Topic: You ever get the chance to do anything like this?

[Kong]

I was out in the yard the other day when a young boy on a black motorcycle stopped in front of the house.  I didn't recognize him but as it turns out he is a neighbor who lives about four miles down the road.  So we had a chat.  The boy was about 16, he had just got the bike.  From the sound of it the thing seemed to be running reasonably well, it had been neglected badly the the previous owner, some poor body work had been done on the tank and was lifting, and according to the boy it had handling issues.

He had a pretty good handle on the mechanical issues, what he came to see me about was the body and paint problems.  Filler was lifting off the tank and the paint was badly shot and ugly as the bowls of a merciless hell.  He wanted to do something about it but didn't know how.  He came to me for help.

So I looked at the lifting filler and told him what was wrong.  I explained what caused the problem and showed him that it was even more extensive than he thought.  He looked dismayed.  "Not to worry", I told him.  Then I told him to go ride the bike a few hundred miles to make sure he knew everything that was wrong with it.  Then he should start fixing all that stuff and at the same time to remove the tins, bring them to me, and I'd teach him how to do the repairs the right way and then paint the bike.  I knew he didn't have any money, so I quickly added this, I told him " don't worry about the materials.  I've got everything you'll need right here left over from other jobs. so it won't cost you a dime".

Its not very hard to teach a kid who really wants to learn and whatever the materials that will be needed cost (I'll buy them) will be miniscule.  I stopped by his house yesterday and talked to his mother about it.  I didn't want this to come as any surprise to her and in these days I didn't want her wondering what her beloved young son was doing for so many hours out in a shed with some old man.

This will be the second young person I will have shown how to do some body work and paint a vehicle; I taught a friend of my son years ago when a bike he bought needed paint.   It makes me feel good, to have the chance to help out a kid.  If a few things are needed they won't cost much and I can afford it, and its just nice to see a young person who is interested and cares.  So hell yes, I'll give him a hand.  You ever get a chance to do anything like this?

[Radam]

I wish you were my neighbor. It's really nice that you're teaching the kid. I have to learn everything from books and online. I like the "self learning" deal, but would much rather have someone who knows what their doing show me the right way to do things. Right now I'm working on my first tank repair job. I was hoping to do some more on it over the holiday break, but ended up spending most of my time at the lake. You're doing a real good dead, sir.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Good on ya Kong!  It's like what my sig sayz, if you have the right attitude, the rest is easy!!

[333]

Yes.  Great feeling, isn't it?   And, wow, they're seeking YOU out.  That's street cred!  I found a place to volunteer and mentor kids(see sig line), and have been doing it for about 6 years.

[DJ_AX]

A young guy I work with... 19 or 20... he never had much of a dad... He took the MC safety course, got his MC license and a Yamaha 600 crotch rocket. Good for him! 

BUT ...
His chain is dry, rusty, and loose. Tried to encourage him to check it out, and learn the basics of maintenance.. accordingly. But he still doesn't even have a manual!

I bugged him about it for a couple of days straight (fatherly me) and then stopped bothering him about it two weeks ago. I'm sure he doesn't even own a pair of pliers (yet).

We'll see how long that chain lasts... 

I'm just waiting for him to ask for help now.

[KRONUS0100]

totally awesome.  I took it upon myself a few years ago to teach a bullied young man how to defend himself against the daily azz whoopings he was getting from the older meaner boys.  needless to say they quit beating on him after a few weeks, and he grew up into a respectable young man with a wife an 2 kids now.  he also learned a few mechanical things from me along the way.

awesome.
respect the younger generation and learn from the older generation.

[Bankerdanny]

Good for you Kong. I've helped various neighbor kids make repairs to their bicycles over the years and offered advice and assistance to co-workers about their cars.

Growing up in the 70's it seems like every kid I knew had a dad who could fix cars or fix things around the house (or like my dad, do all of those things, plus teach English to 7th and 8th graders, play the guitar, and run the local community theater).

I have fixed up cars, motorcycles and bicycles. I have built furniture, installed new floors in my kitchen, built decks and made new doors for my kitchen cabinets. I assembled my last 3 computers from components. But when I mention doing these things to today's 20 and 30 somethings they look at me like I have 3 heads.

It's sad how dependent we are becoming on others to make and fix things for us.

[xsmooth69x]

i wish you where my neighbor id take you out to a nice steak and seafood dinner if you helped me.

when i have my garage doors open i usually only get guys in there 35-50 range stopping in and talking to me. then they ask me to fix there bike or if they can buy mine when im done......

[crazypj]

I knew you were not the crotchety old git you pretend to be 
 Good karma.
 I guess it's a 'Pass it Forward' situation 

[Duke McDukiedook]

Good on ya mate, the good karma will come back tenfold to you. 

[lone*X]

Your thoughtfulness will be returned to you many fold.  Or as my wife likes to say, "Thats another star in your crown".

I recently had the opportunity to help a young couple out in a similar manner.  They have been married for a couple of years and were expecting their first child in early June.  Both had to work to make ends meet and cash was pretty much non-existent.   I was talking to the young man in late April and learned that both of their vehicles had air conditioning problems and he had been quoted almost $1100 dollars to get just his wife's AC working.  Well in SE Texas June can get pretty hot, actually set a record this year for days over 100F for a June.  I volunteered to help them out, as long as he was present and actually did the work under my instruction.   As a gift to the new parents I sprung for an evaporator, dryer, hoses and gaskets, and R134 for her car.  He did all the work, learning some self reliance from high labor costs in the process.  Wound up doing his work truck as well which fortunately was only leaking at the expansion valve, easy fix with just orings and gaskets.   They had a beautiful little girl and were able to bring her home from the hospital in a nice cool car.  Really made me feel good to be able to help them in a real way.

[coldwave007]

That's pretty awesome of you to do!  My Dad's a pretty awesome handy-man, but when I was a teen I had zero interest in learning "the skills."  (Shame on me I know)  Now I'm in my mid 20s and am playing catch up!  I'm just thankful he's still all too willing and eager to teach me, and that I'm finally just as eager to learn.  It definitely helps having a mentor, otherwise I'd be stumbling blindly in the dark.

[MoMo]

Kudos to all of you, what you give comes back tenfold...Larry

[Nortstudio]

Great story Kong.  You have already helped me (and unquestionably countless others!) here on the forum. 

Unfortunately, all the young kids who would stop to have a peek while I was wrenching on the curb, would only ask, "how fast does it go."  "Well, not very..." was always my reply. 

Then I was motivated by snow, and more snow, and more... to get a garage space here in Brooklyn (hard to come by around these parts).  I had to get other riders involved to make it work/affordable, and I hoped that it would fill with people who didn't just want to park safely, but also wrench, and develop a community of sorts.

A couple weekends ago I saw that wish fulfilled, when one of the "members" brought a friend by with a bike that wouldn't throttle past idle.  None of us are wizards (like many of you here), but with the collective experience, we got his carbs cleaned, spark and ignition checked etc.  The bike is back up and running, thanks to a bunch of guys chipping in to help, with their respective small bits of knowledge (much of it gained right here).

So keep passing that knowledge on, knowing that people take it, and pass it on again..... 

[greenjeans]

Good man Kong.

Haven't found anyone to mentor on the CBs, but I'm known to help any and everybody out with bicycle problems.  Everybody, especially kids should have a bike.

[splitt]

I've mentored a number younger motorcyclists who have come to me for help over the years. The one disturbing thing that I've noticed is the reduction in the number of kids interested in motorcycles. I used to have anywhere from three to ten kids show up while I was wrenching on bikes in the garage. Now, one sixteen year-old is the only one who shows up. If any others do show up, they're not interested if I'm not working on a sport bike.

[ofreen]

So what's his mom look like?

[BeSeeingYou]

I didn't want her wondering what her beloved young son was doing for so many hours out in a shed with some old man.

Couldn't resist.