Any ideas for a mechanics club?

[tommy89]

Hello everyone!

I should start with a brief background - I am a primary school teacher (year 5/6) and people at work know I am into my cars - We have been after for a while, and finally been donated a car to teach the kids about amateur mechanics (actually a new DT module criteria on the new national curriculum 2014)

I can think of a few basics - But I was wondering if any inspiring ideas sprung to any of you more mechanically minded people?

I have things like, oil check, oil change, filter changes, tyre safety and change, wiper change, bulb change and saftey - cleaning and waxing etc for care.

When I find out what colour the car is - there may be the chance of a bit of body work.

Any ideas are a great help.

Oh! all I know so far is that the car is a ford escort.

 

[lgonzalez]

Front brakes would be a fairly easy yet slightly more involved job to teach/learn on the Escort? Rear brakes I'm not sure how complicated it'd be to learn at that age with the adjusters and so forth? Just an idea.

 

[oscar]

Wheels and tyres explain what load speed and all of the symbols mean on a tyre, explain and show the basics of a braking system and how the engines vacuum assists, basic chassis and suspension, show them how to jack a car up and how to identify the correct jacking points and incorrect jacking points, how to change and torque a wheel, how to change oil and top up to the correct level and maintain dipstick level, purpose of an exhaust system and how it helps to reduce harmful emissions and what those emissions are, basic valeting and washing, the basic electronics inside a car and how its all interlinked to the ecu, a basic overview of engines and how they work, transmission auto and manual and how they work to aid in torque multiplication etc and perhaps a little bit about the history of the four stroke engine?

 

[tommy89]

Thank you both very much! I shall print this page to sort out some formal planning tomorrow night (ready for the cars arrival this week!! very exciting)

 

[waitey]

I think showing them how to service a car would be beneficial as it can save alot of money in the future, its not exactly too hard to change a panel filter and do an oil change and oil filter and spark plugs.

If you have all the tools it should be a doddle, with it being years 5/6 I'm not so sure though as I suppose its more suited to years 10/11 as they'll be older and able to carry out the tasks easier as some bits can be tough if something is seized or doesn't want to move, plus alot of people would start learning how to drive in year 12/13 so they will know how to look after their own car.

I wouldn't touch suspension as you don't want to risk a spring flying off and potentially injuring someone!

Definitely basic maintenance, check tyres, fluids, bulbs, brakes and pads etc to check cars are safe basically, I remember doing something like this for a day but with one of our sixth firm teachers classic beetle, it was hilarious when someone opened the front bonnet and seemed shocked that there was no engine up front :lol:

Also teach them that a car should be respected because they are a weapon on wheels which can be fatal if not driven well.

 

[tommy89]

Certainly agree with your last point there Waitey (as well as all your good ideas on topics to look at) They need to be tought a great deal of respect around this vehicle before they even get their hands on it - not only respect for a valuable (to them) vehicle but also teams up very nicely with road safety.... as this is a rural school we have a lot of incidences in the local area regarding car accidents involving pedestrians and fatalities (none at the school thank goodness)

This club should give them the opportunity to learn a few useful skills (they will be told not to use them on any other car btw) and improve their maturity levels - My class is very mature for its age... mainly cos I'm a bit of a dick with discipline, has to be done otherwise this is how we end up with dis respectful young adults.

 

[lgonzalez]

A good book to get that can help you to explain stuff is Hilliars Fundamemtals of motor vehicle technology. Its a set of 3 but with the stuff you'll be teaching I think book 1 is more than enough, it covers all the mechanical and some electrical. Book 2 covers electrical and book 3 covers chassis and body electronics.

They are very well written and easy to understand with great diagrams and illustrations.

 

[funky_d]

What an absolutely superb idea. I'd have killed to have been able to do something like this when I was at school, this is awesome.

I pretty much echo what everyone else has said - I think being able to change brake pads & discs is a good one. It's an all too common part of the car that needs to be replaced and it's amazing just how little people know how to do it themselves, and it's so easy too.

 

[tommy89]

Many thanks for your ideas and comments - I will focus on brakes for a few sessions - they may teach their parents something!

I will look for that book you mentioned igonzalez - I was going to buy a haynes manual but I may aswell get both as its going through school in a big order including a few parts, oils, bulbs, paints and cleaning gear hehe Bigger budget as its a year long club and the end product can be sold for £200 scrap if scrap value holds

Cant wait for this club to start - Im like a big kid at Christmas

 

[oscar]

Hilliers fundamentals is quite in depth in the sense that it is going to overwhelm kids. Its for year one and two apprentices and covers a fair amount of mechanical components its textbook theory instead of demonstrative if you get me, great book however. You want principles of light vehicle maintenance and repair. Level one is fine. Provides you health and sqfety information, regulations, safe practices, teaches you about tools using pictures etc and gives you service sheets so that u know how to do a service sheet. It also tells you how to identify faulty parts and probable causes and remedis wheras hilliers only gives you a description on the theory of how this or that works, this one i reccomend does that too but will make it much more fun and easier to understand. It is by graham stokes, eric sykes nand catherine whittaker / Heinemann.

 

[lgonzalez]

Hilliers fundamentals is quite in depth in the sense that it is going to overwhelm kids. Its for year one and two apprentices and covers a fair amount of mechanical components its textbook theory instead of demonstrative if you get me, great book however. You want principles of light vehicle maintenance and repair. Level one is fine. Provides you health and sqfety information, regulations, safe practices, teaches you about tools using pictures etc and gives you service sheets so that u know how to do a service sheet. It also tells you how to identify faulty parts and probable causes and remedis wheras hilliers only gives you a description on the theory of how this or that works, this one i reccomend does that too but will make it much more fun and easier to understand. It is by graham stokes, eric sykes nand catherine whittaker / Heinemann.

No I meant for teacher to read then can interpret tp simpler language for the kiddies

But I've never heard of the one you mentioned but definitly sounds better for the kiddies!

 

[oscar]

Igonzalez - yes deffinately agree, however if teaching wud deff prefer principles of .. Book due to its health and safety content, sections on tools, work practices etc aswell as the theory side ive found it to be better as you would want the kids to know how to clean spilled oil etc and how to handle accidents like burns cuts etc safely wheras hilliers doesnt touch upon any of that although i dont doubt that theyd be taught the basics. Im sure waterstones sells both, best bet is to pop in and see which youd prefer. Deffinately wont go wrong with both books however i have both infront of me no longer required so if you wish, id happily donate both and you could pay postage?

 

[tommy89]

Thank you for your kind offer Oscar! That would have been an absolutely brilliant thing of you to do - unfortunately I took the names of the books you two mentioned before I saw your message and have now got them coming in the post

Teach me to not read posts properly wont it!

 

[lgonzalez]

Ah that's a shame mate, hope the books serve you well. You'll have to let us know how the club does.

 

[tommy89]

I will keep you posted! Need to organise a place on school grounds to store this car