What's the best way to learn mechanics

[ijason]

hello i have a real desire to work on cars, take things apart and work on motors im itching to start but.
im 36 years old i have and need my full-time job. next year i will get a house with a garage what can i do in the meantime to expand my knowledge ive been watching so many youtube videos on this stuff. is there any suggestions that you have for me cause some day id love to rebuild a whole engine and start doing timing belts stuff like that thank you

 

[volvo92906]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

Tinker. I know thats how I started out, and I am sure many others have as well. Experiment with stuff. Lawnmower engines and weed-eater engines are small, simple, and cheaper than car engines. People throw lawnmowers out every year because 'they dont run'.

Of course, there are always classes at a local community college or the like, which have equipment for you to work on and learn on.

So, those are two ways that are proven.

 

[devoncoolman]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

Find someone thats experienced. And **** in the knowledge.

 

[ijason]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

Tinker. I know thats how I started out, and I am sure many others have as well. Experiment with stuff. Lawnmower engines and weed-eater engines are small, simple, and cheaper than car engines. People throw lawnmowers out every year because 'they dont run'.

Of course, there are always classes at a local community college or the like, which have equipment for you to work on and learn on.

So, those are two ways that are proven.

THATS just what id want to do im looking for small engines to start with. this weekend im changing sparkplugs in my mom in laws car ive done that allot but it's a joy to use the tools and relax to music and a nice drink working on a car or something in the garage

 

[bobcatdan]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

Doing it and learning from mistakes.

 

[CWP1616L]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

Start reading lots and lots of tool catalogs so that you can familiarize yourself with the purpose of different tools. I see alotta guys that hate working on cars and it's no wonder because all they have is a pair of pliers and a Crescent wrench.

 

[ijason]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

Start reading lots and lots of tool catalogs so that you can familiarize yourself with the purpose of different tools. I see alotta guys that hate working on cars and it's no wonder because all they have is a pair of pliers and a Crescent wrench.

oh man ive been addicted to tools the snap on guy is now my friend ive been buying lots of nice stuff from him cause i know someday i will get my garage and do all this stuff. and i love tools having the right tools for the job is priceless and makes life so much nicer.

 

[gagreen]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

You can always get one of those scale model engines. Sounds silly but if you couple that with a good text book you will be able to put the pieces with the reading. There is a ton of text out there but when you have an itch to wrench on something reading can get quite dull. I know a plastic model won't give you the satisfaction of working through a bloodied knuckle but it can help get you familiar with the internals.

 

[928'er]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

Started out tinkering, but a '59 Triumph TR3 taught me auto mechanics while I was a starving student. Also took as many auto mechanics courses as I could in college - you get to use their tools and shop space. Used to be cheap here in Cali, but times have probably changed since funding education stopped being a priority....

 

[ijason]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

You can always get one of those scale model engines. Sounds silly but if you couple that with a good text book you will be able to put the pieces with the reading. There is a ton of text out there but when you have an itch to wrench on something reading can get quite dull. I know a plastic model won't give you the satisfaction of working through a bloodied knuckle but it can help get you familiar with the internals.

a scale model is a great idea to give me the idea of what parts are what and how and why they work thank you i will google that and see what i can get

 

[devoncoolman]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

I would find your local technical school and do some night classes.

 

[mustanginky]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

as said, tinkering. all of what i learned is either trial and error work myself, or with the guidance of a knowledgeable buddy. i started with simple stuff like exhaust on my mustang. before you knew it i was yanking motors and putting new ones in. now i've gotten into paint work and wiring, stuff i never thought i'd learn or try.

time is a little short for me now with a 4 week old son in the house, but it's still fun when i get a chance to work on the mustang.

above all else, try to do things you feel comfortable with. nothing is more frustrating than biting off more than you can chew. and a bunch of good buddies is a major help too.

 

[larry_g]

I started out as a tinker and then got some formal education. If you get some formal education in electrical, fuel, chassis, and learn step by step trouble shooting you will be light years ahead ahead of those who have learned by doing. If you understand the basics and theory then the reality is easier. If you learn by doing then every mistake you make will be a learning experience, as well as a hit on your wallet. I believe that if you read around here about the guys with a problem they can't fix combined with a long list of parts replaced, then your reading words from the self taught. Those who shot gun parts at a problem don't really understand how the part works or have the tools to properly diagnose the problem. So why your waiting for the shop, get some schooling. It will be cheaper than all the mistakes you will make if you try to go it alone.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Outlawmws]

A few classes and hands on experience (preferably with someone that knows what they are doing) goes a long way to bridging the gap.

If you have NEVER taken an engine apart and got it back together successfully, start simple. find an old upright Briggs and Stratton one lunger, and do that just to see how it all works.

Learn the BACICS, about what makes an engine tick, and don't sweat the scan tools until you have some basics.

Do some simpler maintenance on consumables like brakes spark plugs and air cleaners, and of course the fluids.

Work up to the more complex things.

 

[ijason]

I started out as a tinker and then got some formal education. If you get some formal education in electrical, fuel, chassis, and learn step by step trouble shooting you will be light years ahead ahead of those who have learned by doing. If you understand the basics and theory then the reality is easier. If you learn by doing then every mistake you make will be a learning experience, as well as a hit on your wallet. I believe that if you read around here about the guys with a problem they can't fix combined with a long list of parts replaced, then your reading words from the self taught. Those who shot gun parts at a problem don't really understand how the part works or have the tools to properly diagnose the problem. So why your waiting for the shop, get some schooling. It will be cheaper than all the mistakes you will make if you try to go it alone.

lg
no neat sig line

good info and sounds so true i will look for a few night classes or weekend courses in my area thank you

 

[ijason]

A few classes and hands on experience (preferably with someone that knows what they are doing) goes a long way to bridging the gap.

If you have NEVER taken an engine apart and got it back together successfully, start simple. find an old upright Briggs and Stratton one lunger, and do that just to see how it all works.

Learn the BACICS, about what makes an engine tick, and don't sweat the scan tools until you have some basics.

Do some simpler maintenance on consumables like brakes spark plugs and air cleaners, and of course the fluids.

Work up to the more complex things.

great yes im going to look for a small engine in the next few days. brakes oil changes. brake fluid, spark plugs & wires is all things i do right now myself. and love doing it for my family but id love to learn and do more.

 

[gagreen]

I know it's aviation engines but the faa 8083-32 part 1 and 2 are stellar books for learning about engines in general. The downfall of being aviation based is that the information is centered around air cooled and turbine engines. It could be an interesting look through for you. They are free pdf files from the FAA's website.

 

[Nanashi]

I started out as a tinker and then got some formal education. If you get some formal education in electrical, fuel, chassis, and learn step by step trouble shooting you will be light years ahead ahead of those who have learned by doing. If you understand the basics and theory then the reality is easier. If you learn by doing then every mistake you make will be a learning experience, as well as a hit on your wallet. I believe that if you read around here about the guys with a problem they can't fix combined with a long list of parts replaced, then your reading words from the self taught. Those who shot gun parts at a problem don't really understand how the part works or have the tools to properly diagnose the problem. So why your waiting for the shop, get some schooling. It will be cheaper than all the mistakes you will make if you try to go it alone.

lg
no neat sig line

Very well put. I have been learning on the job and it is tough. Diagnosing issues and fixing things I have never touch are always mind boggling. My boss is very forgiving and shows me all that he can. However, I still feel helpless when I look up to the board and see the days work thats ahead of us. I can do almost anything suspension related. Replacing parts is usually not a major challenge. However finding where something is without knowing what it is or does is tough. Diagnosing what a problem is makes me feel helpless and I am trying to absorb as much as possible. Using a scan tool is like looking at a whole new language. Even when I try to use identafix and it tells me how to test a problem I find myself having trouble. I have been doing this for 6 months and. In the winter I want to look into classes to assist with my experience. Classes can go a long way and your never to old to learn.

Right now when I run into issues I learn what I can at work and than further my knowledge by googling what the problem was how the part works and how to diagnose it. Usually that leads me to learning even more because you end up needing to learn how to test it and what the test results mean.

 

[crewchief888]

Re: whats the best way to learn mechanics

Doing it and learning from mistakes.

and not making the same mistake twice......

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Lots of great suggestions.

Night classes at the tech school would be a great investment. Tinker. Find stuff to take apart, put back together, and see if you get them to run!

Find a local race team and volunteer to work on the car during the week. Most teams work on the cars Tues, Wed, and Thur nights to make weekend races. You'll start out sweeping the floors and cleaning parts ... but you'll learn a ton. Often if there are five to eight guys on a race team ... the cumulative knowledge and experience is overwhelming.

You probably have a decision to make: old stuff (carburetors, distributors, etc.) or the new stuff (electronic fuel injection, individual coil packs, computers, etc.).

 

[jakemac]

I like the ideas of finding Adult Ed classes. Additionally, the suggestion that you tinker with small engines has two advantages.
1 - It will give you a basic understanding that can be applied to larger engines.
2 - Once you get proficient, you can make a few bucks on the side (nights/weekends) fixing friends and neighbor's lawn equipment. The mysteries of carb adjustment eludes most users, so having a guy nearby to get the mower running in the spring is helpful. Especially if you don't have to take it to a shop that charges by the hour.

 

[Rico.]

The best way to learn anything, is to watch someone who knows what they're doing do it
first and explain to you why they're doing it the way they do it. If you don't have anyone first
hand who can help then You Tube is a great help.

But, beware, there are quite allot of Apes that post videos with fists of ham and fingers
of butter... and it's just painful to watch. However if you have a good understanding of
how an engine works and how a car moves, but you have just never taken one apart
you will probably work out for yourself which videos are the Apes and which ones are
real mechanics.

Two guy's on You Tube I really like are "Eric The Car Guy" he has been a mechanic for
about 20 years and has some great repair and service videos... also has a few how
things work videos... the one he did on the Torque Converter was very informative for me.

Another Chap is "Richpin06a" I think is his name.... I'm form England so I'm not sure about
his accent... It sounds Bostonish to me, but again good vids. Just watch and learn.

I pretty much am like you a DIY with a keen interest and like you I did all my own
servicing and basic repairs, but taking an engine apart I thought was way beyond me.
Then 5 years ago the Toyota Supra Turbo I owned blew it's head gasket and it happened
1 year after I built my little workshop. Kismit....

So I decided to have a go myself and strip this 24 valve, electronic injection, turbo
charged engine down. Not the simplest engine to start with, but if you're gonna be a
bear... Be a Grizzly. So I got the factory manual and the Haynes manual, read through
everything... and then the best thing I did was join a Supra forum... there are so many
kind and helpful people on forums that love to share their experience and knowlege.

Long story medium length.... I did it, and I also completely stripped down the head and
rebuilt that while I had it off the car. I coudln't have done it without the Supra forums
help, but I did it all myself and 2 years later that car is still running perfectly. If I can do it
you can do it..... Remember it's just nuts and bolts... Best of luck... lets see some pics
of your garage and tools now....

 

[cryan]

As said before just start out by taking stuff apart and try and figure out how it works then rebuild it. One big tip that will save you hours of trouble: Take Photos!
If you take photos of what you are doing at every stage you will have an easily referable record of how everything goes back together. Start out on cheaper stuff like lawnmower engines and stuff so that any mistakes don't cost the earth and you can still get to work in the morning.
You can also buy service manuals for engines and stuff. In the UK there is a company called Haynes which publish some of the best manuals for amateur mechanics. They cover most euro and jap cars and I think they sell overseas.

 

[Gmonkee]

ijason, if cars are the goal maybe there is a more interesting option for you.

Buy a relatively undesireable beater car, maybe an old Mustang II or an AMC Gremlin in still running and rolling condition.
It will require mountains of work, parts are still common and cheap. No computer on board either.

You will learn rust repair, motors, brakes, etc.... and messy errors will not be taking a '53 Vette out of existance. It can sit outside without fear of being stolen and when done can be resold or driven.

Just a thought.

 

[absolutelybillsmood]

x2 on learning from YouTube, I've learned a lot from Eric the Car Guy and other videos.

If you decide to do home repair too I've learned a lot from a series called "Kung
Fu maintenance" which is also on You Tube

 

[nowlan]

I heard vw engines were a good simple motor to start with. Probably not cheap, I dunno.

I need my car daily driver on the road, so cant afford to have it off the road if i get stuck or break something.

 

[kc-steve]

The best way to learn anything, is to watch someone who knows what they're doing do it first and explain to you why they're doing it the way they do it. If you don't have anyone first hand who can help then You Tube is a great help.

But, beware, there are quite allot of Apes that post videos with fists of ham and fingers of butter... and it's just painful to watch.

^^^ Yeah, I agree! "Tinkering" didn't work out well for me at 16 years old (MANY YEARS AGO). I tried to overhaul an engine and couldn't put it back together. I paid a professional to finish the job, then took a class in high school where I found out that I should have cleaned the piston ring grooves in order to get the pistons with new rings back in.

Steve

 

[e-tek]

Ironic - I put up a thread about finding someone to impart knowledge and experience to, but still haven't found anyone. If you lived nearby we'd have it made!

 

[bran1har]

Buy a car for $400 that has many issues. Buy a service manual for that car. That manual will tell you exactly how to do everything. You might have an ok car after that. Oh yeah, and you will have to buy lots of tools. Dont try to jerry rig **** either, it will piss you off later on.

Or buy a car, take stuff apart, and dont try to put it back together. Try scrapping. Very fun get air conditioners and **** and separate the different metals and make some money at the same time. This method nothing has to go back together and it is fun. You can use big hammers and stuff to smash ****.

 

[Outlawmws]

Lots of great suggestions.

Night classes at the tech school would be a great investment. Tinker. Find stuff to take apart, put back together, and see if you get them to run!

Find a local race team and volunteer to work on the car during the week. Most teams work on the cars Tues, Wed, and Thur nights to make weekend races. You'll start out sweeping the floors and cleaning parts ... but you'll learn a ton. Often if there are five to eight guys on a race team ... the cumulative knowledge and experience is overwhelming.

You probably have a decision to make: old stuff (carburetors, distributors, etc.) or the new stuff (electronic fuel injection, individual coil packs, computers, etc.).

Race cars are an interesting learn, as it is just the essentials of the car and none of the BS that complicates them (Like AC and stereo electronics) Modern race cars of the big track team tend to have their own complexity, but if you can get on a small short track local team then it's not so bad.

 

[Outlawmws]

^^^ Yeah, I agree! "Tinkering" didn't work out well for me at 16 years old (MANY YEARS AGO). I tried to overhaul an engine and couldn't put it back together. I paid a professional to finish the job, then took a class in high school where I found out that I should have cleaned the piston ring grooves in order to get the pistons with new rings back in.

Steve

I did my first V8 rebuild at 16, but had been doing lawn mower engines and was helping my dad (Former fighter prop plane mech in the Navy in Korea, and at the time, Truck driver/mechanic) from the time I was old enough to hand wrenches and clean parts, (we swapped a Studebaker V8 into a Panel Jeep when I was in the 2nd grade. I mostly did "dirty work" but once in a while my small hands and arms and kids flexibility got me under the rig and getting things started so we could get the things into place.)

 

[ijason]

Ironic - I put up a thread about finding someone to impart knowledge and experience to, but still haven't found anyone. If you lived nearby we'd have it made!

wow my god im blown away by your setup makes me want to move now i hate quebec and wow id seriously be in heaven with your setup and knowledge id love it and id be a big help im sur.e i do lots of things i can tig weld stick weld i do electrical plumbing and finish carpentry. it would be so cool to find a place like yours.

 

[slugworks]

Get a honda(I got my first one for $250 a few years ago). They are like legos for adults. 1988-2000 civics share many of the same or very similar parts, so they are very easy to find and really cheap. I didn't know anything about cars a few years ago. Just tinkering in my garage taught me so much. I watched you tube videos and bought the factory service manual. With the manual and the internet* I even built a motor for it and had no previous experience. We dyno'd it and it made more power than stock even with cheap junky ebay parts from china. I guess my point is don't be afraid to try stuff on your own.

*Be aware that just because someone posts a video on the internet or a how to on a forum doesn't mean they know what they are doing. There is quite a bit of less than helpful information out there.

Fast forward a few years and now I have a **** can race car that is easy and fun to work on. My team has a race in 2 weeks and the car has no engine, trans, front suspension, steering rack, brakes, and the turbo needs to be rebuilt. Old hondas a so simple that most of this can be put back together in less than a day.

 

[mech-tech]

My honest advice, take vocational classes!!!!!! I worked with many guys that learned without schooling, and while some were very good, many were not. Its one thing to change a belt or water pump, but when something comes in with an electrical issue, I have seen way too many guys waste customers money swapping parts for no reason. Things like, the customer complains of a dead battery so they change the battery and alternator, costing the customer $400...then I get sent to fix his screw up which turned out to only be the power wire in the elctrical harness had an internal break. How did I find this, because I knew how to use the multimeter to find the problem and he did not. It takes time, but ya gotta have training for all the electrical problems that you will have to face. Another would be the customer complained of a bad starter, so he changed it, costing the customer about $500 which did not fix the problem. Again I got sent to fix his screw up, which turned out to be a 4 volt power loss through the seat belt safety switch. Again, it did not take long to find, but without the multimeter and know how, I would have never found it. My boss just hired a guy that never worked as a mechanic, and while he can turn a wrench and I gladly help him every day, it just seems the computer and electrical troubleshooting is what he will fight the most. It comes with time, but learning in a school on someone elses stuff is way cheaper and easier!!!!

 

[mypov]

Not that I want to put down tinkering ... the problem with this is there is no one there to tell you what is going wrong. I have seen many a backyard mechanic leave things loose - SERIOUSLY BAD HABIT is tightening a bunch of fasteners finger tight, thinking you'll go back later and tighten them to proper torque. Twisting brake lines, on calipers, not applying correct torque, the list literally goes on and on, and takes making mistakes, and being coached on the proper approach...

Vocational classes are great for this. As well as watching youtube videos (of a worthy instructor), and then trying that job on your own. Mechanics takes a comprehension of how things are made/used and their relative relationship with the systems involved. There is no real quick silver bullet solution to learning / gaining the experience. There is only do, muddle your way though, we are all learning on a daily basis...Some of the men in this trade I respect the most tell me on a daily basis that they are still learning (these are guys that have been in the trade for 20 some years)...Forums are great, post your job and the challenges you are having, and then listen to solutions...

Not to discourage you - on the contrary, you can do it...Just be careful, ask lots of questions, and learn from your mistakes, and the mistakes of others.

ERIC the car guy is awesome! As are many other videos on various systems, processes, and parts/engine components. I.E. do a search on the differential and how it works - you can find an explanation and a break down of its parts and functions...blah blah blah.

Don't give up!
Good luck.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Buy a relatively undesireable beater car, maybe an old Mustang II or an AMC Gremlin in still running and rolling condition.
It will require mountains of work, parts are still common and cheap. No computer on board either.

I'd say go right along these lines.
You could find a 60s-70s pickup to start with. They're cheap to buy, cheap to work on, plenty of space to work under the hood vs a car, and will teach you all the basics (and then some). I took a night class starting out, but learned SO much more just buying a cheap 1970 Ford pickup.

 

[itwnexus]

Eric The Car Guy on youtube:

 

[richfinn]

Some great suggestions as usual.

Something else to consider would be buy a real worthless junk car with a distributor and carb.

Take it apart and put it back together using a repair manual when you get stuck.

If you have money build a kit car.

I always think if you know the basics you can work out additional technology later.

I work with ex dealer techs who have never gapped contact breaker points set timing or set valve clearances. All stuff that helped me understand how engines work.

 

[sberry]

I agree with the school. I can usually spot the difference in those with formal training and ones who learned hand to mouth. My electrical is weak, its been 35 yrs since I have been to school but I don't care and hate working on all that fussy **** anyway.

 

[bonneyman]

...If I can do it
you can do it..... Remember it's just nuts and bolts... Best of luck... lets see some pics
of your garage and tools now....

10-4
Like my dad used to say, "The guys who built it and fixes it have a brain and two hands, just like me..."

I love tearing apart things I've not done before. But on my schedule. I don't think I could do that anymore at work.
I'm kicking around the idea of buying this old Milwaukee sawz-all and tearing it down and fixing it up. But I wouldn't want to do that with the wife's car.