How many mechs here? Poll

[Do Lee]

Mech.

Worked for a Yamaha shop as a mechanic from middle 70's to early 80's, (about 7 or 8 years) also this shop had small engine repairs and a locksmith. We worked in all the disciplines. One day working on motorcycles, the next day drilling out safety deposit boxes, floor safes or unlocking cars and on another day lawnmower engine repairs.

Then moved on to my present job being an Instrument-Electrical mechanic / designer / Control Specialist at a major petrol-chemical plant.

Still wrench on the side for friends and for those who have older bikes that the shops won't work on, or give them an outrageous estimate to repair their bikes.

[petejw]

I became an apprentice mechanic after i left school, as soon as i completed my trade, i got out, i got to the stage where i hated working on anything, cars and bikes. Its only been the start of the year when i got my xs that ive got back into and enjoying tinkering on the bike. Tho I did service my vehicles when they needed it.
How things have changed in the past 15 yrs, my car doesnt even have a dipstick 4 the auto transmission. I was taught from the old school, carbies instead of fuel injectors, points instead of electronic injection etc.

pete

[sixtysix]

I love to take stuff apart! I like putting it back together, sometimes!

Does this count?

[Parr8hed]

Almost a mech. I am an RN in an ER so I just work on people instead of cars! I do all of the work on my XS and most of the work on my ranger and expedition. The expedidition is tricky b/c of all of the sensors/electronic gizzmos. I don't have the training/tools/patience to do most stuff on it. Sometimes I wish that I would have gone to a school to learn about motorcycle repair instead of nursing school. Then the patients would not stink near as bad and they would never bitch and moan at you, try to kill your other patients, or come in drunk every other night.

[96x]

Been wrenchin on cars since i was 5 ,changing oil on our hobby stockcars.
went to the navy and was a boiler tech.
left the service and went to michigan career inst. and became a michigan state master mechanic....moved up to ASE certs.
and to this day work on other peoples crap......out of work right now...noone wants to pay for a good tech anymore.....trying to find something else to do....any suggestions?

[MartyA]

The way it's going, 96x, learn Chinese or Korean....

[GNEPIG]

The way it's going, 96x, learn Chinese or Korean

.. or would you like that super sized

[sixtysix]

Originally posted by 96x
Been wrenchin on cars since i was 5 ,changing oil on our hobby stockcars.
went to the navy and was a boiler tech.
left the service and went to michigan career inst. and became a michigan state master mechanic....moved up to ASE certs.
and to this day work on other peoples crap......out of work right now...no one wants to pay for a good tech anymore.....trying to find something else to do....any suggestions?

I don't mind paying for a good tech...problem is I pay the same wheather the tech is any good or not. Hope you find something soon. A freind of mine had the same problem and he started wrenching on bikes and has no given up cars for good, excellent mechanic!

[motoman]

Could move to western Colo. 96x....everyone else has!........you could even work here......no real cold, no humidty, lots of REAL blue sky, and best.....no rusty xs's!

[Street_Rat78]

My dad used to always tell me I was a Jack of all trades, but an Ace at none ... that pretty much sums it up. I work on my XS, my pick-up truck, SWMBO's car, and any of my friends who need help with mech work.

[Geezer]

I worked on Hondas and Yamahas from 1976 to around 1988 then I worked in a Kawie shop until around 1990. Most of the shops I worked for would take in bikes of all makes and I also worked for a couple indendant shops for a few more years unil around 1995.

I work on computers mostly these days and my electrical parts biz on the side.

Geezer

[mn2346]

I have only been on the automotive business for a year total.

When I was young (not that I'm that old now) i thought that academic studies were not for me (too much theory no realworld stuff) so decided to make my living as mechanic. While in school I realised that I had reached the other end of the world (no theory at all). Great.

So after graduating as a mechanic I continued to "upgrade" the theory part, mostly due to terrific math teacher coaching. During the Bsc. studies we are required to have about a year worth of on the job training which I did on a repair shop working on anything from small Nissans to big trucks (60 metric ton types...).

After completing the Bsc. I have not worked on any bike or car that is not my family owned.
Why ruin a perfectly good hobby by making it as a profession?

-M

[Parr8hed]

mn 2346 I love that saying at the end,

Why ruin a perfectly good hobby by making it as a profession?

I may have to use that from time to time. I feel like that with alot of things!!

[mro]

Mech Tech?

Don't consider myself a mechanic, but have been in the sales/service/repair business for 24 years. We work on everything from small commercial vacuums to industrial sweepers/scrubbers. Don't turn a wrench unless we get behind or a problem needs to be resolved.

Most of the stuff we sell/service use 4 cylinder industrial engines, gas/LPG/diesel (same as most forklifts)

Side hobby used to be PC's. There so cheep now it don’t pay except the occasional small network job.

First real business was cabinet shop I started out in Florida back in the 70"s.

Does get old, but like working on old stuff like the XS and seeing it humm after. (course have to stop riding it long enough to do any work )


mro

[GNEPIG]

.. i grew up in a junk yard, does that count?