Flatmates kid wants to work on bike, what can he do?

**skidMark** · 8th July 2009, 11:07

Well im off sick probably for another couple of days yet...

flatmates 7 year old boy is drooling all over my zxr i just got last night... its pretty tidy but does need some work... carbs are already clean etc etc...

anyway, he is on school holidays, and really wants to learn how to work on bikes...

now being 7 i figure after a day he will probably lose interest but anyway...

what can i give the young fella to do on it? i dont mind giving him bits to fix while im at work but i also dont want to come home and find my pistons all over the driveway lol...

any ideas on this one guys i mean i can teach him chain tension and stuff but be good to teach him to rebuild things as well, should i throw him the carbs, show him how to do one and say okay well have fun?

hes a very smart kid so shouldnt have problems with anything...

would rather get him doing mechanical than just cleaning it. hes already starting to ask dad for a bike, so we may yet get him a peewee 50 or something down the line...

Skid.

**Finn** · 8th July 2009, 11:59

Coincidence that you just got your new bike and that you are also sick?

**Laxi** · 8th July 2009, 12:00

aint you got any broken bits of bikes around? :slap: faarrk look who im talking to

**CookMySock** · 8th July 2009, 12:00

Nah, he's a bit young, bro. Good on ya for thinking that way though, it will be cool to see what you do with your own kids. Will they let you have kids?

Steve

**skidMark** · 8th July 2009, 12:03

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Nah, he's a bit young, bro. Good on ya for thinking that way though, it will be cool to see what you do with your own kids. Will they let you have kids?

Steve

Well they may let me, but i dont think even helen keller would want to breed with me

**ManDownUnder** · 8th July 2009, 12:07

Do something basic with him - take the front wheel off, check the brakes and put it back together... or the back wheel.

It'll be good for him to see how stuff works and doing the whole undo/redo he can have a guess at how it works, then you pull it to bits and see how it actually does work. Putting it back together proves he knows and then you take him for a SAFE wee ride at the end

**skidMark** · 8th July 2009, 12:16

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Do something basic with him - take the front wheel off, check the brakes and put it back together... or the back wheel.

It'll be good for him to see how stuff works and doing the whole undo/redo he can have a guess at how it works, then you pull it to bits and see how it actually does work. Putting it back together proves he knows and then you take him for a SAFE wee ride at the end

Yeah the mother (parents are split) is pedantic and controlling and wont even let the kid ride a pushbike yet so i doubt thatll happen, but he likes this cartoon called ben 10 so ill buy him some toys to do with that afterwards...

ill take ya advice on the front wheel etc idea, sounds like a good plan, cheers dude!

**Ixion** · 8th July 2009, 12:19

Lubing cables. Oiling chain.

Tedious and rather messy jobs.

If he completes them and is still interested he's probably a keeper.

And no real risk of stuff ups causing damage or injury.

My father had me hand scraping white metal bearings when I was about seven. Shit that was boring. And then I got bollocked for getting myself covered in blue.

**javawocky** · 8th July 2009, 12:46

clean the air filter
change the oil
check the plugs
check the battery levels

if he is still interested in the bike after that, toss him the service manual and tell him to have the valve clearances done by next week.

(look who is talking, I don't even own a plug spana

- now where did I put that dealership number...)

**R6_kid:Me** · 8th July 2009, 12:53

Give him some matches and some kerosene!

**mouldy** · 8th July 2009, 14:07

Originally Posted by R6_kid

Give him some matches and some kerosene!

Its not a shovelhead.

**p.dath** · 8th July 2009, 14:25

At 7 I would only let him work on it with you.

I tend to get my kids to help me clean the bike and grease the chain.

**skidMark** · 8th July 2009, 14:36

Well after 2 hours he know knows...

- taking the seat off and on and how you have to line up the hook etc...

- How to use a ratchet to take the tank and fairings off.

- lubing a chain.

- how carb floats work

i get a blank look when trying to explain how an engine actually works, so we will stick with his answer to me asking if he knows how one works with

"you turn the key and it goes"

i suppose that will suffice unless he buys a harley...

he has semi lost interest, but hes run off to watch tv for a bit because his favourite show is on lol

ahh well ill make a biker of him yet...

**skidMark** · 8th July 2009, 14:39

Originally Posted by javawocky

clean the air filter
change the oil
check the plugs
check the battery levels

if he is still interested in the bike after that, toss him the service manual and tell him to have the valve clearances done by next week.

I think thats how red baron train thier mechanics...