Each class is approximately 2 hour lecture and 3 hours of lab ( 5 weeks,except holiday’s) Workshops start at 12:00pm to 5:00pm
1st Session
Introduction
1.) Tools of the trade
2.) Safety Issues
3.) Organizing your work
4.) Resources, books, Forums, newsgroups, vendors
5.) Basic overview of motorcycle systems and subsystems.
6.) Engine Design and Basic Theory: 2 strokes, 4 strokes, bottom end, top end
7.) How to think like a gearhead. Your bike tries to talk to you, but do you know how to listen and feel?
2nd Session
1.)Fuel Systems: How carbs and fuel injection work. Fault isolation, rebuilding. Troubling shooting. Carb rebuild hands-on workshop (yours or mine)
2.)Ignition system basics: Fault analysis, in depth theory and repair, Reading spark plugs
3rd Session
1.)Lubrication systems: What oils to use, how to change oil and filter and what to look for in the end trails (old oil). Different lube points.
2.) Clutch transmission and final drive: Theory and demonstrations on inspecting and replacing clutch pack.
3.) Exhaust systems: It’s not there just to look kewl and be a part of your sound system.
4.)Cooling systems: Theory, preventative maintenance and changing coolant as well as which coolant to use. Fault finding.
4th Session
1.) Suspensions: Front maintenance and rear
2.) Wheels and tires
3.)Brakes: Disc, drum brakes replacement of shoes, bleeding and rebuilding calipers and master cylinders.
5th Session
1.)Charging and electrical system: Basic electricity, Fault analysis & trace, reading diagrams.**
2.)Frame and steering; nuts and bolts. Keeping it all together.
3.)Winter storage and scheduled maintenance.
4.) How to evaluate and buy a used bike. Scrounging for “vintage parts”. Ebay escapades.
**Note each student if they bring their bike, will get a free electrical analysis with my $1,200 Midtronics electrical systems analyzer (a $100 value). Catch faults before they get expen$ive.
Other Benefits:
Former students will have access to me via email or through my future forum with service questions and buying tips. I will also have low cost tool rentals available for the more expensive and specialized tools that students might not want to purchase.
The course will be held in the service area of a commercial motorcycle rental and repair facility where I work (LaCienega and 405). It will be held every Sunday or every Saturday, depending on start date for 5 successive Sunday’s or Saturday’s. If you cannot make one or two classes, they can be made up in the following (new) session. Each class is a stand alone workshop that does require the previous workshop to understand. Please email me for specific details about tuition and other questions you might have.
In conclusion what you will learn will last you….well as long as oil is around and we still use the venerable internal cumbustion engine, which might be a lifetime. The principles can be applied to any bike you might ride in the future. In this way you never have to be at the mercy of a dealer.
