Technician VS Mechanic: What's The Difference?

[DK Custom Products]

[trike lady]

If you had seen some of the 'Goof balls' that graduated from Wyotech in Florida years ago, you wouldn't want these people working on your lawn mower. I was in the top ten of my class for Harley Davidson, but I was returning back to trike building not a dealership. Most of the grads would have been nothing more than 'Parts Changers'. The knowledge I have is primarily for Goldwings and my aging brain can bring forth information when it needs to, it takes a while but it arrives to be shared with others.

Funny things is when I hear the term 'Technician' I always think of an individual who works on 'Sophisticated' electronics and computers. But the way today's vehicles are with all the electronics the title fits. As with any job you do, always pay attention to detail and not many people will do this: when I assemble lets say a trike conversion, I tighten the bolts on that assembly, then torque them to spec and place a paint mark on those bolts and that is a sign that they are done right.

[DK Custom Products]

If you had seen some of the 'Goof balls' that graduated from Wyotech in Florida years ago, you wouldn't want these people working on your lawn mower. I was in the top ten of my class for Harley Davidson, but I was returning back to trike building not a dealership. Most of the grads would have been nothing more than 'Parts Changers'. The knowledge I have is primarily for Goldwings and my aging brain can bring forth information when it needs to, it takes a while but it arrives to be shared with others.

Funny things is when I hear the term 'Technician' I always think of an individual who works on 'Sophisticated' electronics and computers. But the way today's vehicles are with all the electronics the title fits. As with any job you do, always pay attention to detail and not many people will do this: when I assemble lets say a trike conversion, I tighten the bolts on that assembly, then torque them to spec and place a paint mark on those bolts and that is a sign that they are done right.

Thank you for your sharing your experience.

Yes, a conscientious tech who has mechanical skills and takes care/pride in their work is what is needed, and seems to be getting shorter and shorter in supply.

Kevin

[Sidecarbill]

Well when I retired from my job, the only thing I did was computer related. I seldom did actual mechanical repairs. I got to the point where where if you didn't look something up you would be wasting time. For instance no turn signal on front right. well bulb won't fix it and you could look forever for a turn signal relay it doesn't have. Something as simple as a spark plug wire routed a different way. If you put a different brand spark plug than original it would set a code. So I guess there are no more mechanics. They're no longer in demand. Techs that can diagnose computer problems are more in demand. My shop didn't want anything to do with heavy mechanical.

[Jack Klarich]

IMO, mechanics rebuild- repair

Technicians diagnose and component replace parts

[bikerbillone]

Trike Lady, DK, you are so right. So hard to find good support person for our ride these days. If you can't fix it yourself you face a long ride to somewhere for a hopeful fix, and takes how long? Who knows? Look anywhere, the world is a mess, can you say "incompetent leadership"?

[2K1200LTS]

I think the other problem is the finding teachers that know what they are teaching. The other problem is what every you want to call them they more worry about seeing who call called or text and taking a puff. You aways see then behind the shop. The bottom line is to find a good one that enjoys what he's doing which is harder and harder to find. Most of the ones can to you everything but when it gets time to do it that's a different story. That's in everything not just the motorcycle world.

[rhino 2]

The difference is..........$$$.........

And The Third Category....The Prima-Donna's.....$$$$$$$

[Jack Klarich]

The difference is..........$$$.........

And The Third Category....The Prima-Donna's.....$$$$$$$

The dollars should IMO trickle down to the employees doing the work, but most often the big bucks get sucked up by the owners of the dealership

[rhino 2]

The dollars should IMO trickle down to the employees doing the work, but most often the big bucks get sucked up by the owners of the dealership

If all Employer's paid and treated their worker's properly.....There wouldn't be many Independent shops around so as to get the work done cheaper.....

[2K1200LTS]

A good independent shop should be no cheaper than a dealer, they should do better work a know what they're doing. Over the years I have seen more independent shops come a go more than I can count. One problem people want cheap and when you don't support the good independent shops there gone working someplace else making more money. I have seen it over and over.