed anything cause I never rode it. Now I got the dog! I'm happy putting time into it so far just did the rear sissy bar struts, and little electrical troubleshooting. I got the 107 SS Service Manual for xmas read it cover to cover that day.

I'm ready to tackle whatever comes my way, I spent a lot on the Dog and don't really want to pay anybody to work on it. I rather buy the parts and save the labor! Plenty of info here and online to work from. I hope to never have to take it anywhere.

 

[Ray]

Another little thing came up yesterday. I noticed my tires were wearing a little abnormal on the edges so I took the F250 to get the front end lined up. Ah,,, the guy shows me the ball joints need replacing on the driver side the other side is still ok. I was the first at the shop yesterday morning and they weren't busy, guys walking around. They had me a price faster than they took my truck in too. The entire time they were figuring this up, and am pondering the next available 3 to 4 hrs I have to replace all the ball joints, which hopefully this friday or staurday, weather will be better too. They wanted $524 to replace two ball joints. They tryed every pitch to get me to bite but I told them I'd be back when replaced the ball joints. I have never done it on a 4 wheel drive but yes what there is a you-tube video that shows you exactly how to do it. Looks to easy to pay someone $200 bucks an hour to do. If the ones that really need replacing aren't too bad changing out I will do the other while while I have the ball joint press from my friendly auto zone handly... Any you wrenchers bored and not doing anything probably Saturday morning meet me in the garage.

Ray

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Another little thing came up yesterday. I noticed my tires were wearing a little abnormal on the edges so I took the F250 to get the front end lined up. Ah,,, the guy shows me the ball joints need replacing on the driver side the other side is still ok. I was the first at the shop yesterday morning and they weren't busy, guys walking around. They had me a price faster than they took my truck in too. The entire time they were figuring this up, and am pondering the next available 3 to 4 hrs I have to replace all the ball joints, which hopefully this friday or staurday, weather will be better too. They wanted $524 to replace two ball joints. They tryed every pitch to get me to bite but I told them I'd be back when replaced the ball joints. I have never done it on a 4 wheel drive but yes what there is a you-tube video that shows you exactly how to do it. Looks to easy to pay someone $200 bucks an hour to do. If the ones that really need replacing aren't too bad changing out I will do the other while while I have the ball joint press from my friendly auto zone handly... Any you wrenchers bored and not doing anything probably Saturday morning meet me in the garage.

Ray

FYI - Just to let you know I believe your 4x4 will have U Joints as well. Mine as well do those while your in there. I need to redo the entire front end of my Ram Struts/Ball Joints/U Joints. I need a long weekend and some warmer weather. Hopefully they last through the winter.

Check out this article Dana 44 Hub and U-Joint Replacement

If you find any good info please pass along. I dont want to pay the shop to do it, but I've never done ball or u joints before. My truck is a 99 so its old and rusty from the North and the snow. I'm probably going to have to cut my way through the front end. :bang:

 

[coach]

I had to learn out of necessity. I bought a VW when I was in the Navy and didn't know you had to change the oil ran it into the ground. When I got out my only transportation in college was a 650 Triumph that required allot of attention...and a girlfriend with a broke down car.

 

[Oscar Maldonado]

It's always been a trial and error thing with me.

In my younger days I spent a lot of time working on 4X4's doing lifts and other types of modifications. Then I went on to mess around with mini bikes,mopeds, go carts, dirt bikes ect. I've always liked trying to do it on my own.

As for our bikes, a lot I got from these ffine people on BigDog Biker!!! Thank you all very much.

 

[Kdub]

FYI - Just to let you know I believe your 4x4 will have U Joints as well. Mine as well do those while your in there. I need to redo the entire front end of my Ram Struts/Ball Joints/U Joints. I need a long weekend and some warmer weather. Hopefully they last through the winter.

Check out this article Dana 44 Hub and U-Joint Replacement

If you find any good info please pass along. I dont want to pay the shop to do it, but I've never done ball or u joints before. My truck is a 99 so its old and rusty from the North and the snow. I'm probably going to have to cut my way through the front end. :bang:

The u joints in dodges front end are a real pita. I ended up selling my 98 ram because I got tired of fixing them. A really large socket ( I don't remember what size) is required. A breaker bar and possibly a torch and you should be fine.

 

[scubaman15]

Went to the prestigious School of HARD KNOCKS !!!

 

[shovelcowboy]

Dad and grandaddy own a farm. I grew up helping them drive and fix equipment for as long as I can remember. I always got hand-me-down farm trucks and vehicles. In order to get around, I had to keep'em running.

Pretty much the same for me. Learned a lot keeping machinery running on our farm/ranch operation. When ya live in a rural area and time is of the essence at harvest, you learn to fix things! I can remember working all night on a combine of hay baler so it would be operational the next day.

So when I decided to build my chopper a few years ago, I felt that I could do it. It has served me well and I have been able to fix the few things that have gone wrong. Also keeping my shovelhead running is always a learning experience!

And I think I just have an aptitude and logical thinking which help in wrenching. But like Moespeeds says, in todays world you can learn to do just about ANYTHING by Googling it!

Shovelcowboy

 

[Th3InfamousI]

There are YOUTUBE videos for everything. I watched a S&S tech do a how to on a cam and pushrod change the other day it was 53 minutes long. I learned a lot and after watching 100% comfortable to do it myself.

Thats how im going to do it from now on! scrounge through youtube for a how to video sit back drink beers and take a few notes!

 

[stlmikie]

YouTube is a great thing!