To machine or not to machine
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,005
Likes: 53
From: ID Ho
I can gaurantee you that going to any of the motorcycle schools WILL NOT teach you to be a machinist or performance engine builder.
It will teach you how to properly service a bike and most of the basic disassembly and reassembly proceedures for motors and drivelines, IF you already have some skills and put forth enough effort.
They WILL NOT make a mechanic out of a non-mechanic!
It will teach you how to properly service a bike and most of the basic disassembly and reassembly proceedures for motors and drivelines, IF you already have some skills and put forth enough effort.
They WILL NOT make a mechanic out of a non-mechanic!
The people doing that type of work, head's, boring etc. were apprentices first. I don't think to many people decide to just start up out of the blue. Maybe find a shop that does that type of work, see if you can pay them to do yours and if you can hang around the shop to see what's involved. My step Dad owns a machine shop, all CNC, even has a Hurco (5 axis mill you can use to make custom wheels and stuff), he's been a tool and die maker for 42 years and when I went to him about my current build, he told me he would rather pay for my stuff to get done out of his pocket then do it. You NEED a flow bench to do heads properly, and you need to know how to read it. As far a boring heads, a boring machine pulls up from the bottom, not like a nil that works the top down. The reason they pull up is so the chips fall straight down out the bottom and not lay on top of the tooling sratching the walls. That's the reason my step dad didn't want to do it. He could bore on a lathe or a mill, but it wouldn't be the proper way to do it. I went to Harley Tech school in Pennsyvania, I got hired in as a tech at a local HD dealership, money sucked but it was one of the best jobs I ever had. They went out of business last year, a rea bummer. Now I wrench on bikes in my shop and have a great time doing it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
Automotive machining is not the same as precision machining.You would have to attend an automotive machining school or something like that to learn that type of equipment or find someone willing to teach you.
Now if you have the time and money you could buy some equipment and try to teach yourself.
Last edited by 1flhtk4me; Jan 26, 2010 at 07:01 AM.
Thread Starter
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 12
Here are the classes that are offered at the school down the road. Would this still be too elementary to achieve what Im interested in?
This major prepares students as CNC machinists who make precision metal or
plastic parts utilizing computer programming for CNC machines like lathes,
milling machines and machining centers. Students are instructed in machine
tool theory, fundamentals and safe applications along with print reading, metal
preparation and precision measurement. Also included are principles and
proper techniques of precision grinding, engine lathe and milling machine
operations as well as computer numerical control (CNC) setup, programming,
and production applications of lathes, surface grinders and milling machines.
Lab work is a required component of this major.
Orientation to Machining 30
Fundamentals of Manufacturing 45
Machine Tool Theory 45
Print Reading for Machining 45
Precision Measurement 45
Metal Preparation for Processing 45
Precision Grinding 75
Engine Lathe Operations 150
Milling Operations 105
Computer Numerical Control Operations 60
Computer Numerical Control Programming 90
Introduction to Quality Control 60
CNC Production Applications 60
CNC Milling Production Applications 90
Workforce Staging 30
This major prepares students as CNC machinists who make precision metal or
plastic parts utilizing computer programming for CNC machines like lathes,
milling machines and machining centers. Students are instructed in machine
tool theory, fundamentals and safe applications along with print reading, metal
preparation and precision measurement. Also included are principles and
proper techniques of precision grinding, engine lathe and milling machine
operations as well as computer numerical control (CNC) setup, programming,
and production applications of lathes, surface grinders and milling machines.
Lab work is a required component of this major.
Orientation to Machining 30
Fundamentals of Manufacturing 45
Machine Tool Theory 45
Print Reading for Machining 45
Precision Measurement 45
Metal Preparation for Processing 45
Precision Grinding 75
Engine Lathe Operations 150
Milling Operations 105
Computer Numerical Control Operations 60
Computer Numerical Control Programming 90
Introduction to Quality Control 60
CNC Production Applications 60
CNC Milling Production Applications 90
Workforce Staging 30
ICTC
Envision. Experience. ExcelPg www.ictctech.com . Pg 39
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
With no hands you will be biting off more than you can chew.Unless you are exceptional.Some people have a natural feel for machinery.You should practice on something not quite so critical.
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I don't intend this to be rude so please don't take it that way. But just by asking the questions you are asking is telling me that you may be tring to get into somehing you are not quit ready for. If it was easy everybody would be doing it. When you go messing around on people's bikes they want it right the first time. If you mess up a set of heads for a customer, you will be out of pocket getting tem a new set and they WILL be P.O.ed waiting for them, guaranteed. People looking to get this type of custom work done to their bikes will take it to an established shop, you will need to spend thousands on the equipment, not to mention the set up, (electric, air lines etc.) to hook it all up. Seems like a pretty big investment for something you're not sure if you can do or not.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 624
From: deland,florida
and what are you going to use,go out and buy the machinery,then learn how to use it? or use something that wasnt designed to do the proper operation.also like earlier posts said,gut some spare parts to practice on too
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