"How to" section in mechanics forum?

[Katman]

Reading stupid "how to" threads on the interweb written by god knows who (usually a computer geek idiot) is like the blind leading the blind at times.

Cheers.

[bogan]

yeh, kb is probably not the best site to be getting how to's from, not many people write them here, and less would peer review. We have a lot of how-tos on the hawk/bros forum, which is specialised enough that if someone posts stupid shit, they will be schooled pretty quickly, and 99% of the time without a too!

[BAD DAD]

Good stuff Dynamyte9585. I recently saved myself about $500 on some job on my wife's car. No mention of the problem in any manual, someone on another forum had had the same problem and worked out a solution. Others had followed his lead and refined the instructions slightly. Dumass me had a go and bingo job done quite easily. Turned out that my truck developed the same prob not long after and so it was an easy fix by then. Long live amateur mechanics and their forums..

[SS90]

Good stuff Dynamyte9585. I recently saved myself about $500 on some job on my wife's car. No mention of the problem in any manual, someone on another forum had had the same problem and worked out a solution. Others had followed his lead and refined the instructions slightly. Dumass me had a go and bingo job done quite easily. Turned out that my truck developed the same prob not long after and so it was an easy fix by then. Long live amateur mechanics and their forums..

Interesting.

There are times when people on this forum write some interesting, factual stuuf, that they have done themselves...that is fine, however, the thing that really urks me is the people that simply post something they have read on the internerd, and have not ever done themselves... to an experienced mechanic, you can spot these guys (they usually refer to every job as "easy").

The average guy that is asking for help, is unable to identify this, and quite often goes ahead blindly, and usually ends up enduring more expense and or inconvenience as a result.

I don't have anything against guys doing things themselves, and I am willing to offer advise from my experience, I just caution everyone against believing everything you read on the web...... the best place to learn is plain old fashioned books..... they have things called "editors" that check facts, figures, and sources........ the good old internet does not!

As you where.

[dynamite9585]

easy is a relitive term.
if i asked you about valve clearances you would probably say that easy just takes time.
to me it would be a hell of a mission!

[dipshit]

We have a lot of how-tos on the hawk/bros forum, which is specialised enough that if someone posts stupid shit, they will be schooled pretty quickly

Bike specific forums can be a good source of information and useful tips... but at the same time you can still get bad advice if you take everything you read as gospel.

Like a "how to" on a GSX-R forum I am on had one four doing a spark plug change. All pretty basic stuff yet it was advised to use anti-seize compound on the new plug threads.!

Now, both NGK, Denso and the like advise against using anti-seize compound on the threads as they are plated so there is no steel to aluminium contact occurring in the first place, plus the lubricant will throw the torque settings out the window and you will be over tightening them if you just follow the recommended torque specs.

But most people simply not knowing any better take it as gospel and think it is the proper way to do it. They then themselves recommend to other people to use the anti-seize compound on plugs... simply because they read it somewhere on an internet forum.

[tri boy]

Anti seize works. Simple as that.
NGK engineers never have to remove 10yr old spark plugs from old trail bikes that had no antiseize.
Once again you show "on line mechanical knowledge".

[dipshit]

Anti seize works. Simple as that.
NGK engineers never have to remove 10yr old spark plugs from old trail bikes that had no antiseize..

This is why I don't like bush mechanics working on my bikes.

[tri boy]

This is why I don't like bush mechanics working on my bikes.

Then call the NGK engineers next time you screw something up.
Ask Shaun Harris if I'm a bush mechanic mother fucker.

[YellowDog]

i am a member of a Tiger 1050 specific forum and I must say that the How to section is invaluable.

Whilst I do have a manual, seeing someone else put up their experiences and the gotchs you might face is a real big plus.

Some of the guys are so proud of their work that they put up step by step photos, which are far more informative than the manual can ever be.

[SS90]

i am a member of a Tiger 1050 specific forum and I must say that the How to section is invaluable.

Whilst I do have a manual, seeing someone else put up their experiences and the gotchs you might face is a real big plus.

Some of the guys are so proud of their work that they put up step by step photos, which are far more informative than the manual can ever be.

My experience is that many of the "how to" things on model specific bikes can be a help for someone who for one reason or another do the job themselves, however, I hasten to add that many of the time, the jobs that they are doing take extraordinary amounts of time ( not including photo work), and I have never heard of anyone who recorded exactly how long a job took....... It's always " it took about 3 hours" and so on....... You have a massive advantage with doing things at home, pressure wise, as well as no customer moaning about time, or boss in your ear about profit errosion..... generally speaking none of the guys really work on other bikes, so it could be said that many of the things they speak of are quite specialized, but I have seen so many things that are just incorrect written on this and other websites, that if followed, lead to wasted time and money.

Again, workshop manual and experience are the answers.

[YellowDog]

My experience is that many of the "how to" things on model specific bikes can be a help for someone who for one reason or another do the job themselves, however, I hasten to add that many of the time, the jobs that they are doing take extraordinary amounts of time ( not including photo work), and I have never heard of anyone who recorded exactly how long a job took....... It's always " it took about 3 hours" and so on....... You have a massive advantage with doing things at home, pressure wise, as well as no customer moaning about time, or boss in your ear about profit errosion..... generally speaking none of the guys really work on other bikes, so it could be said that many of the things they speak of are quite specialized, but I have seen so many things that are just incorrect written on this and other websites, that if followed, lead to wasted time and money.

Again, workshop manual and experience are the answers.

Fair comment. From my point of view, it has been for things like fitting accessories and changing the air/oil filter.

I guess you would need a specialist How to section for every model, which would be a complete nightmare.

[Mental Trousers]

Anti seize works. Simple as that.
NGK engineers never have to remove 10yr old spark plugs from old trail bikes that had no antiseize..

This is why I don't like bush mechanics working on my bikes.

That bush mechanic as you call him has over 20 years in the bike industry, mostly on the tools fixing the fuck ups of people who know better.

Not only did he build my race bike but he's spannered for plenty of racers over the years, including Shaun.

If tri boy says something about bike engines I listen.

Back to the point of this thread, there's a wiki on this site for this sort of thing. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/wiki/Main_Page

[SS90]

Yes, he is actually quite right, a small amoount of anti seize on a plug thread is a good idea (actually grease is ok), but just a light smear, as too much can cause a problem for sure.

I can't think of any plug I have put in the last 15 years that I have not done it... as has been said, try taking a plug out that has been in for a few winters, the sports bikes are really bad, of the drain hole for water get blocked (all the time) the plug recesses fill up with water, and many times seize the plug in the head solid.

The manufactures say not too, but they also recommend replacing them every week so they sell more plugs!

[Gibbo89]

possible suggestion?

what about like 'finding oil filter' type thing?

there was a thread here where a fella couldn't find his oil filter on a 250 hornet.

i assume most hondas have the filter in the same spot, so a thread for honda and then a sub thread regarding 'basic' things like locating oil filters and the do's and donts regarding them.