Topic: how did you learn to fix your bikes?

[jontc]

For the non-pros and guys like me,how did you learn?I can read books and forums,but when it really comes down to it,is it easy or can some one like me get it.This forum is great for everything.My question is...can a guy,(person,guy,girl,)really just fix up some old bike.I know it takes tools and a little know how but is it really just something?I know every answer is going to be different and i look forward to seeing to it....but its just a bike.I know its in the blood of most every person on here,but is it something with the help of anybody are most goals reached?....jon

[Don R]

I started on cars, back when we could still fix them at home. Got a bike and a  manual, some tools, started slow with maintainance and tune ups. A lot of times I was not satisfied with hired work out and I re-did it myself. Eventually you can learn most of what you need and get help here when you are stuck.
 Some people seem to be natural mechanics but anyone can learn it if they have the desire and invest the time.

[754]

 read..reading...and more reading..

 live..fix..and learn..
 listening helps,but dont believe everything....

 dont ever get the idea you know it all.. that means you only stopped learning..

[jontc]

thanks guys,thats a start i will keep learning from here. Anybody else jump in, Im all about learning

[jamesb]

i just went outside and started tearing into it. to me it's a sink or swim deal (of course i can't swim)i had to learn the hard way when i was young and if my car broke down it was either sit at home and deal with crap there or learn to fix my car and get the hell out of dodge. clymer manuals are a very good investment.

[Retro Rocket]

I pulled my first 750 apart at 17 years of age, it was my 3rd 750/4, no books, limited tools but money dictated that i had to learn pretty fast, lucky i had a friend that used to race them although i only ever saw him if it involved the engine.... Pull it apart, lay everything out in order, fix part and reassemble....

[pknopp]

 The most imortant part to fixing something is remembering how you took it apart.
 
 I had old timer show me a trick here. Say I'm going to take the covers off the side. I get a shoe box and place the bolts through it the same way they go back in. Washers get laid where they fit in the proper order between the bolts. etc.
 
 For most things, if you can take it apart, you can figure out what is broke and then it's just being able to put it back together.

[Trav-i]

I actually started on cars and pickups.  I used to spend all Saturday and Sunday watching car repair shows on TV, and it was then I realized I always knew what they were talking about so I had chosen my career.  Now I work on just about anything cars, trucks, 18 wheelers, fire trucks, med units, police cars, bikes, you name it I'll try.

And something to remember YOU ARE GONNA BREAK THINGS!  I still do, it's invevitable just don't let it get you down or stop you from tearing into something.  That's still something I have to tell one of my coworkers, sometimes head first is the best way.  And as always if you have a question just ask, we'll always do our best to walk you through something.

Travis

[BobbyR]

I started on Cars, bikes were a bigger challenge. You take your time, read manuals and take pictures so you know how things came apart. Never rush a job, take your time.

[Stev-o]

I was lucky, my high school offered auto mechanics and had a new shop as a classroom. I had a '68 Pontiac Firebird and was allowed to work on my car in class!
I was hooked.

[BeSeeingYou]

Even as a kid I took things apart and put them back together.  Once I became a teen I graduated to cars.  When I got a little older I moved on into boats and bikes.  I think that having patience, attention to detail, a light touch with tools, and the ability to sit back and think it through are just as important as anything else.  There is nothing in the basic repair and maintenance that is rocket science.  It is so much easier now too with the support you can find on the net.  Used to be just yourself and at most a service manual.  

[Jordan]

A shop manual, a broken bike and taking it apart. Then making sure I had no extra parts when I got it put back together.(that was the hard part)

[madmtnmotors]

My wallet helped me learn more than anything, since I could not afford to pay a mechanic to keep my bike running I had to figure it out on my own. That was long before this resource was available! Keep a digital camera handy (fairly nice ones can be had for a song) and take lots of picts so you can use them for reference when putting things back together.

[JBMorse]

I learned almost 100% from you guys on this forum!  I am not afraid to admit that my interest in old Hondas would almost not be possible were it not for this forum. 
I have always done basic work on my cars like brakes and things, but I would never have tackled a SOHC4 engine without the wealth of information, help, and pictures available here.
Hopefully my engine rebuild goes well this winter and I can start giving back by offering first hand advice to others.

[TrueSpin]

It started with my first car breaking down.

I had always been the kind of person to mess with something and try to figure it out.

My dad taught me most of what I know about fixing cars. Towards the end he was teaching me about bikes...

[70CB750]

Long story. My dad always kept the car running himself - anybody knows Kubelwagen?  - i worked with him, than college and extensive training on T55 russian tank, later CZ250 did bottom up rebuild on it.
In USA fixed our cars out of necesity and cause I dont trust shops.  Jeep CJ7 another lesson plus Kubota tractor and worked in custom Corvetts shop for a while too.
Masters in mech eng and few years in factory designing tools for mold manufacturing didnt hurt. 
Never ending learning process - also never ending honeydo list

[Magpie]

Just by reading and doing. I've always had an interest in mechanical things and they either work....or not and they will tell you quickly if it's right or wrong.
Cliff.

[Gaucho]

In my case, it was the economy stupid. 
Of course I'm not calling you names, just kidding. But the truth it's that it came down to money (or lack of it) that pushed me to learn how to tinker with things. After that, money was also one of the factors that pushed me to choose my passion for anything mechanical as my profession.
Gaucho

[jgmmgood]

Some good pointers here.....The staying organized is the best advice.  Also remember if you are "forcing" something, you're probably doing something wrong.  This takes a little experience, but a few broken items along the way is a good teacher.  Hopefully the things you are bound to break aren't pricey! 
Another piece of advice I always remember is that the first tool you grab from the toolbox should most likely never be a hammer.   Patience is key.

[Artf0rm]

The bike that I am about to finish is my first rebuild.  I started on cars when I was a kid and my dad's idea of me assisting with repairs was handing him tools and listening to him cuss from under the vehicle.  I started working on bikes because I have always wanted on but couldn't afford to buy the bike I wanted out right, so I resided myself to building it.  I'm glad I did.  You'll be fine..  Get a manual and ask questions on here.  You will absolutely brake some stuff along the way but more likely you will learn a lot about your tolerance for yourself.  You are the only one in the garage so you're responsible for the state of the machine every step of the way.   

[70CB750]

I heard from an old tool maker more than once: put it back together - anybody can do it, but to take it apart without braking takes some brains and effort.

Off the soap box now

[scunny]

don't get overwhelmed by it. every project is a sum of many pieces. do a little bit often, if what you are doing starts to go to #$%*, step away and come back later and look at it again.

[wardenerd]

dilligence and a sense of humor helps.  I changed sprockets and chain and had to put the tire on three different times before I got it right.  I have mounted the calipers on my 650 upside down and on the wrong side of course. just keep at it.  I was afraid to take the tank off now I trouble shoot the problem and depending on how difficult it is I either fix it myself or take it to my mechacnic.  I have not seen him except to change a tire in quite awhile.

[Magpie]

I see this is still alive so a few more tips that helped me:
1. get a notebook and a digital camera or the one in your phone, write tons of notes about what you're going and lots of pictures, you will have a diary of your work and can go back to the notes at any time. I've woken up in the middle of the night fretting about an o-ring that I may have missed and found it in my notes and pictures that I did install it. OCB is a terrible thing.
2. get organized with totes, boxes, zip lock bags and tackle boxes. Plano makes a great one, 3700 I think. These are fairly cheap, will keep things in order and help prevent losing things. Label everything.
3. download a workshop manual and parts book for your bike
4. scunny said it already,step away and come back later and look at it again. it will wait for you.
5. you can eat an elephant but one bite at a time, be patient and kind with yourself
6. don't be afraid to ask for help.

When I did my first bike, everytime I took something off I thought I would never get it back together right but I did. We all go through it.

Hope this helps. Cliff.

[shark]

How I learned to fix a bike.

Grabbed some tools, a Clymer book and got to work (I knew how to work on cars, though).

Tip: don't throw tools around when you get mad. They will bounce off a wall and come back and hit you, hit something expensive, or go into the woods never to be found again.

As mentioned before, if you get frustrated, walk away.