Mechanic or Technician

[slofox]

Phoned in for a booking to have the 30,000k service done (Shit! 30,000km and its still under warranty...didn't think I was gonna ride it quite that much...)

Seems Boyds don't have "mechanics" any more. They have "technicians"...just as well I found out before I insulted someone...

[vifferman]

Semantics (or "Sementics" if they're wankers). It sounds fancier, but means the same thing.
Although not according to wikipedia: Mechanic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanic) vs. Technician (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technician)

A mechanic is a craftsman who uses tools to repair machinery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machinery)

A technician is generally someone in a technological (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology) field who has a relatively practical understanding of the general theoretical principles of that field, e.g., as compared to an engineer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineer) in that field. They are generally much more versed in technique (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/technique) compared to the average layman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layman), or even the professional (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional) in that field.

Maybe they think that using a 'fancier title' will help to justify what may sometimes seem like exorbitant charges.

[Mully]

Just refer to them as "grease monkey".

And laugh maniacally when you do it....

[peasea]

Just refer to them as "grease monkey".

And laugh maniacally when you do it....

A great way to get sand in your oil tank.

[AllanB]

The technician will plug your bike into the computer and the computer will him if there are any problems. If there are he will then enlist the aid of a Mechanic to correct them ...............

Oh and the chick with the big boobs - she's there to distract you as they take your credit card :bleh:

[Forest]

There is overlap between the groups, but in a nutshell:

Engineers design stuff.

Mechanics fabricate and repair stuff.

Technicians remove faulty stuff and install replacement parts (usually the wrong part).

[oldrider]

A rose by any other name is but a rose! :cool:

On the other hand, a rose by any other name may cost you more! :shifty:

[avgas]

They say Technician because no one wants their bike fixed by an "apprentice".

[Brian d marge]

I be one of them technician people types

Engineers ,,, Crap at parties ,,,best left on own thinking about stuff that will never work

Mechanics lots of experience , doesn't know why ,,,, Awesome parties

Technicians ,,,best of both worlds ,,,not paid enough ,,,,,, passed out at parties


Stephen

[Leviticus]

Oh and the chick with the big boobs - she's there to distract you as they take your credit card :bleh:

Every time i get caught out by that, and i still go back every single day:eek:

[Motu]

A rose by any other name is but a rose!



But what if that rose is grafted onto an orchid? I am qualified as an automotive engineer...but mechanics have very seldom been called such.However,now as well as knowing how engines,gearboxes,window winders and windscreen wipers work,I now have a knowledge of complex electronics and their interaction to the motor vehicle.I still consider myself a mechanic - but I think there is a valid point in differentiating between someone who was trained to repair a Humber 80,and someone who was trained to diagnose and repair an Evo X.

[peasea]

A rose by any other name is but a rose! :cool:

On the other hand, a rose by any other name may cost you more! :shifty:

Especially in February.

[peasea]

But what if that rose is grafted onto an orchid? I am qualified as an automotive engineer...but mechanics have very seldom been called such.However,now as well as knowing how engines,gearboxes,window winders and windscreen wipers work,I now have a knowledge of complex electronics and their interaction to the motor vehicle.I still consider myself a mechanic - but I think there is a valid point in differentiating between someone who was trained to repair a Humber 80,and someone who was trained to diagnose and repair an Evo X.

What about someone old enough to have had experience on both pushrod/carb'd engined vehicles as well as OHC/EFI units?

Fuck, I'm oooold.

[slofox]

... but I think there is a valid point in differentiating between someone who was trained to repair a Humber 80,and someone who was trained to diagnose and repair an Evo X.

Good point. Which is precisely why I don't "do" much mechanicing on modern day vehicles...can't even find the bloody spark plugs any more...prolly made worse by liking V Twin and Flat 6 engines...

[huff3r]

Good point. Which is precisely why I don't "do" much mechanicing on modern day vehicles...can't even find the bloody spark plugs any more...prolly made worse by liking V Twin and Flat 6 engines...

Indeed, even my flat fours a pain... remove battery and airbox, jack engine up etc...

[oldrider]

But what if that rose is grafted onto an orchid? I am qualified as an automotive engineer...but mechanics have very seldom been called such.However,now as well as knowing how engines,gearboxes,window winders and windscreen wipers work,I now have a knowledge of complex electronics and their interaction to the motor vehicle.I still consider myself a mechanic - but I think there is a valid point in differentiating between someone who was trained to repair a Humber 80,and someone who was trained to diagnose and repair an Evo X.

True!

Management and control systems are becoming more and more complex all the time, it is the competence behind the label (title) that the customer has to be aware of these days.

I can't do all my own bike maintenance these days, mainly because I haven't got the tools and technical equipment to do it, I do have to find an orchid! :yes:

[AllanB]

I can't do all my own bike maintenance these days, mainly because I haven't got the tools and technical equipment to do it, I do have to find an orchid! :yes:

On the bright side most modern bikes don't really get anything done other than oil/filter changes and a few look-sees (air filter, plugs) until the valves need checking at 20-something-thousand kms.

Good value these new engines.

It also means less income for the workshop for the poor bike shop selling them :no:

[peasea]

On the bright side most modern bikes don't really get anything done other than oil/filter changes and a few look-sees (air filter, plugs) until the valves need checking at 20-something-thousand kms.

Good value these new engines.

It also means less income for the workshop for the poor bike shop selling them :no:

Have to agree, the modern stuff is pretty reliable and that has a lot to do with the increase in bikes/bikers on the road. Usually, if something does go wrong, it'll be a black box, bolt in and bugger off scenario. Unlikely you'll drop your rods/pistons/crank all over the road like days of old.

For those who can read; they still print workshop manuals for modern motorcycles and if you have a few basic hand tools you can do a heap of maintenance in your own shed. It's a great way to get to know your machine, as well as savea few bucks. (You're gonna need those bucks for your ACC, bwahahaha!!!)

[Motu]

What about someone old enough to have had experience on both pushrod/carb'd engined vehicles as well as OHC/EFI units?

Fuck, I'm oooold.

I won't mention my experience on sidevalves.......

[peasea]

I won't mention my experience on sidevalves.......

Yeah, had some of that too. My second car (which a buddy of mine and I went halves in) was a very tidy 47 Mercury sedan, also had a 46 coupe, 46 sedan, 47 Jailbar and a 40 pickup. Then I discovered FE's, 332, 352, 390 etc., 2 Fairlanes, a 59 Galaxie, Custom 300's (3) a 60 Country Sedan...Then a 58 Chevy, MkIII Zephyr, 66 Pontiac Laurentian, Holdens, Falcons, an XW V8 Fairmont.........countless shitters....:eek:

OMG, I've owned heaps of cool cars. Where are they now?? My old bikes? Oh no....

They didn't have technicians back then, couldn't even spell the word. A computer was something NASA had and it was the size of a house!

[Brian d marge]

When I was learning and was being an arse ...... I was religated to the mighty


NSU Quickly


I poo poo your side valve

Though hand skills learn t on older motorbike ' I know Nowt about cars and so will it remain so )

prepare people a lot better for working on new motorcycles


I ll go first


How many hours scraping bearings !

I win

I lost count first !

Stephen

( now with blue balls ,,,,,,,,,)

[ready4whatever]

and a glazer is now a glass technician. The other day i heard of a tyre technician :laugh:

[Motu]

How many hours scraping bearings !
I win


We were taught the theory at Tech,and the mechanics I served my time under could do it - but I never scraped a bearing until I worked on compressors.Some of them were pretty old and had poured babbit bearings.I still have one of my father's bearing scrapers...just a gasket scraper now.

[Brian d marge]

We were taught the theory at Tech,and the mechanics I served my time under could do it - but I never scraped a bearing until I worked on compressors.Some of them were pretty old and had poured babbit bearings.I still have one of my father's bearing scrapers...just a gasket scraper now.

Mine to ..my grandfathers one

though I still use them a lot or adjusting things ,,,,,,,,,,:eek:

Stephen

[megageoff76]

How about the guys that work at Subway - Sandwich Artist.

[Forest]

and a glazer is now a glass technician. The other day i heard of a tyre technician :laugh:

Ever heard of a petroleum transfer technician?


That's the young guy at the service station who fills up your car.

[Motu]

What service station is that? I haven't had a petroleum transfer technician serve me for many years.....or am I the Petroleum Transfer Technician? Do they pay me for that?

[meowmix]

I was a Petroleum Transfer Technician for a brief period, but I preferred "Liquid Fuel Transfer Engineer", I guess thats where the difference between Engineer and Technician lies :whistle:
Caltex is meant to stll have them, just park up and look helpless :bleh:

[avgas]

I be one of them technician people types

Engineers ,,, Crap at parties ,,,best left on own thinking about stuff that will never work

Mechanics lots of experience , doesn't know why ,,,, Awesome parties

Technicians ,,,best of both worlds ,,,not paid enough ,,,,,, passed out at parties


Stephen
You forgot the best part. Most techs look like they never leave the party......some dont

[Brian d marge]

You forgot the best part. Most techs look like they never leave the party......some dont
Esp those who work from home :bleh:

Stephen

[kwaka_crasher]

Technician is a level above trade, not below, in terms of qualifications. The trouble is that in the never ending chase for a title commensurate with their perceived abilities, the lines have been blurred somewhat by employees by their incorrect use of titles and also by employers wanting to church up their staff titles for customer perceptions of added value.

[peasea]

Technician is a level above trade, not below, in terms of qualifications. The trouble is that in the never ending chase for a title commensurate with their perceived abilities, the lines have been blurred somewhat by employees by their incorrect use of titles and also by employers wanting to church up their staff titles for customer perceptions of added value.

You're not wrong. I'm an automotive machinist by trade but after a couple of fairly simple courses I was dubbed (and tagged) a technician. I even got some fancy certificates for the wall, dunno where they went though, never been good with paperwork. Weird that shit like that can get you a job though, even if you can't fix things.

[avgas]

Esp those who work from home :bleh:

Stephen

Oh god I just imagined you desk. Massive pile of Sapporo/Asahi with the 'current' one sitting on a "Yamanote Line" pass, as a coaster.
All covered in bearing grease.

[Brian d marge]

Oh god I just imagined you desk. Massive pile of Sapporo/Asahi with the 'current' one sitting on a "Yamanote Line" pass, as a coaster.
All covered in bearing grease.

you not far wrong
try an su carb and a cr shock

When I get home I'll take a photo of the mess

oh and it's strong seven chuu hi

Stephen

[Brian d marge]

I decided not to take photo as it might be incriminating

Stephen