Curious, anyone close to dealers or Indy's have a pulse on the "demand" for a good wrench? My 22 y/o son has finally decided to buck up and get a career. He is smart and good with machines (must get it from his Dad!) and he wants to move west to go to MMI, the Harley mechanics school.

Something I suggested 2 years ago and I want to support him but I worry about the big $$'s and what kind of job he might get after graduation since the economy turn.

Would hate to see him shell out that kind of dough to end up doing oil changes for a few bucks an hour.

 

i wouldn't! for the amount of money he's going to spend tell him to go to college and get a degree. if all else fails, join the military, best thing i ever did.

in this area we have the auto mechanic schools. i would say more than 50% don't ever finish and they owe big money.

 

What would the school cost in total? Anything that would lead to a career would be worthwhile. His job prospects and future earnings will all depend on how motivated he is and how quickly his skills increase. You could spend $100,000 on a 4 year university degree so he could get a $30,000 job.

 

Cost is a little north of $20K for the 18 month program. I don't think he has the "will" to see through a 4 year and while overall I strongly support that for youth, unless you go further (MBA, doctorate, etc), payback for most does not seem to be there these days.

As far as military.....well, that's what broke his heart I think. He really wanted to and it was extremely hard on him (and me) that he couldn't due to his Type 1 diabetes.

 

Figuring the mostly likely outcome for a MMI grad is a $10 technician job at a dealer I would have to say no unless the young man possesses some natural mad skills for mechanics.

 

Don't really see anybody fresh out of school with no work experience being able to make a decent living wrenching Harleys for a dealer. Maybe if he was a race mechanic with a lot of skill and ability, but I just don't think that with the way the motorcycle market is right now you're goign to find a lot of employers willing to take a shot at a guy fresh out of school.

 

He'd make more money right out of school working for a casino up in Vegas.

 

I'm surprised at the $10/Hr figure but in this economy.....Is that book rate time paid?

 

I told him the same thing recently!

 

There's the rub.......he is a natural or at least seems to possess a very good eye, but good enough to crack through to a real level where he is in demand?

Think I'll stop by and talk to the Indy here in Kingman. When things were good financially I was thinking this would be great and after a few years if he was talented, we might open our own shop. Not sure I can see that happening these days.