Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by jonasdegendt 1168 days ago
Hah, I remember disassembling a motorcycle for the first time and in the process figuring out that the throttle cable just opens a valve that I had just taken the airbox off of, I was mind blown!

To anyone that's looking to get into wrenching on your own stuff, I can definitely recommend getting started on a motorcycle if you have space, money or time constraints. It's a lot more accessible initially.
2 comments
fl7305 1168 days ago
Good tip. If you really want to work on a car but have a choice in which one, do some research. Cars vary a lot on how easy they are to work on.
link
smackeyacky 1168 days ago
I had pulled back for quite a while working on cars, then bought a 2006 Chrysler 300C with a dead engine last year.

The LX platform is incredibly easy to work on. Rear wheel drive, nothing too complicated to understand, good parts availability from places like Rock Auto. The big Hemi 5.7 is easy to rebuild and very rewarding. I grew up working on small japanese cars and Alfa Romeos, the Hemi reminds me a lot of the Alfa "Nord" engine despite the pushrods.

I had an MX-5 and loved it, but the LX cars are affordable muscle cars that even a modest workshop can make something fun out of.

link
HeyLaughingBoy 1168 days ago
Bringing it back to the author, I've heard that the MX-5 is about the easiest car to work on that's still readily available. And Saturns. Saturns are like Lego.
link
wombatpm 1168 days ago
Saturn cars are incredible. I had a 92 SL2. Drove it for 14 years and 350k miles. Sold it to a guy who delivered newspapers and saw it still running two years later. That plastic body that didn't rust was incredible. Sucks that GM just killed that car line.
link
ian0 1168 days ago
Any good resources for getting started?
link
jonasdegendt 1167 days ago
The course that's linked in this post is excellent for the price. Pretty much all of the engine stuff carries over to motorcycles. Everything else I pretty much learned by looking up specific instructions for my model along the way, either on Youtube or in the service manual for my bike.

As for what bike might be interesting, I bought a fuel injected, single cylinder bike. Pretty much as simple as it gets, and a great way to get started with the basics.

Don't be afraid to jump in, you'll be surprised at how easy it comes to you.

link