Have you ever wished that you were a better mechanic???

Whenever I take cars or bikes apart, I always have several 2ltr ice cream boxes to hand to put bits and fixings in. So I don't lose 'em...........................................

 

So do I mate

 

I have several 2ltr ice cream tubs and when I've finished emptying them I might get on with some mechanicing

 

I have some of those ready meal plastic trays with a couple of compartments for the small jobs.

Golden rules:-
Always use the right tool
Read the manual
Take your time

I tend to ignore all three, as we do, and lose, break and damage most jobs, that's the fun of it.

 

Oh dear Thruccyboy!
Top marks for having a go mate, as for losing the bloody bolt that is just plain carelesness. lol
A tip for what it's worth (probably the cost of a new side panel bolt + P&P in this case) whenever you remove anything for servicing always put the nuts, bolts, washers loosely back into their original positions while you are working on the removed part, could be your wheels or anything.
This serves two purposes:
1) you won't lose the nuts, bolts, washers
2) always helps on re-assembly (specially as you get older)

As for mistakes, anybody who has ever done any mechaning will have made their share, as long as you learn from them that's the key.

One of the most stupid lazy bastard mistakes I ever made was when re-fitting a Jaguar Mk2 front bumper following a full cheap re-spray.
I was using the original pretty rusty fixing nuts and bolts and couldn't be arsed getting out my oil or grease to put on the threads, (don't ask me why?) anyway single handedly balancing the massively heavy chrome bumper I started tightening up the squeaking rusty nuts and bolts with my ratchet and got my little finger caught between the ratchet handle and the sharp edge of the bumper. Could I f**k loosen it, after what seemed minutes I had to pull my bleeding finger out with a crushed flattened nail which has never grown back correctly.
Oil, grease, coppaslip on everything since.

 

You know the lost one will turn up on the day of delivery so then you will have two spare!
Another tip is to put a small 'O' ring on the bolt on the inside of the panel and never actually take the bolt out of the panel.

 

These are special big headed slotted chrome bolts DD
I doubt if Toolstation would have them, worth trying though.

 

Well without wanting to give too much away, I do enjoy all aspects of mechanical engineering and have spent 45 + years earning a crust from it in one way or another.
As DD says, it is just practice but it does make it easier if you understand the basics thoroughly and then just having the dexterity and patience for assembly.
Practice assembling different size and thread types of nuts and bolts, different washer types etc.
Do it literally with your eyes closed because many jobs you have to work in confined blind spaces and have to go just on feel.
Photograph stuff before and during strip down, make little notes or sketches that may help.

 

Oh NO! You didn't say you were left handed!
Forget all previous tips, sell your tools and tak

Oh NO! You never said you were left handed!
Ignore all previous emails, sell your tools and take your bike to a garage ASAP. lol

 

Funny enough yes, it's the only course that I personally paid for and kept failing the practical exams.
I had to re-sit them five times, I was eventually asked to leave the course.

 

You need the 2nd edition, it's through a cat flap now