Can you fix a car or motorbike if it breaks down? Should students learn this at school instead of history or art? I think they should!

I can fix a broken bar girl. 

When I was 18, I could (and did) rebuild the engine of my car (with the help of a friend). These days, many young drivers probably couldn't change the air filter (if the car has one).

31 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

When I was 18, I could (and did) rebuild the engine of my car (with the help of a friend). These days, many young drivers probably couldn't change the air filter (if the car has one).

 

Do you think you could rebuild a modern engine ? Engines have drastically changed.

 

 

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

Can you fix a car or motorbike if it breaks down?

YouTube is a good place to start.   

12 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Do you think you could rebuild a modern engine ? Engines have drastically changed.

 

 

The engines are more complex, but are doable if someone is hell-bent on doing it.   You need the tools and the space.  

5 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

When I was 18, I could (and did) rebuild the engine of my car (with the help of a friend). These days, many young drivers probably couldn't change the air filter (if the car has one).

When you were 18 many young drivers couldn't change an air filter either.

7 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Can you fix a car or motorbike if it breaks down? Should students learn this at school instead of history or art? I think they should!

 

Young kids should be able to chose earlier which direction they want to go, and not be forced to sit still and learn things they never will use, but History is something everyone needs to know, and understand why it is importantly to know about history. Cooking food from scratch, personal accounting and economic is somthing everyone should also learn, and also more gymnastics and sports

10 hours ago, blaze master said:

I can fix a broken bar girl. 

You'll need a 12" spanner for that.

I think I was born with a screwdriver in one hand and a crescent wrench in the other. Helped my Dad rebuild countless engines as a kid. Still remember the sore hands from hand-grinding valves - he was old skool and taught me to do the final lapping with jewellers' rouge. 

 

in the 70's and 80's we did rings, valves and bearings rebuilds for every car motorbike and lawnmower in the extended family.

 

Unfortunately, the tinkering gene was never passed down to my two sons, despite me trying constantly to involve them. I doubt they would even recognise a spark plug or know what to do with a feeler gauge. 

Horses for courses.

My (UK) grandson got into tinkering with cars, influenced by his other grandfather,  and now has a workshop job at Citroen. My wife's nephew, now 16, has been tinkering with motorcycles with his mates for a few years and now has a job at a motorcycle repair shop.

My (UK) daughter is thinking about her sons' futures - I suggested getting them interested in electro-mechanics and electricity now (they are 10 and 5) because if they have a decent understanding of how most things work they will have skills that could become critical in the future.

12 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

When I was 18, I could (and did) rebuild the engine of my car (with the help of a friend). These days, many young drivers probably couldn't change the air filter (if the car has one).

Did they have the combustion engine back then? 😜

As to op, ‘instead of’? Dunno, but I am still pissed that school hijacked my time by shoving religious ‘education’ down my throat. The amount of times I got reported by not conforming and winding the teacher up! F them! Schools should do their level best to prepare children for the outside world. Everyone should get the basics—language, history & culture, the arts, geography etc—but where is economics in all that? Teach a bit about mortgage and practicalities like mechanics, home electrics and nutrition at least. Even just a few hours. 

Quote

I can fix a broken bar girl. 

 

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

You'll need a 12" spanner for that.

 

I would say a rebore, possibly a new liner, depending on age.

Head skim.

Valve change.

Compression test on all orifices.

New paint job.

Even then,  it could still be an expensive  Lemon.

13 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

When I was 18, I could (and did) rebuild the engine of my car (with the help of a friend). These days, many young drivers probably couldn't change the air filter (if the car has one).

Don't think you can work on a car yourself with modern builds.

But do you really want your kids to train to be failures in life?

Dirty low level jobs.

 

Better they learn to make money, and can afford to pay someone else to do all the dirty jobs.

16 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Can you fix a car

 

No, but I can break it quite easily.

 

Usually by forgetting to put the cap on the coolant tank. 

16 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Can you fix a car or motorbike if it breaks down?

Yes, it’s no more difficult than putting a puzzle together. It’s just mechanics, all of it and everything.

16 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Should students learn this at school instead of history or art?

It’s imperative that students are taught to teach themselves on solving problems and finding solutions without being intimidated. Laziness is another issue, which leads to stupidity.

Only people than can fix things will be right of center. There may be a few gardeners left of center, but after that it's just worthless brainrot. Cannot even fix software problems 

17 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Can you fix a car or motorbike if it breaks down?

 

These days, on modern vehicles (cars or motorcycles) there's less chance of fixing it yourself. Far more computerisation of systems such as fuel system, emissions and transmission. I used to change the oil myself but that's ever more difficult with removal of many parts just to access the filter and drain plug. Hell, my current car doesn't even have a dipstick (or no jokes about the driver). All measured electronicly on the dashboard. Best left to the dealer. First thing they do on a service is plug it into their computer!

 

I do miss the days of 1970/1980's two stroke motorcylces and old VW Golfs. 

 

Yep, can.

 

Infact currently building a low rider izuzu pickup, just converted to IRS and fitted the air bag system.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Don't think you can work on a car yourself with modern builds.

But do you really want your kids to train to be failures in life?

Dirty low level jobs.

 

Better they learn to make money, and can afford to pay someone else to do all the dirty jobs.

 

Except there won't be any decent paying white collar jobs in ten years unless you're a functionary of the police state.

 

Think of five white collar jobs that will be about in five years. Non professional, non sales.

 

Better a nurse than a doctor. 

 

That's what you see the leftists fighting over now...the scraps of USAID.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Don't think you can work on a car yourself with modern builds.

But do you really want your kids to train to be failures in life?

Dirty low level jobs.

 

Better they learn to make money, and can afford to pay someone else to do all the dirty jobs.

<deleted>ty jobs pay well

Garbos

Fencing

Roofs

Mowing

Plumbing

Concreters

 

Office jobs are shrinking.

 

Plumbers can work in any city and get loads of money.

1 hour ago, MarcusAurelius said:

 

Except there won't be any decent paying white collar jobs in ten years unless you're a functionary of the police state.

 

Think of five white collar jobs that will be about in five years. Non professional, non sales.

 

Better a nurse than a doctor. 

 

That's what you see the leftists fighting over now...the scraps of USAID.

In a police state ............ Join the police!