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[SERK3]

My son started attending MMI Orlando in Oct. 2013 and finish Dec. 23rd 2014 with graduation Jan. 2nd 2015, He finished 3 weeks early with a 3.9 GPA and 96% attendance record.

So now he is going to take a 6 week course in early model Harley motors, Knuckle, Pans etc.

I'm not bragging, Just a proud Dad. 

[SBB]

My son started attending MMI Orlando in Oct. 2013 and finish Dec. 23rd 2014 with graduation Jan. 2nd 2015, He finished 3 weeks early with a 3.9 GPA and 96% attendance record.

So now he is going to take a 6 week course in early model Harley motors, Knuckle, Pans etc.

I'm not bragging, Just a proud Dad. 

Very cool Dan, you should be proud and a little bragging is good.
Does he have a place lined up to work yet?

SBB

[ultrarider123]

It's not braggin when it's your kin, Dan.....

Congrats and good for him taking the extra course on the older scooters.  Old school mechanics are fading away quickly (Larry Poole comes to mind....) so somebody needs to step up in this generation and carry on for the Knuk/Shov/flathead riders

Has he lined up a "local" gig?  I'd be more than happy to let him work on my scoot when it requires shop time.....

[mr_magoo]

Sounds like a good kid you should be proud Dad.

[9 1/2 Beers]

 Very Cool 

[SERK3]

Very cool Dan, you should be proud and a little bragging is good.
Does he have a place lined up to work yet?

SBB

He lives in Tampa and has his Applications in at several Dealerships in that area, But really wants to work at Tampa H-D, The way i understand it Dealerships class techs A,B,& C, They start out as C washing bikes & changing oil, But at Tampa they pair a class C with a Class A Tech, He's working part time for a Independent Shop in Lakeland. He built a Iron Head 1200 Sporty with nitro and a race team done some on track testing  and they are intrested in him.

[SERK3]

It's not braggin when it's your kin, Dan.....

Congrats and good for him taking the extra course on the older scooters.  Old school mechanics are fading away quickly (Larry Poole comes to mind....) so somebody needs to step up in this generation and carry on for the Knuk/Shov/flathead riders

Has he lined up a "local" gig?  I'd be more than happy to let him work on my scoot when it requires shop time.....

No, I was hoping he would come back to Knoxville and maybe get on with Smokey Mtn. H-D, but i think he wants to stay in Fla. He has already bought two wrecked bikes and built one out of them, Sold it and bought a Ultra to ride from Tampa to Orlando and back everyday, Since he bought the Ultra he has never said another word about wanting or riding a crouch rocket, He has been spoiled.

[CVOStreetglide]

No, I was hoping he would come back to Knoxville and maybe get on with Smokey Mtn. H-D, but i think he wants to stay in Fla. He has already bought two wrecked bikes and built one out of them, Sold it and bought a Ultra to ride from Tampa to Orlando and back everyday, Since he bought the Ultra he has never said another word about wanting or riding a crouch rocket, He has been spoiled.

The BIG thing I tried to impress on my godson before I contributed to his MMI school education (deans list grad too) is that he needed to focus on the end result--what he would be making--salary, benefits medical 401k etc. before he went through the school and all of the money and time was spent.

Unfortunately he didn't listen and ended up leaving a Harley dealership after 3 years for those exact reasons--not enough money and benefits for him and a young family starting out.

Even though we harley owners pay high labor costs not very much filters down to the mechanics. In fact many dealerships are moving to part time to avoid benefits and in a few cases putting on night shifts.

I strongly recommend doing the vetting so you have all of the information before going into the business.


Regards

Jerry

[2 ROSE]

Yeah although I never talked to any tech personally about what they make, I have spoke to some employees of the dealer I have all my work done at. I was surprised to learn how little they get paid compared to the shop hourly rate we pay. The H-D dealers should be ashamed of themselves. That is also the reason I try to give them a little tip when I pick the bike up.

[prodrag1320]

they get paid alittle better than working at taco bell

[phato1]

My son started attending MMI Orlando in Oct. 2013 and finish Dec. 23rd 2014 with graduation Jan. 2nd 2015, He finished 3 weeks early with a 3.9 GPA and 96% attendance record.

So now he is going to take a 6 week course in early model Harley motors, Knuckle, Pans etc.

I'm not bragging, Just a proud Dad. 

Your son should be very proud of his accomplishment 
And you are right to be proud of him for those same accomplishments, go ahead and brag.


 Besides, owning a 110" CVO you're going to need a good mechanic around 

[grayghost731]

Good For Him!       And  you to!   

[J.Mart60]

I use an independent mechanic with all the diplomas from HD and he also went thru MMI. He worked for a dealership for a few years till he could get his own shop. He is honest and dependable, so rare, and his shop is very nice. He does the warranty work and all for half the price that the local dealer wants. Twice this local dealer tried to scam me so I am always trying to help my guy out. I have to drive past the dealer to get to him so I will sometimes pick up parts and such that he has waiting just to save him a trip into town. Your son can also run his own shop and do quite well.

[SERK3]

Your son should be very proud of his accomplishment 
And you are right to be proud of him for those same accomplishments, go ahead and brag.


 Besides, owning a 110" CVO you're going to need a good mechanic around 

I guess i have been lucky with the 110 i have its a 07 first year they came out, Only problem i have had is the cruise control, After three trips to the dealer which they could not fix i put a shot of WD40 in the switch and never had any more problems out of it and that was maybe 5 or 6 years ago. 

The only bad thing about having my own H-D Tech, I think he is going to stay in Fla. and i live in Knoxville, Tn. But thats fine with me as long as he is happy and doing what he loves to do.

[SERK3]

I use an independent mechanic with all the diplomas from HD and he also went thru MMI. He worked for a dealership for a few years till he could get his own shop. He is honest and dependable, so rare, and his shop is very nice. He does the warranty work and all for half the price that the local dealer wants. Twice this local dealer tried to scam me so I am always trying to help my guy out. I have to drive past the dealer to get to him so I will sometimes pick up parts and such that he has waiting just to save him a trip into town. Your son can also run his own shop and do quite well.

I think that's what he wants to do is open his own shop someday, But right now he wants to work for a dealer and get some real world hands on experience.

[mark]

The BIG thing I tried to impress on my godson before I contributed to his MMI school education (deans list grad too) is that he needed to focus on the end result--what he would be making--salary, benefits medical 401k etc. before he went through the school and all of the money and time was spent.

Unfortunately he didn't listen and ended up leaving a Harley dealership after 3 years for those exact reasons--not enough money and benefits for him and a young family starting out.

Unfortunately, in our 20s and 30s most don't think about things like 401(k), health insurance, etc., when choosing a career.

[2 ROSE]

But thats fine with me as long as he is happy and doing what he loves to do.

Thats what it is all about!!! How many people work at a job they don't like for their entire career??? That would make one miserable. Serk3 you couldn't ask for anything more. I wish him well.

[D-N-D]

Nice to here !!! Good luck to your son !!!

[porthole]

My son started attending MMI Orlando in Oct. 2013 and finish Dec. 23rd 2014 with graduation Jan. 2nd 2015, He finished 3 weeks early with a 3.9 GPA and 96% attendance record.

So now he is going to take a 6 week course in early model Harley motors, Knuckle, Pans etc.

I'm not bragging, Just a proud Dad. 

And proud you should be.

Since he seems to want to stay at Tampa, let him go for it. Take every class he can.

When I graduated from my Auto/Diesel Tech school, I started at a small gas station, quickly moved to a bigger gas station then started at the bottom a very large highway Chrysler dealer. The dealer gave me the opportunity to learn, and learn quickly. I went from a used car mech to on the "line" as a "C" and was at "A" status before the year was up.
That experience gave me the tools I needed to advance form there.

Wish him well, sure do need some new hands getting into the business.

[smkymtnboy]

congrats to you dad!! lots of things he can do with skills. like open his own ?? little business classes to go with it. local Harley dealership owner pretty much done the same in 1959.be proud. still owns and runs his dealership