Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

dansmc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 101 posts

Re: Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

#31

Post by dfee »

Itsdijital wrote: post #24

Man I am so happy to see this. I got an old honda motorcyle about 15 year ago and this site was instrumental in helping me develop skills to fix it, and ultimately become a fully fledged shade-tree mechanic. Also I'd like to add https://www.msgroup.org , another ancient website packed with excellent riding safety tips. These two sites pretty much got me rebuilding, repairs, and riding motorcycles. Still goldmines tod…

Have never seen this. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, the links seem broken (404).

Stay safe out there.

Re: Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

#32

Post by inquirerofsorts »

annoyingnoob wrote: post #6

I like the site and it looks like it has lots of useful information. The evangelism is uncomfortable for me, does not pertain to motorcycle repair.

> evangelism

Bizarre take, it's one sentence at the top of his page of motorcycle knowledge. The average HN comment wanks on with more far useless fluff in an attempt to look smart.

Is it really that hard to accept other people holding different views? And does it really warrant a comment about how it makes you feel uncomfortable despite all the work that has been freely provided for your benefit?

I'm a stout atheist and grew up fixing a dozen or so bikes mainly learning from this site and online manuals. I owe Dan an invaluable amount and couldn't care less about his beliefs.

Try being a bit more inclusive in life, you might learn something.

Re: Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

#33

Post by ehnto »

jelliclesfarm wrote: post #2

I have always wanted to do something like this for tractors: use, maintainance and repairs. A lot of women drive tractors and still need a guy around like a spare set of muscles. I feel like I can’t tackle this until I have a set of adapters or levers or some such hack to deal with our obvious gender handicap. This is going to be my winter 2020-21 project. Thanks. ETA: heh .. http://www.dansmc.com/china_bikes.htm ..…

Japanese manufacturers have had that stigma in Australia too, it's just a way for people to feel better about themselves. I think any decent enthusiast would be able to see past that and appreciate the bikes for what they are.

"The Metrics" is another term for I have heard for them.

Re: Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

#34

Post by ehnto »

pengaru wrote: post #19
jelliclesfarm wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Currently I am dealing with tractors and PTOs. I agree that.. Mechanically for motorcycles and cars, everyone who owns a wheeled vehicle should be able to fix things and at least know how. We shouldnt have to use brawn when physics should do.

> We shouldnt have to use brawn when physics should do. There's nothing inherent about this space requiring manly strength, it just takes up a lot of slack when everything else is lacking - from tools to knowledge. The trained professionals don't rely on brawn to perform repairs properly.

> The trained professionals don't rely on brawn to perform repairs properly.

If it feels like it should be easier then there is probably a tool for it. We love making tools.

It's just some of the best for heavy lifting are a bit out of reach for enthusiasts, like a proper two post lift.

Re: Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

#35

Post by pengaru »

ehnto wrote: post #34
pengaru wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We shouldnt have to use brawn when physics should do. There's nothing inherent about this space requiring manly strength, it just takes up a lot of slack when everything else is lacking - from tools to knowledge. The trained professionals don't rely on brawn to perform repairs properly.

> The trained professionals don't rely on brawn to perform repairs properly. If it feels like it should be easier then there is probably a tool for it. We love making tools. It's just some of the best for heavy lifting are a bit out of reach for enthusiasts, like a proper two post lift.

FWIW I've done a lot of lifting for engine and trans services with nothing more than ratchet straps or a come-along hanging from either an overhead joist or I-beam, or a constructed A-frame when the former were unavailable.

Honestly two post lifts are more just a space and time saver for quick service shops and kind of suck. Back when I worked at a muffler+brake shop it was the two post lifts that did the most damage to vehicles due to poorly located pads or doors hitting the posts, and put the mechanics at the most risk. And when you use them to lift something lopsided like a FWD vehicle off its K member for major service, it becomes so imbalanced the damn car is liable to fall off. Not a fan at all. But they conferred good density to fit more bays in the shop. It's a shit compromise from a mechanic's perspective.

Re: Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

#36

Post by benignslime »

inquirerofsorts wrote: post #32
annoyingnoob wrote: post #6

I like the site and it looks like it has lots of useful information. The evangelism is uncomfortable for me, does not pertain to motorcycle repair.

> evangelism Bizarre take, it's one sentence at the top of his page of motorcycle knowledge. The average HN comment wanks on with more far useless fluff in an attempt to look smart. Is it really that hard to accept other people holding different views? And does it really warrant a comment about how it makes you feel uncomfortable despite all the work that has been freely provided for your benefit? I'm a stout atheist…

Try being a little less forthcoming, you might share more.

Re: Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

#38

Post by stef25 »

nicbou wrote: post #4
jelliclesfarm wrote: post #2

I have always wanted to do something like this for tractors: use, maintainance and repairs. A lot of women drive tractors and still need a guy around like a spare set of muscles. I feel like I can’t tackle this until I have a set of adapters or levers or some such hack to deal with our obvious gender handicap. This is going to be my winter 2020-21 project. Thanks. ETA: heh .. http://www.dansmc.com/china_bikes.htm ..…

There is a lot of room for better help for mechanics. Most of it is distributed as long-winded YouTube videos, and it's the wrong medium. Everything else is lost in the noise on various forums. I'd love something like ifixit for other fields and I can't possibly be alone. I want answers that aren't hidden in a 30 minute 480p video of a mumbling dad. Here's an example of what I mean, since I just finished it: https://…

> I wish more people casually documented how they repair things.

The pages below are the perfect example of that for the BMW F650 series of bikes.

http://faq.f650.com/main.html

These technical guides (I think) are mainly made up of forum (http://f650.com/forum/forum) comments that were pasted in to properly organized documents. This together with the Haynes guides (https://haynes.com/en-us/motorcycle-manuals/bmw) are an invaluable resource.

Re: Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

#39

Post by dharmab »

kube-system wrote: post #10
brohee wrote: post #8

The part on "Phillips JIS screws" is just wrong http://www.dansmc.com/jis_screw.htm "There are different types of Phillips head screwdrivers around but only one type fits JIS screws" Philips becoming synonymous with cruciform in some circles really lead to the destruction of many perfectly good screws...

Well yeah, that's kind of his point. I think he's using the right words for his audience. People who already knew that there were multiple types of cruciform bits wouldn't need the article. For the people (Americans) who don't, they know them as phillips bits. Literally everyone in America calls them phillips bits, even most who are in the trades: > Don't be surprised, when you ask for a JIS screwdriver, if the "Expe…

In 2020, most people who wrench on Japanese bikes and cars know exactly what a JIS screwdriver is and buy the $11 one on Amazon.

Re: Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)

#40

Post by h2odragon »

pengaru wrote: post #19
jelliclesfarm wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Currently I am dealing with tractors and PTOs. I agree that.. Mechanically for motorcycles and cars, everyone who owns a wheeled vehicle should be able to fix things and at least know how. We shouldnt have to use brawn when physics should do.

> We shouldnt have to use brawn when physics should do. There's nothing inherent about this space requiring manly strength, it just takes up a lot of slack when everything else is lacking - from tools to knowledge. The trained professionals don't rely on brawn to perform repairs properly.

> professionals don't rely on brawn to perform repairs properly

In point of fact I have recently had a mechanic lament to me that he was no longer strong enough to work on suspensions anymore. Professionally, time == money, and where something like a come-along pulling a torque wrench can work, it's not viable in the real world of a busy shop. At home, your own car, hobby, fine; but AFAIK that cost him his job.

I've been privileged to have spent a lot of time with people who kept construction and farm machinery operating as part of their living; and sheer brawn is absolutely so large a benefit in those tasks, as to almost be a requirement.

Post reply on HN