Car Maintenance
Discussion
As i may be looking at getting a Caterham and the thought of having to dabble in car mechanics makes me both excited and scared. I looked around for some night courses and all i could find was year long full time courses which really isnt what I have in mind. As ever searching for anything is a large slice of luck..
I had another look just before posting here and it appears Clydebank College do something http://www.clydebank.ac.uk/lifestyle-courses/car-m...
Anyone any experience of above or anything like it that they would recommend? I do not plan on becoming a mechanic just know enough in what is (essentially) quite a basic car - as in no electronics really or a huge slab of black plastic when you open bonnet that you cannot do anything with.
Glasgow based so anything close-ish would be ideal.
I had another look just before posting here and it appears Clydebank College do something http://www.clydebank.ac.uk/lifestyle-courses/car-m...
Anyone any experience of above or anything like it that they would recommend? I do not plan on becoming a mechanic just know enough in what is (essentially) quite a basic car - as in no electronics really or a huge slab of black plastic when you open bonnet that you cannot do anything with.
Glasgow based so anything close-ish would be ideal.
carbibles.com
i'm currently reading through this site, it has plenty of useable knowledge and does not work on the basis of any pre existing technical know-how.
there is another site that suggests that the best thing to do is to get a cheap scrapper and try to keep it on the road. ur not too fussed when something breaks, it isn't too expensive to fix and you can throw it about without too much concern.
they state that cars are extremely tough by design, so once you get past the fear that you will break something and realise that most of the damage you can do by tinkering is reverseable, you can start to have fun taking it apart and puting it back together
i'm currently reading through this site, it has plenty of useable knowledge and does not work on the basis of any pre existing technical know-how.
there is another site that suggests that the best thing to do is to get a cheap scrapper and try to keep it on the road. ur not too fussed when something breaks, it isn't too expensive to fix and you can throw it about without too much concern.
they state that cars are extremely tough by design, so once you get past the fear that you will break something and realise that most of the damage you can do by tinkering is reverseable, you can start to have fun taking it apart and puting it back together
The only issue with that is when you start practising on safety critical items.
If you're a complete novice, give the courses a go and then buy a snotter if you like it. Some people hate it when they get into it, be that manky fingernails, the cold or just too complex to remember to check check check everything.
If you're a complete novice, give the courses a go and then buy a snotter if you like it. Some people hate it when they get into it, be that manky fingernails, the cold or just too complex to remember to check check check everything.
OlberJ said:
The only issue with that is when you start practising on safety critical items.
If you're a complete novice, give the courses a go and then buy a snotter if you like it. Some people hate it when they get into it, be that manky fingernails, the cold or just too complex to remember to check check check everything.
Great advice and to add to the Checking part get a mate or someone in the know to cast there eyes over your work, a second set of eyes can pick up all sorts you miss sometimes.If you're a complete novice, give the courses a go and then buy a snotter if you like it. Some people hate it when they get into it, be that manky fingernails, the cold or just too complex to remember to check check check everything.
I went and bought a 7 styled kit, maybe not a Chaterham but similar in some ways.
I was stuck in the deep end with not much mechanical experience when my prop came off the engine at 70 mph within the first 100 miles of ownership. My car being bike engined meant the engine was scrap, ripping the water pump off and cracking the block, so I thought I would go at changing it myself. I just made sure I took plenty of pictures and labeled everything which meant I put everything on the way I took it off.
Since then I've changed the engine again, changed the clutch, changed driveshafts, changed the prop, changed the brake pads and even converted the gear change to a mechanical paddle shift.
In my eyes everything you need to know is online but it's not like practicing and getting your hands oily. Just make sure that you purchase descent tools and don't be scared to give it a go.
I was stuck in the deep end with not much mechanical experience when my prop came off the engine at 70 mph within the first 100 miles of ownership. My car being bike engined meant the engine was scrap, ripping the water pump off and cracking the block, so I thought I would go at changing it myself. I just made sure I took plenty of pictures and labeled everything which meant I put everything on the way I took it off.
Since then I've changed the engine again, changed the clutch, changed driveshafts, changed the prop, changed the brake pads and even converted the gear change to a mechanical paddle shift.
In my eyes everything you need to know is online but it's not like practicing and getting your hands oily. Just make sure that you purchase descent tools and don't be scared to give it a go.
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