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Dan's online motorcycle repair course (1999-2020)
- jelliclesfarm 6y agoI 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 http://www.dansmc.com/china_bikes.htm .. I remember when I arrived here to the states many years ago and all I knew was enfield and fury from India. Asian bikes were called ‘rice bikes’ ..and at least in the east coast, there was a certain derisiveness towards anything that wasn’t a Harley. Indian bikes were neither here nor there but were rice bikes anyways. Eta2: I agree with the sentiment. it’s the same with cameras. I remember a cheap Chinese TLR called Seagull. Used the same medium frame film and was just a cheaper cheaper version of Rollei or Hasselblad. You get what you pay for.
- annoyingnoob 6y agoFor big jobs involving fasteners you can use a torque multiplier, no special muscles required. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=torque+multiplier https://www.amazon.com/s?k=torque+multiplier
- tvb12 6y agoI highly recommend an impact wrench if you can afford one.
- jelliclesfarm 6y agoYes..that’s a great tool!
- jelliclesfarm 6y agoThanks.
- nicbou 6y agoThere 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://nicolasbouliane.com/blog/v-strom-650-heated-grips https://nicolasbouliane.com/blog/v-strom-650-heated-grips Knowledge is power, and it's dirt-cheap to mass produce. I wish more people casually documented how they repair things. I think adding a gendered twist to it would be great too. We shouldn't deprive an entire gender from the satisfaction of fixing things with their own hands. It's too good an experience to pass on. I seriously hope you get started on that.
- jelliclesfarm 6y agoCurrently 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.
- pengaru 6y ago> 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.
- ehnto 6y ago> 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.
- 6y ago
- ehnto 6y agoJapanese 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.
- second--shift 6y agoI love retro pages like this. Also, a fan of motorcycles and enjoying the intersection between the two. I was doing some work on linux metrics and was also reviewing (http://sebastien.godard.pagesperso-orange.fr/tutorial.html http://sebastien.godard.pagesperso-orange.fr/tutorial.html), another cute retro page. It's rare to see two interesting 90s-style pages in one day. Of note, both display lots of valuable content in an easy-to-access way, load faster than anything Web 3.0, and no js. I feel like we lost some lessons along the way to here.
- hakcermani 6y agoAnother retro one, but for bicycles! ... https://www.sheldonbrown.com https://www.sheldonbrown.com
- dvtrn 6y agoThe phrase “everything I learned about x I learned from n” is probably kitsch and hackneyed, but in the case of bicycle maintenance, Sheldon Brown and his website, it’s absolutely the case for me.
- fiftyacorn 6y agoSheldon's is a classic especially on older bikes or specialist parts like hub gears. Is it still maintained since Sheldon died?
- bloudermilk 6y agoYes, there is someone (a meat space friend, I believe) who keeps the site up and running and even adds new content from time to time.
- fiftyacorn 6y agoI wonder how bike maintenance will change with ebikes and electric shifting
- annoyingnoob 6y agoI 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.
- Werewolf255 6y agoThe religious portion was the most beautifully hysterical part of the site though. I clicked the top link thinking the domain was moving only to find its availability was about to be limited by my own mortality.
- inquirerofsorts 6y ago> 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.
- benignslime 6y agoTry being a little less forthcoming, you might share more.
- annoyingnoob 6y agoI didn't say that I hold it against him or that I was offended. Just that it makes me uncomfortable. There are at least 3 references to religion in the first 3rd of the repair course page, including 'The Ultimate Shop Manual' link. Dan's ultimate shop manual won't tell you anything about motorcycles or motorcycle repair and does not belong in the middle of a 'repair course'. I like HN for interesting technical info like Dan has here. But I'm not here for religion.
- chronolitus 6y ago
- brohee 6y agoThe part on "Phillips JIS screws" is just wrong http://www.dansmc.com/jis_screw.htm 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...
- kube-system 6y agoWell 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 "Expert" parts person has no idea what you are talking about.
- annoyingnoob 6y agoAs an American, the Phillips driver that I touched up with a metal file works perfectly for JIS screws. I still call it a Phillips. https://blogs.loc.gov/families/2020/09/what-does-american-ingenuity-mean-to-you/ https://blogs.loc.gov/families/2020/09/what-does-american-in...
- dharmab 6y agoIn 2020, most people who wrench on Japanese bikes and cars know exactly what a JIS screwdriver is and buy the $11 one on Amazon.
- kube-system 6y agoI doubt that, based on the condition of all of the screws on Japanese bikes I’ve owned. Either way, only a couple percent of people in the US even own a Japanese motorcycle. A fraction of that work on them, and a fraction of them use the right tools.
- motohagiography 6y agoSuch a pleasure to read this, thank you for posting. Motorcyclists and hotrodders were OG hackers. Not so much a gentleman, but more of a yeoman scientist. You have to be a bit of a lunatic to ride motorcycles, a noble, heroic, and glorious lunatic. Even with modern engineering, a working bike is still only a temporary equilibrium.
- bmj 6y agoTake a look at Matthew Crawford's latest book, Why We Drive, for a deeper dive into the "hacker" side of the automotive world.
- zw123456 6y agoBut really, what is motorcycle repair without the Zen? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_... (actually, cool site, TY for the link)
- buggythebug 6y agoIt's motorcycle repair without bs
- hungryforcodes 6y agoBut without any of the philosophy.
- HoveringOrb 6y agoI believe he said that.
- hungryforcodes 6y agoI was actually responding to the comment after that one, having missed it, for some reason. So yeah it’s in the thread, true.
- zw123456 6y agoAhhh, OK fair enough. I was just joking around:)
- probably_wrong 6y agoI thought the same. Hopefully this time I can finally learn how to repair a motorcycle instead of the elusiveness of "quality" as a philosophical concept.
- m1keil 6y agoWow! The closest thingb like this for cars would be ChrisFix on YouTube.
- jeffreyrogers 6y agoThe videos on this site are pretty good too: http://howacarworks.com/ http://howacarworks.com/. I think I payed $25 for access and it was worth it.
- m1keil 6y agoThank you!
- abruzzi 6y agonot online, but check out what is usually just called the idiots guide. Specifically "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step by Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot". Everything I know about auto mechanics I learned from that book. Like this site, it is sprinkled with personality and anecdotes (of a Santa Fe hippie in this case), but as a learning resources it is excellent.
- gbraad 6y agoWell, yeah ... National debate, huh http://www.dansmc.com/dc_switches.htm http://www.dansmc.com/dc_switches.htm
- Itsdijital 6y agoMan 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 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 today.
- lallysingh 6y ago+1 to msgroup.
- dfee 6y agoHave never seen this. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, the links seem broken (404). Stay safe out there.
- kiliantics 6y agoI started out with an older bike last year and this site was invaluable for me in getting it fixed and running. All the info is still so good! A more comprehensive site, but specifically for airheads, which I subsequently got, is bmwmotorcycletech.info
- wavefunction 6y agoAny advice on sites to find old motorcycles for purchase? I know Craigslist might be good but I am always happy to take the advice of knowledgeable strangers.
- IgorPartola 6y agoFacebook Marketplace is the only reason I still have a Facebook account. It tends to have more realistic prices and is easier to use than CL in my experience.
- dharmab 6y agoAri Henning makes some great motorcycle repair videos. His current show is The Shop Manual on RevZilla. Before that, he hosted MC Garage on Motorcyclist Magazine.
- sreejithr 6y agoI miss the wacky elements of yesteryear retro websites. Custom mouse pointers, tiled backgrounds etc. Nowadays its mostly white webpages with similar looking buttons and elements. I guess uniformity makes it easy for users to use web-apps. But I still miss the creativity of retro websites.
- op03 6y agoNot utility. Conformity. People do what people around them do. The larger the network gets the more the chimps do what the majority of chimps do - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformity https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformity You got to keep the Japanese and Indians isolated to produce sushi and kebabs, kimonos and sarees cause if you put them all in the same room they just produce unimaginative grey shit or what is technically called the zuckerbergization of the world
- rrdharan 6y agoThe sheer irony of a white person making this comment and thinking it’s clever. The unimaginative grey shit comes from you, asshole.
- ejanus 6y agoI would like to see something like this for petrol engine power generators. I noticed in my community we have a lot of people in generator repair business but they are not grounded and no reference material to consult when they face new issues.
- mrmonkeyman 6y agoThe religious fanatism of Americans always gets to me. Even a damn motorcycle repair site starts with a bible quote.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- names_are_hard 6y agoI've run across this site in the past while searching for solutions to my bike troubles. In addition to the motorcycle stuff, his site is filled with religion, politics, and miscellaneous ramblings of an old-timer. Like this page[0], where he talks about this new-fangled thing called CSS which the so-called experts are using these days. > Several college students, majoring in web design, have kindly offered to "Update" the site to a more modern look. The offers are generous and sincerely meant to help, so I always go and look at the more modern examples they give of their work. Slow loading, lots of Adobe Flash. Strange, to say the least, site navigation. Like this " ≡ " symbol called, believe it or not, a Hamburger Button. > You just can't make this stuff up. [0]http://dansmc.com/best_viewed_with.htm http://dansmc.com/best_viewed_with.htm
- names_are_hard 6y agoMore entertainment: > I code everything I put up in NotePad. I test in Pale Moon, Firefox, Internet Explorer and sometimes Opera and Chrome. I look at some of these "Modern" web sites filled with ads up and down the sides and across the top... Yuck! I understand the desire to get Revenue from your site and all, but really, things have gotten out of hand. http://dansmc.com/best_viewed_with.htm http://dansmc.com/best_viewed_with.htm > You know, all this could help with the yearly Flu and other diseases. I particularly like the Social Distancing. Keeps all these creepy, irritating people at six feet away. What's not to like? Not to mention leaving no finger prints and no drones or cameras taking your picture, tracking who you are, and where you go. That could be handy if you happen to walk on dry sand or want a haircut or play tennis. Again, what's not to like? Nitrile gloves are reusable too. Wash your hands, a bit of hand sanitizer, pull them off and you are good to go to reuse them for the next trip to town. http://www.dansmc.com/why7.htm#label http://www.dansmc.com/why7.htm#label
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- thomasfl 6y agoIs there something similar for bicycles? The type with no pedals and no type of engine.
- westmeal 6y agoHow is it a bicycle if there aren't any pedals?
- jfoucher 6y agoThis is definitely the best site about motorcycle repair and maintenance I was able to find when resurrecting my old Honda. His style and instructions are clear and to the point, and he takes care to make sure you can do everything with regular tools, even going so far as to show you how to build special tools you might need for your bike. I actually downloaded the whole site with wget out of fear it might go missing some day... An absolutely essential website if you have a bike that is no longer under manufacturer's warranty.
- geek_at 6y agoalso this website is now old enough to drink
- atn89 6y agolmao.. yeah it's like a fine wine, great content.
- ChuckNorris89 6y agoIn the US. In the EU this website could have started drinking a long time ago ;)
- MrsPeaches 6y agoI read that differntly to I how it think it was intended and it reminded me of this Hitchhicker's Guide classic: Ford - “It's unpleasantly like being drunk." Arthur- "What's so unpleasant about being drunk?" Ford - "You ask a glass of water.”
- toyg 6y agoOld internet is best internet.
- oigursh 6y agoI didn't click anything for a few seconds because my brain was waiting for GDPR, pop-ups, ads and notification boxes. It's quite refreshing to have an old-school website for a change.
- refurb 6y agoThis is the biggest thing I missed moving to SF and not having a garage or even a driveway. In my prior place I had a garage and could do all my maintenance and repairs myself. Yes, it would probably be worthwhile having a mechanic do it, but there is something very zen about working on your own vehicles. Plus, you know it's done right. I have done a few brake jobs on cars that parked on the street in SF, but that gets to be a pain in the butt. There are garages you can rent down in the South Bay which gives you access to a lift and a ton of tools (pneumatic tools too!), but I think most of them went under.
- hajderr 6y agoReally! It's like a recommendation yet it's not. Just looking to get my first MC! How did this popup in my feed? :D
- ada1981 6y agoThis is an awesome site. It’s also reminding me of one of my best friends who builds custom choppers. He was just in a gnarly motor bike accident and is lucky to be alive. Fused spine, deformed body, lost a finger. Still walking somehow but can’t work and is worried he may never be able to again. Just to say, motorcycles are a lot like skydiving. If you are around them enough either you or someone close to you gets in a serious accident. Make sure to take time to get proper training, life / health insurance, plan your estate / will, etc. to make sure if something happens you have security in place.
- tmountain 6y agoThis is accurate. I rode a bike for 8 years but after a while the risk got to me, and I stopped. A close friend's brother was killed as he "T-boned" a woman pulling out of a supermarket plaza without looking for oncoming traffic (her fault, he had 2 kids, he died on impact). A second friend was recently severely injured, as a van hit him while violating the rules at an intersection. He had to have his leg amputated. I love bikes a lot (it's a family tradition), but at the end of the day, it's not worth it for me. Of course, this is a personal decisions, and everyone should do as they wish. Just be careful and do your best to keep the rubber side down.
- ProAm 6y agoTo each their own. Everyone gets their own rodeo here on earth and can live it exactly how they want to.
- ada1981 6y agoThis is exactly true. And part of how I choose to live my own rodeo is sharing information that may keep people around longer and help them better articulate their values. Plan for adventure.
- IgorPartola 6y agoCheck out this video for a pretty honest and accurate evaluation of how dangerous motorcycles are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DZk0lzR3Wc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DZk0lzR3Wc
- IgorPartola 6y agoI would also highly recommend the MC Garage series on YouTube. It won't go into specific bikes, but is such a good general resource on how to do most maintenance jobs. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIkhe-bQcoDvIb1vDJmU2yta55pczpsW https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIkhe-bQcoDvIb1vDJmU...
- paulchap 6y agoFor some reason, this reminds me of https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2howud https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2howud