Topic: Young guys dont know how GOOD they got it!!

[754]

Back in the day, I asked a question about how effective rocker stand supports in the cam cover were,

First I wrote the letter, then I rewrite as my writing sucks.. then I mail it to a magazine in the US, I live in Canada.

Then you count.. 1...2..3..




MONTHS !!!

Then you rush out and buy the magazine, you already know magazine day..you are in there while they are still taking them outof the boxes.

Then you check to see if your question..

A got picked to be answered... ;

B got answered..

C you missed the deadline and wait another month...drat 

D they never answer it....


today you post on here.. go blow your nose, and get back  and maybe have your first response..

[amemoryoncelost]

 We got it VERY good. But I've been on both sides. I know when I was younger, 13 or 14 and into bmx and trying to get answers and whatever, it meant waiting each month for a new issue of whichever magazine or going to the races when the pros came to town.
 Looking back, I don't know how I did it...

[SteveD CB500F]

Nowadays I read the Q&A section of the classic bike mags...

"my CBxxx won't start/run/charge/stop" etc, etc  and I think "just come talk to us over here!"

Mostly the answers that are published by the so-called "experts" are rather less than you'd expect.

[gerhed]

When I got my '48 Indian in '68 -- the seller said "and don't bring it back".
I had no info on anything.
Eventually found a guy at a paint store in
Ventura, Cal. who raced a '35 Indian Scout at Ascot Park down in L.A.
He gave me a few bits of his wisdom and I got the Chief running like a top !

[mattcb350f]

The real issue is that with refrencing this forum, you don't always get the hands on, figure it out yourself problem solving that builds good mechanical skills.
Hands on learning is now hands "told what to do" learning which isn't learning at all.

Don't worry, there are some of us young wipper snappers who know how good we've got it. We also know that we will likely never live up to the Baby Boomer generation.... the richest generation in history.
Of topic, but I needed one for our side..

 Matt.

[MRieck]

When I got my '48 Indian in '68 -- the seller said "and don't bring it back".
I had no info on anything.
Eventually found a guy at a paint store in
Ventura, Cal. who raced a '35 Indian Scout at Ascot Park down in L.A.
He gave me a few bits of his wisdom and I got the Chief running like a top !

Dude....now that is a bike. I dig it and the line the seller used.

[Soos]

The real issue is that with refrencing this forum, you don't always get the hands on, figure it out yourself problem solving that builds good mechanical skills.
Hands on learning is now hands "told what to do" learning which isn't learning at all.

 Matt.

A man will be able to eat if you catch him a fish.
Teach him how to fish, and he will eat a lifetime.


l8r

[UnCrash]

 

Teach him how to fish, and he will eat a lifetime.

Man, I'm done with both fishing for sparkplugs (http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=27843.0)and for tappet lock nuts(http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=25869.msg267990#msg267990).

Now Striped Bass is another story!

[Terry in Australia]

Well at first when I saw this I though, Uh oh, here we go again, more "kids of today got it easy" bashing, but I do agree that this forum is an incredible way to attain knowledge, fast.

As far as the "you don't always get the hands on, figure it out yourself problem solving that builds good mechanical skills" theory goes, maybe that's a consideration, but from experience, we ask these questions when we're at our wits end, and we've exhausted our own mechanical knowledge, and we've learned from previous misery, how expensive it can become when we don't ask questions, and then we stuff something up, so we (wisely) stop and wait for a reply.

The benefit of this forum is that there are some great guys here just dying to share their knowledge and experience, and I can say that they've certainly saved me many dollars in ruined parts, and many hours of swearing at an inanimate object.

So to answer the original "Young Guys don't know how GOOD they've got it" post, sure, young guys who don't remember a time before the "Information Super highway" may not appreciate it as much as we do, but we all benefit from it! Cheers, Terry.

[MRieck]

Well at first when I saw this I though, Uh oh, here we go again, more "kids of today got it easy" bashing, but I do agree that this forum is an incredible way to attain knowledge, fast.

As far as the "you don't always get the hands on, figure it out yourself problem solving that builds good mechanical skills" theory goes, maybe that's a consideration, but from experience, we ask these questions when we're at our wits end, and we've exhausted our own mechanical knowledge, and we've learned from previous misery, how expensive it can become when we don't ask questions, and then we stuff something up, so we (wisely) stop and wait for a reply.

The benefit of this forum is that there are some great guys here just dying to share their knowledge and experience, and I can say that they've certainly saved me many dollars in ruined parts, and many hours of swearing at an inanimate object.

So to answer the original "Young Guys don't know how GOOD they've got it" post, sure, young guys who don't remember a time before the "Information Super highway" may not appreciate it as much as we do, but we all benefit from it! Cheers, Terry.

Terry
 I remember using that new fangled contraption called BOOKS. Much of what I learned in regard to theory and practice was acquired through reading. I'm talking G. Jennings, A. Graham Bell, Vizard, Smokey Yunick etc,etc,etc. Hands on is always great BUT reading is the other half of the equation in my mind. The reading part will at least give you the balls to try something new.....like cam timing etc.

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, I'll take that dig Mike, I still haven't gone out to the garage and installed the megacycle 125/75 cam, I need some nice clear "un-fucck-up-able" instructions on how to do that again, ha ha!

[MRieck]

Ha ha, I'll take that dig Mike, I still haven't gone out to the garage and installed the megacycle 125/75 cam, I need some nice clear "un-fucck-up-able" instructions on how to do that again, ha ha!

Terry....no dig intended bro but if you haven't timed cams yet get your arse in gear....you ain't getting any younger.

[neil young]

i look at this and other forums as a great teaching tool.when i started an apprenticeship in plumbing i knew about copper and PVC.but the theory behind drainage and venting was not a concern. i had to go to school for 24 weeks to learn theory and work 1800 hours a year for 5 years to learn the practical and apply the theory to  become a licenced journeyman.before the computer age I'm sure most people here knew or found someone who knew about bikes and picked there brains.if there is something i don't understand about my bike i ask here and usually get an incitefull answer then out to the garage i go to get my hands dirty.where else are you going to find out that Simple green is an excellent carb cleaner.yes we have it easy and thank goodness for that.

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, I'll take that dig Mike, I still haven't gone out to the garage and installed the megacycle 125/75 cam, I need some nice clear "un-fucck-up-able" instructions on how to do that again, ha ha!

Terry....no dig intended bro but if you haven't timed cams yet get your arse in gear....you ain't getting any younger.

Yeah, but it's cold and wet outside in my garage today Mike, and it's warm in here, and the coffee's good. Surely you wouldn't want me to go out there and catch a cold, would ya? Ha ha, ok, I'm going, don't push me............. 

[754]

I used to learn a lot from books, Peterson used to put out these Motorcycle Tuning and Maintenance books, might have been quarterly, Bob Greene wrote a lot of articles in there, they were great sources of info. Read gobs of Custom bike mags like 4 a month or more..lots of hop-up articles in them..

I am trying to find the book I have with the huge 754 buildup, they tried endless combinations and did dyno runs all the time. Started out stock and went right up to Cobra motors, carb changes, pipes, cams.. also had 1/4 mile times..
Its around somewhere but I got way too much stuff

..started buying mags in 72 and still got most of them..

[mattcb350f]

Funny you mentioned the Peterson books, I've got the Carburation book from the mid seventies for automotive carbs. It's possibly the best book written on every auto carb from that era. It was my bible when I was fooling around with my Olds field car when I was 13 or so. I knew the book was part of a series but I didn't know they had a motorcycle tuning book too. Wish I had one..

 Matt.

[Dennis]

Terry....no dig intended bro ......... get your arse in gear....you ain't getting any younger.

 

" ... no dig intended ...."

I don't know if I believe THAT. 

[754]

Kids flip out when they see and hear my disc player.. the one that takes 12 inch black discs.

 The Peterson Tuning guide I remember most had a brown/black 72 500-4 on the front..

[MRieck]

I used to learn a lot from books, Peterson used to put out these Motorcycle Tuning and Maintenance books, might have been quarterly, Bob Greene wrote a lot of articles in there, they were great sources of info. Read gobs of Custom bike mags like 4 a month or more..lots of hop-up articles in them..

I am trying to find the book I have with the huge 754 buildup, they tried endless combinations and did dyno runs all the time. Started out stock and went right up to Cobra motors, carb changes, pipes, cams.. also had 1/4 mile times..
Its around somewhere but I got way too much stuff

..started buying mags in 72 and still got most of them..

I know the article. I believe a friend of mine has it....along with tons of that old RC stuff.

[paulages]

Kids flip out when they see and hear my disc player.. the one that takes 12 inch black discs.

 The Peterson Tuning guide I remember most had a brown/black 72 500-4 on the front..

hey 754--i'm 31 and i own more vinyl than most old timers i know!

[754]

I was talking more like 10 yr olds..like my kids friends.. one thing people are surprised at with a good stereo is the sound..they are surprised its not a cd.

Hey anyone on here miss magazines only being 75 cents??

[Terry in Australia]

Terry....no dig intended bro ......... get your arse in gear....you ain't getting any younger.

 

" ... no dig intended ...."

I don't know if I believe THAT. 

me either..................... 

[turboguzzi]

let's not forget that on this forum, people are quite hands on to begin with. Making a rough generalization here but most modern bike owners really dont know a thing about mechanics and changing the oil is for many like discovering america.

Still, even here in sohc4, sometimes I get the feeling that some people post a problem first rather than try and find a solution by themselves. I think they miss out a big chance to learn by actually doing and trying stuff.

TG

[Terry in Australia]

Still, even here in sohc4, sometimes I get the feeling that some people post a problem first rather than try and find a solution by themselves. I think they miss out a big chance to learn by actually doing and trying stuff.

TG

Yeah, but the whole purpose of these sites is for sharing our experiences in tackling the same situation that might save another member time, money, frustration, and possibly, knuckle skin.

Learning from other people's experience is an excellent way of learning, in my opinion! 

Mike, I found that cam timing article you sent me all those months ago, so I went out to the garage and dialled in that Megacycle 125/75 cam, it's now "spot on"! (actually, the timing marks on the end of the shaft were very, very close, I only had to move it 1 - 2 degrees)

Tomorrow, it goes into the K1 frame.................... 

[MRieck]

Still, even here in sohc4, sometimes I get the feeling that some people post a problem first rather than try and find a solution by themselves. I think they miss out a big chance to learn by actually doing and trying stuff.

TG

Yeah, but the whole purpose of these sites is for sharing our experiences in tackling the same situation that might save another member time, money, frustration, and possibly, knuckle skin.

Learning from other people's experience is an excellent way of learning, in my opinion! 

Mike, I found that cam timing article you sent me all those months ago, so I went out to the garage and dialled in that Megacycle 125/75 cam, it's now "spot on"! (actually, the timing marks on the end of the shaft were very, very close, I only had to move it 1 - 2 degrees)

Tomorrow, it goes into the K1 frame.................... 

Your a good lad Terry.