How long does it take to become a good mechanic?

[Ninjaturtle01]

Hi guys,

I've currently been working in a workshop 4 days a week for about 9 months and am going into my 3rd and final year at college studying motorcycle mechanics. Although I absolutely love mechanics sometimes the remarks at the workshop saying how rubbish I am gets on top of me and makes me question my career choice. I know it's just banter but it really gets me down as I'm working so hard. I am already servicing, repairing and diagnosing bikes successfully and haven't even finished college. I wanted to know from any fellow mechanics if I am at a good point or if when I finish college and look for another workshop this will all be expected of me being so "new." And lastly how long will it take me to become a fully competent mechanic?

Thanks guys

[recman]

When you can repair, adjust or replace things on an unfamiliar machine successfully without the need for instruction and understand what you're doing and why you're doing it, you'll become a good mechanic.
The banter merchants are probably just trying to take the attention away from their own shortcomings.
Man up and carry on.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

A good <at anything> person never wants to stop learning and improving.
If the answer to 'do you enjoy what you're doing?' is yes you will improve.
Sod the negative comments...unless you are indeed rubbish, which your tutor should've fed back to you by now.
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[M.C]

I did mechanics at college, and worked in a garage one day a week during this. Honestly part of the reason why I gave up was that I realised just how long it takes to amass enough working knowledge (and I thought it was a bit shit). By third year I'm guessing you did a level 2 course and are now finishing level 3? I think that's pretty much it, you're meant to be ready.

You always get 'banter', I was told by my boss if you ever go for a job tell them you can make a really good cup of tea At college the tutors would joke you'd be working at kwik fit, in reality that was as good as it was going to get, only a couple went on to work in main dealers etc.

[haroman666]

4 days a week in 9 months is likely to have taught you enough to get by as a driveway mechanic.
I would guess that the negative comments are partially driven by a bit of a superiority complex rather than them thinking you're shit. Everybody starts off shit. Just some shitter than others.
If you can fully service a bike you're doing better than your average driveway know-it-all.
Diagnostics and repair... well it's a fucking minefield on a scale of knowing what a flat tyre looks like all the way up to knowing what the sound of an engine going into detonation/digital electronics problems etc etc.
There's no such thing as a "fully competent mechanic" because even guys who have been doing it for 35 years can strip a thread or lose a nut or get stumped by an intermittent issue.

My advice is just keep at it. Don't worry too much about what others think. If you land a job in a garage and you hand your honestly written CV to them, they're going to know exactly what they're getting and if you're any better or any worse than you say you are then they will figure that out very quickly as well.
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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[Enduro Numpty]

Being a mechanic is like any other skill. You learn from experience and generally the longer you do it the more experience you get and the better you become.

I don't know if the term "time served" still applies these days but a large element of the learning process whatever the "trade" was doing the time.

As for the comments - it sounds just like the crap I used to hear when I was an apprentice.

[Fin]

As everyone else said there is no time-scale and a lot depends on experience and what you did growing up. I've always worked on bicycles since I was little, moving onto motorbikes was easy in some senses.

I work on the weekend as a cycle technician in a retail store, recently they've taken on new staff and tried moving over people over and quite frankly they are awful.

If you put the effort in I'm sure you'll get there, it will just take a little longer than it takes others, I wouldn't say to give up just because it doesn't come naturally or easily.

[G]

Are they picking out specific aspects you have issues with?

[Shaft]

[stevo as b4]

Being a mechanic ain't all that these days anyway.

Its more like being a parts fitter and bring able to use and understand computers and diagnostic equipment than a mechanical wizard.

An example of this is the number of people I have heard about getting into car/bike dyno testing and ECU mapping or tuning. Some of them have no idea about the real nitty gritty of engines and how they work, but think they don't need to know to be a great tuner or remapping expert etc.

There's nothing prestigious about being a mechanic these days. Now being an engineer that can design/cast/manufacturer and machine and weld or make anything, well that's almost godly IMO!

If you can restore a 1920's car or bike that has no parts available and needs everything making or engineering to fit/work, well that's something that's beyond most mortals!

Same goes if you build a V8 engine that makes 8000bhp and has custom scratch made internals. Pure magician work is that!

[Wonko The Sane]

[uberkron]

I would say 3-4 years of working in a workshop.
The " banter" drives out the snowflakes.
Most of my apprentices have come up to speed by 4 years and can be left working unattended.
However they are fully qualified at 3 years due to the tech passing anybody that attends.
____________________
i ride a zip 50 2smoke. It overtakes a hundred times a day.

[Ste]

[M.C]

[mas101]

I'm no fan of 'banter' - typically seems to be insecure dick heads being low grade bullies.

I'd expect you to be slower than the more experienced guys because they will have done the same thing so many times that they don't need to think about it. But is there anything else that you are getting negged for?

A lot of being an expert is experience and picking up the bits of knowledge about which things are different or common in different circumstances. That takes time.

Can you be logical and think through solutions to issues when a bike comes in? Do you understand the systems well enough to diagnose problems correctly?


My mechanics knowledge is all cars, but from what I've seen very few mechanics actually really understand the stuff that they are working on.
I've seen so many modern diesel issues turn into huge/expensive jobs because garages don't understand how modern fuel injection systems work with the egr/dpf stuff.

[binge]

I've been in the motor trade for 15 years now.
I started my own company Dec 2016.

And, I'm still learning.

In my opinion. A good technician / Mechanic, is one who can overcome a problem without turning to somebody else in the workshop for help.

[Mawsley]

[Ste]

OP probably shouldn't get a job with Audi in Reading which is run by the Sytner Group.

"Mr Bedford heard that on a series of occasions - dismissed by colleagues as “banter” and “horseplay” - George had been locked in a cage, doused in brake fluid and had his trousers set on fire."

"He said he took the incident when George’s trousers were set on fire far more seriously, and added they now had a zero tolerance policy in place to prevent such behaviour in the future."

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/audi-blame-george-cheese-death-13096175

[stinkwheel]

Worth remembering that in any given workshop, you will continue to be given a hard time and be the butt of all jokes until such time as they take on someone more junior.

Way of the world.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[bluebear]

I have been an HGV mechanic for 35 years now and I am still learning. The technoligical advancements in the last 20 years has been astounding to the point where I spent 75% of my time on a laptop.
It can be a breath of fresh air getting back to basics, building engines and gearboxes rather than diagnosing electrical faults
The OP seems to have a good attitude and be well advanced in his technical knowledge and ability compared to many of the apprentices who pass through our doors.
Dont let them get you down. As someone said it is usually done to take the spotlight off their shortcomings
Good Luck !!!

[Wonko The Sane]

generally, if they're laughing as they say it then they're most likely winding you up.

If they're throttling you as they say it then you've pissed them off.
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They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[ZX-7R]

Banter is part of the motor trade for youngsters,though some times it can go too far.

One garage i worked at they got their bollocks undersealed when they turned 18.
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Current Bike - 2000 ZX-7R

[MATTT]

I was still seen as the apprentice and had to make the tea and sweep up,sent down the shops for milk tea and sweets even when i had finished college and passed all the exams and was doing the same work as the rest of them
Changed jobs,as they were bought out,new place with different staff ,and suddenly i was no longer the apprentice !

[mentalboy]

[Teflon-Mike]

I know t don't thrill you, I hope it don't kill you, WELCOME to the working week!