Type 2 Detective Mechanical courses

A customer of ours went to one a month ago and he said it was really good. The way I see it is £190 is well spent if it then means you don't pay out for servicing which is what some of us do.

 

understand your point lowie, but in 20? tekenders nobody has EVER gone home with the AA, no matter what (even if it's meant borrowing bits off Ed's vans) they all drive home, Zed and recently I, always leave last.

 

I ve heard zeds allways the last to leave
but thought that was cos he'd broken down or was still at the hospital
I know no one ever been stuck but that's a good job really because I don't think you'd be covered by Aa/rac in any case as it would be classed as self inflicted as it were

 

Er I think Punnet went home on the back of trailer the year I went lol

Horses for courses I enjoyed it at Techenders and learnt the basics from a great group of vw enthusiasts , I would recommend it to anyone

 

I think it's obvious some people don't believe they've got something unless they pay for it. Sad inditement on today's society IMO but there you go. If anyone wants to pay me at TE I'll stay sober, get up early and teach them properly - er no I won't It's free man. You learn what you want, but as it's free you have to put a bit of effort in yourself, hussling the teachers to teach and getting stuck in.

T2D sounds like a seminar with free coke for £190? Cool if that floats your coat. I've done same at my workshop for people on a one to one basis for half that, but I guess (again) that the more you pay, the more you think you've got.

However, TE used to be as organised as the T2D event with organised classes on engine and brakes servicing. It would be again if enough people wanted that, but no use getting organised like that for 2 people when you can teach the two people in a more chilled way and everyone wants to know different things.

 

Horses for courses, any learning is good
T2d flyer says tbey tell you how to fix the 5 most common break downs, what are they?
Points./ condensor, bad earth, flat battery, clutch cable, accelerator cable?

 

trusting your fuel gauge? neglecting to check/service the various earths? here"s one , forgetting /being unaware the need to check dynamo/alt, brushes

 

Thanks for all your replies, really appreciate it. I have been to the last 2 Techenders and learned a hell of a lot (and had a good time). It was going to Techenders and learning the basics that has made me think I will benefit from an intensive course like the Type 2 detectives. So I am doing it in March. Who knows i may be able to contribute to the next Techenders rather than just learn from the others. I will post up how I get on in march. Cheers John

 

I recently went on the T2D course.

It is well done - the basics are all covered well, providing electrics, engine theory, basic timing and tuning setup, oil changes and showing pulling an engine and changing crankshaft oil seal. But it is not very hands-on as there are quite a few people there on the course.
For people who have little experience it helps build confidence in their vehicle and should help prevent a few breakdowns. And £190 is a lot of money but compared with courses my employer paid for in the past it is quite cheap.

When I booked the course, I had done relatively little 'heavy' maintenance on my bus but by the time I got there I had already had the engine out and back in again twice on the driveway, so it didnt cover as much new territory as I originally thought.

Obviously the other part of the deal is that they are trying to create a relationship with the people who come along to the course, as a provider of parts and services to the people they have on their courses. In that respect they are doing a good job.

For about the same money they will do a day long one-to-one walkthrough of your own vehicle, pointing out what is strange or likely to go wrong. That is probably better value.

And Techenders is cheaper ... You need to see things happening for real, while sites like this, Ratwell, Haynes, Bentley and others describe stuff it is still a lot easier when you see it rather than just reading it.

And now off to take the covers off the bus and drive it up to the Garden centre for a nice coffee....

 

I went last Saturday and I thought the T2D course was really good and agree with all the comments above ^. I got more value out of it because I had been to a couple of Techenders before so most of it made sense. I think it also means I will get even more out of Techenders in future.

 

I went on one late last year and for me, who is new to air-cooled VW's, found it very good. Now I have some idea of all the basics, I would be more likely to attend something like tekenders.

 

I did the T2D Boot Camp late last year.

If you look at it as a professional training course on your T2 then it is about the same price as a lot of one-day professional courses.

It covered a lot and was a good introduction to the problems. If you are somebody who has bought the bus and wants to buy training it is great. Also great if you are not too heavily into camping -the Black Horse Hotel is quite nice.

As somebody who had an N-reg Morris Marina in 1986 and changed wheel bearings using piles of bricks and a big hammer, it was a good refresher, but I had already had the engine out twice between booking the T2D course and going on the course (once to fix something, once to fix mistakes), and by the time I got there I was wondering if it would be worth while - I think it was still worth it as my T2 experience still only spans a bit over 2 years.