Learning some mechanics and a foreign language

[Blommetje]

Hi,

I'm dutch but want to end my trip in Germany. Always liked the country, the food, the people and everything.

Thing is, I used to be a paper pusher in a huge international tech company and definitely don't want to that again.
So I took up welding last summer for the fun of it and because I want to work I a garage for a few years.

Two problems:
1) I speak crappy German. But that will be fixed quite quick I think.
2) As an office clerk I have zero (official) technical skills.

What changes do you guys think I have of landing a garage job somewhere? And is there something i can do the learn more about this so I won't arrive in Germany completely a technical?

Note: I have rebuild quite a few moped / cross bike engines. So I'm not a complete idiot I hope.

Blommetje

Edit: other tips regarding this are more than welcome !


Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

[Bill Ryder]

Just a comment even tho it probably is a bit late. I learned a great deal about motorcycles by working in a wrecking yard for motorcycles that also did repairs. You can start by toting and carrying and then disassembling and work your way up to repairing with used parts.

[Blommetje]

Not late at all, thanks! I had the same idea and today I hung around two guys on a street corner.

To my surprise they fix exhaust pipes while you wait!

You drive up to the ramp, they remove the exhaust, use the spokes of an old bicycle wheel as welding material and within 15 minutes you're good to go!

Hung around a little longer but not much happened, will try again later. Off course, I want yo find a proper garage somewhere and 'work' for a month or so..

And I downloaded a huge German course so all those hours is spend in the busses here (burma) come to good use




Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

[yokesman]

You can and download the FAA mechanics training manuals here,good basics on theory and operation of a wide variety of subjects.

AC 65-12A - [Large AC] Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Powerplant Handbook – Document Information

AS for the German,as my wife says"I gave it back to the teacher",and much of that.

[LD Hack]

Originally Posted by Blommetje

What changes do you guys think I have of landing a garage job somewhere? And is there something i can do the learn more about this...

I'm responding, because I own a specialty construction company, and I get applicants wanting to learn my trade solely for personal reasons and not for becoming a craftsman, only to leave quite quickly. If you were applying to me, I'd not hire you. New hires don't make me any money for at least a year. They actually cost me money! Think of it, someone is training you and not producing work, and you are very slow and worse yet, will make mistakes that cost materials too.

So what's my recommendation for your interest? Sign up for a technical or vocational course or program on small engine repair or consumer vehicle maintenance. A better choice is to find motorcycle buddies in your community. Motorcyclists are very willing to show others how to do basic moto maintenance. Both of these options are going to be your best options producing the best results, from my perspective and experience.

[Blommetje]

Thnx LD Hack, I'll check my options. Although I would like to offer my work/learning process for no or a minimum pay. I completely understand your point of view regarding the hours/material that a new employee would cost (I would have said the same in my previous job) but if I can arrange a work-for-food kind of thing it may be a bit easier.

But nonetheless, point understood, will research the options!

Alex

Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by LD Hack

I'm responding, because I own a specialty construction company, and I get applicants wanting to learn my trade solely for personal reasons and not for becoming a craftsman, only to leave quite quickly. If you were applying to me, I'd not hire you. New hires don't make me any money for at least a year. They actually cost me money! Think of it, someone is training you and not producing work, and you are very slow and worse yet, will make mistakes that cost materials too.

That is a universal truth that is little understood by those coming out of various educational establishments nowadays.

Originally Posted by Blommetje

Thnx LD Hack, I'll check my options. Although I would like to offer my work/learning process for no or a minimum pay.

There are quite a few voluntary systems to obtain work these days, internationally (and they have been discussed in the HUBB a few times).
Almost invariably the advertisers want people who bring skills to the job - to the point of asking for "cheap labour" in some cases.
In other cases it is just a matter of labouring manually.
Some of them offer accommodation and food included in the deal, especially if the work is related to farming or small-holding.

[Walkabout]

By the way, Germany has a very well established system of Fachhochschule which provides their assured standards of tertiary technical education, based on very high standards and associated certification.
Fachhochschule - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are also technical institutions that provide the basis of all that level of education in Germany (below the level of a degree) but I don't recall the name of those - it is something like "technishe hochschule".
As a highly organised society I would be a little surprised if it is possible to be employed within a particular technical discipline in Germany without holding the relevant qualifications.

Good luck with your ambitions.

[*Touring Ted*]

How to learn motorcycle mechanics.

Have a broken bike
Try and fix it
Break it some more trying to fix it.
Try and fix it again.
Break it some more trying to fix second problem
Eventually fix first problem
Break it some more trying to fix third problem
Eventually fix second problem
Break it some more trying to fix third problem.
Etc, etc, etc.

What I'm saying is... NOTHING BEATS EXPERIENCE. You can't learn anything from a manual unless you have your hands on the tools at the same time.

It's trial and error. It's making mistakes and learning from them.

So go out and buy some non-running cheap bikes and make them run. Be prepared to waste a lot of time and a lot of money. Spending hundreds of hours reading forums and manuals to try and fix a problem. Never with a definitive answer.

Expect to spend 1/4 of your time finding and ordering parts, 1/4 buying new tools for stupid jobs and the rest of your time with bleeding knuckles and oil in your eyes. Then in about 5-10 years you will be half competent.

As a mechanic you will be expected to have all your own tools too. You can't work to a high standard with cheap supermarket tools. Expect to invest at least £1000 if you want to be able to work quickly and efficiently.


Someone once said. "Make your hobby your job and you will never work another day in your life".

Well, that guy was AN IDIOT....

If you just want to learn bike mechanics as an interest then keep it as a hobby. You will enjoy it FAR FAR more than being in a bike shop getting screamed at to work at 150% all day long for shit money by incompetent managers.

I enjoyed working on bikes 1000x more when my income didn't rely on it.

[backofbeyond]

Very true Ted. I've only ever worked on bikes (and cars) as a financially necessary hobby but my brother went down the doing it for a living route after he left school. His "tales from the oil face" were pretty much the same as your experience - pressure, pressure, pressure, idiot managers, not much money and seeing friends on the sales side being paid considerably more. He stuck it out for about 15yrs with a number of different companies before quitting that world all together.

There are a number of "industries" where people do the core activity both for a living and for a hobby - mechanic obviously but that shades into other aspects of engineering as well. Any other jobs that people here do for fun? Painting?, decorating?, building? (doing it because your wife thinks it might be fun doesn't count!)

Anybody writing software and not trying to sell it - or just writing for fun and not trying to sell the book? I work as a photographer and often get people coming up to me at events saying they've got a good camera and how can they can get to do what I'm doing. The answer is exactly the same as for working on bikes - practice for years and when you don't need to ask the question you're probably good enough.

For some pro / am jobs the gulf is just too great - not many club runners make it to the Olympics or pub footballers into the Premier League and it's been a while since any St John's Ambulance volunteers asked my wife how to become a doctor.

[nickdcook]

truth.

ok on the learning German part download Doulingo for your phone, its the #1 app to help learn a language. i just started spanish

[Ride Far]

Speaking of mechanics and foreign languages, I've found it helpful to learn the foreign words to key bike parts and other mechanical things in advance and have a list at my disposal.

Brake pads, spokes, battery, bulb, bolt, nut, chain, caliper, spark plug, sprocket, the list is long... all good words to know in a given language rather than saying "your hairy grandmother" when you wanted to say "inner tube."

[mollydog]

The translation work has already been done for Moto parts into Spanish.
Somewhere ... ??? here on HUBB that list exists. Also, I've seen several different ones on ADV Rider.

I've forgotten most of the Spanish mechanical moto words but now I use my Smart Phone for this! (translation app) It's quite good so far ... haven't been able to stump it yet!

Maybe some Google searches will turn up some of useful lists of Spanish Moto parts that earlier HUBB'ers took the time to write out. I know it's here .... somewhere???

PS: Be aware that words for moto parts will vary from country to country. Just as names do for lots of common items.

I learned of at least 10 different ways to describe screwing! Some really funny ones ... almost always accompanied with devilish sounds and hand gestures. Once into Cuba and Puerto Rico and it's hilarious! (but do be careful in mixed company ... Latinos are quite conservative regards sex)

EDIT
BINGO ... here's one from Crashmaster on ADV Rider, it's quite good!!
__________________________________________________ ___

Here is what I used in my travels
The formatting is a little messed up and some of the words sound strange to me after being in Latin America for a couple years, but you should be able to make sense of it:

ABS ABS
Accelerator pump (component of some carburettors) Bomba de aceleración
Accident Accidente; Caída
Additive Aditivo
Aerodynamics Aerodinámica
Air (as a part of the fuel/air mixture) Comburente
Air box Caja de filtro
Air cooling Refrigeración por aire
Air filter Filtro de aire
Alternator Alternador
Aluminium Aluminio
Anti-theft device Antirrobo
Antidive Antidive
Antifreeze Anticongelante
Autoignition Autoencendido
Axis Eje
Axle Eje
BDC PMI
Back (e.g. wheel) Trasera (or trasero depending on gender of noun)
Balaclava Sotocasco (literally "underhelmet")
Balance shaft Árbol de equilibrado
Ball race Bolas, rulemán de (see also under "bearing")
Battery Batería
Bead (of tyre) Talón de un neumático
Bearing Rulemán (also Rúleman); Rodamiento; Cojinete (There seems to be a lot of debate about the distinction between "cojinete" and "rodamiento", both of which are frequently translated as "bearing". Looking through bearing manufacturers' Spanish catalogues (mmmm!) it seems that "cojinete" is the more generic term, ranging from simple bushes ("cojinetes lisos") to complex assemblies and "rodamiento" tends to mean roller bearings or other assemblies. The degree of debate suggests they are interchangeable in general usage. If you need to know the gory details, there is a useful article (in Spanish) at http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodamiento)
Belt Correa
Big end Muñequilla
Bike Moto
Biker Motero
Bodywork Carrocería
Bolt Perno; Tornillo
Boot Bota
Bore (of cylinder) Diámetro
Bottom dead centre (in engine) Punto Muerto Inferior
Boxer (motor) Boxer
Brake caliper Pinza de freno
Brake disc Disco de freno
Brake drum Tambor de freno
Brake fluid Líquido de frenos
Brake pad Pastilla de freno
Brake pedal (i.e. rear brake lever) Palanca de freno
Brake shoe Zapata de freno
Brakes Frenos
Bulb (i.e. light bulb) Bombilla; Lámpara
Bush Casquillo; Buje; Cojinete liso
Butterfly (valve) Mariposa
Cable Cable de mando (used for control cables - brake, clutch, throttle, etc)
Cam Leva
Camshaft Árbol de levas
Capacitor Condensador
Capacity (of engine) Cilindrada
Carbon fibre Fibra de carbono
Carbon monoxide Monóxido de carbono
Carbonisation Carbonilla
Carburant (i.e. fuel) Carburante
Carburation Carburación
Carburetter Carburador
Carburettor needle Aguja del carburador
Carcass of tyre Carcasa de neumático
Cartridge forks Horquilla de cartucho
Casing (Usually engine but also pumps, drive shaft, etc) Cárter
Catalyst Catalizador
Catalytic converter Catalizador
Centre of gravity Centro de gravedad
Chain Cadena
Chain drive Transmisión por cadena
Chain link Eslabón
Choke Starter (N.B. although the Spanish use the English word, it means choke and not starter motor - see "arranque")
Circuit (racing) Circuito (carrera); Pista
Circuit breaker Interruptor; Ruptor
Circuit breaker contacts Platinos
Clearance Holgura
Clutch Embrague
Clutch basket Campana de embrague
Clutch plate Disco de embrague
Coking Carbonilla
Collector pipe Colector de escape
Combustion Combustión
Combustion chamber Cámara de combustión
Compression Compresión
Compression ratio Relación de compresión
Condenser Condensador
Connecting rod Biela
Conrod Biela
Consumption (fuel) Consumo
Contamination Contaminación
Continuously variable transmission Variador constante de velocidad
Controls Mandos
Cooling Refrigeración
Cooling circuit Circuito de refrigeración
Cooling fin Aleta de refrigeración
Corner Curva
Countersteering Contramanillar
Cover (1) (noun, e.g. of clutch) Cuta
Cover (2) (i.e. bike cover) Funda
Crank bearings (collective term for the set of) Bancada
Cranking pressure Presión de compresión
Crankshaft Cigüeñal
Crankshaft counterweights Guitarras del cigüeñal (Latin America); Contrapesos del cigueñal (Spain)
Crankshaft journal Gorrón de apoyo
Crash (noun) Accidente; Caída
Crown of piston Cabeza del pistón
Curve Curva
Cylinder Cilindro
Cylinder block Bloque de cilindros
Cylinder head Culata
Cylinder lining Camisa del cilindro
DOHC Doble árbol de levas en la culata
Dead centre (TDC, BDC) Punto muerto
Decompression valve Descompresor
Desmodromic Desmodrómico
Detonation Detonación
Diameter Diámetro
Disc brakes Freno de disco
Disk lock Candado freno
Displacement Cilindrada
Downpipe Colector de escape
Drive train (in shaft drive system) Árbol de transmisión
Drum brakes Freno de tambor
Dry sump Cárter seco
Dual carriageway Autovía (compare autopista)
Earplugs Tapones para oídos
Efficiency Rendimiento
Electrical system Instalación eléctrica
Electrolyte Electrolito
End pipe (includes silencer) Tubo de escape
Engine balance Equilibrado del motor
Engine block Bloque de cilindros
Engine braking Freno motor
Engine mountings Anclajes del motor
Engine noise and vibration when engine is labouring at low revs Picado de biela
Engine torque Par motor
Exhaust (-stroke or -system) Escape
Exhaust gases Gases de escape
Exhaust pipe (includes silencer) Tubo de escape
Exhaust tract Conducto de escape
Exhaust valve Válvula de escape
Expansion chamber (in 2-stroke exhaust) Tubarro
Expansion tank (cooling circuit) Vaso de expansión
Explosion Explosión
Fading (of brakes) Fading
Fairing Carenado
Fall (noun) Accidente; Caída
Fan Ventilador
Feeler gauge Galgas; Pastillas calibradas
Flame front velocity Velocidad de combustión
Float chamber (of carburettor) Cuba del carburador
Flywheel Volante de inercia
Footpeg Estribo (literally stirrup); Reposapiés
Footrest Estribo (literally stirrup); Reposapiés
Forced cooling Forzada, sistema de refrigeración
Fork leg Barra (de horquilla)
Fork slider Botella (de horquilla)
Forks Horquilla
Four stroke Cuatro tiempos
Frame Bastidor
Friction Fricción
Front (e.g. wheel) Delantera (or delantero depending on gender of noun)
Fuel (as a part of the fuel/air mixture) Combustible
Fuel filter Filtro de gasolina
Fuel pump Bomba de gasolina
Fuelling Alimentación
Fuse Fusible
Garage (repair shop) Taller
Gasket Junta
Gasoline Gasolina
Gauge Galga
Gear (1) (wheel) Engranaje
Gear (2) (ratio) Marcha; Velocidad
Gear lever Palanca de cambio
Gear selector/shift/change fork Horquilla de cambio
Gearbox Caja de cambio
Gears (i.e. the gear ratios collectively) Cambio de marchas
Generator Generador
Gland Empaquetadura
Glass fibre Fibra de vidrio
Gloves Guantes
Grandstand Tribuna
Grease Grasa
Grid (on racetrack) Parrilla
Grip Adherencia; Agarre
Grip (on handlebar) Puño
Gudgeon pin Bulón del pistón
Handlebar Manillar
Hanging off Descolgarse
Headlight Faro
Heat exchanger Intercambiador de calor
Helicoil Helicoil
Helmet Casco
Hemispherical chamber (combustion) Hemisférica, cámara
Horsepower Caballo de vapor; CV
Hose, hydraulic Latiguillo
Housing Alojamiento
Hydraulic circuit Hidráulico, circuito
Hydraulic piston (e.g. in brake or clutch) Bombín
Hydrocarbon Hidrocarburo
Ignition Encendido
Ignition advance Avance de encendido
Immobiliser/Ignition lock Cerradura de contacto
Indicator Intermitencia
Induction Admisión
Induction and exhaust Distribución (N.B. not electrical distribution)
Induction valve Válvula de admisión
Inertia Inercia
Injection (fuel) Inyección
Injector Inyector
Inlet tract Conducto de admisión
Inner tube Cámara de neumático
Input shaft (of gearbox) Árbol primario de cambio
Instruments Instrumentos
Intake Admisión
Intake valve Válvula de admisión
Intercom Intercomunicador
Internal combustion Combustión interna
Iron Hierro
Jacket Chaqueta
Jet (of carburettor) Surtidor del carburador
Joint Junta
Key Llave
Kilogram Kilogramo
Kilometre Kilómetro
Kilowatt Kilovatio
Knee slider Taco de rozamiento
Knock Detonación
Lambda sensor (oxygen sensor in catalytic exhaust) Sonda lambda
Lamp Bombilla; Lámpara
Lap Vuelta
Lead tetraethyl Tetraetilo de plomo
Lever (on handlebar - brake, clutch, etc) Maneta
Light(bulb) socket Casquillo
Lighting Iluminación
Lights Luces
Limit of grip Límite de adherencia
Locking pin Fiador
Locknut (In English, the term locknut is used for both a nut screwed down on another to secure it, and a self-locking nut (q.v.). This is the former.) Tuerca candado
Locus of the contact patch around the tyre Banda de rodadura
Low pressure (as in the cylinder during the induction stroke) Depresión
Lubricant Lubricante
Lubrication Lubricación
Lubrication circuit Circuito de lubricación
Magneto Magneto
Manometer Manómetro; Vacuómetro
Mechanical losses (of a motor) Pérdidas mecánicas
Mirror Espejo
Mixture Mezcla
Moment of inertia Momento de inercia
Monocoque Monocasco, chasis
Motor Motor
Motorbike Moto
Motorway Autopista (compare autovía)
Muffler Silenciador
Multicylinder Pluricilíndrico
Needle cage bearing Jaula de agujas
Neutral (gearbox) Punto muerto
Nikasil (Nickel/silicon carbide hardening process for alloy cylinders) Nikasil
Nut Tuerca
O-ring Junta tórica
OHV (overhead valve) OHV
Octane number Octano, número de
Off-road bike Campo, moto de
Oil Aceite
Oil control ring Rascador, segmento
Oil filter Filtro de aceite
Oil level Nivel de aceite
Oil level window Ojo de buey (literally "ox eye" - also means porthole)
Oil pressure Presión de aceite
Oil pump Bomba de aceite
One-piece race suit Mono
Otto cycle Ciclo de Otto
Output shaft (of gearbox) Árbol secundario de cambio
Overtake Adelantamiento
Oxidation Oxidación
Oxidisation Oxidación
Paddock girls Chicas de paddock
Paddock stand Caballete
Padlock Candado
Pannier Maleta
Parabolic reflector Parábola
Pass (as in overtake) Adelantamiento
Passenger Pasajero
Petrol Gasolina
Pillion Pasajero
Pinking Detonación
Piston (1) (hydraulic) Émbolo
Piston (2) (in engine, as opposed to hydraulic) Pistón
Piston pin Bulón del pistón
Piston rings Aros del pistón; Segmentos
Piston skirt Falda del pistón
Pollution Contaminación
Port (e.g. exhaust or transfer in a two-stroke engine) Lumbrera
Power Potencia
Power jet (additional injector in a 2-stroke carburettor) Power jet
Power/ignition stroke Expansión
Pre-ignition Preencendido
Pressure release valve (of radiator) Tapón del radiador
Pressure wave Onda de presión
Production (as opposed to prototype) Serie (e.g. "motos de serie")
Profile (i.e. height of tyre) Altura; Perfil
Progressive suspension Suspensión progresiva
Pulley Polea
Puncture Pinchazo
Pushrod Taqué; Varilla (usage is a little confusing - both terms are widely translated as pushrod but there is a diagram at http://mecanicavirtual.iespana.es/hazlo-taques.htm which labels the part of the pushrod in contact with the cam as "Taqué" and the length of the rod as "varilla")
Race (i.e. lots of riders trying to go faster than each other. For the type of bearing, see "Ball race") Carrera
Racetrack Circuito (carrera); Pista
Radial tyre Neumático, radial
Radiator Radiador
Ram air Ram air
Range (on a full tank) Autonomía; Alcance
Rear Trasera (or trasero depending on gender of noun)
Rear view mirror Retrovisor
Reciprocating mass (i.e. the pistons and conrods) Masa alternativa
Rectifier Rectificador
Reed valve Válvula de láminas
Regulator Regulador
Relay Relé
Reliability Fiabilidad
Replacement part Pieza de recambio (or just recambio)
Retaining collar, pin, etc Retén
Return spring Muelle
Rev counter Tacómetro
Rev limiter Limitador de revoluciones
Ride (1) (noun) Vuelta; Paseo
Ride (2) (verb) Montar
Rim Cerco; Llanta
Road (1) (major) Carretera
Road (2) (minor) Camino
Rocker arm Balancín
Rocker cover Culatín
Rotary valve Válvula rotativa
Rotor (of alternator) Volante magnético
Run-on Autoencendido
Running in Rodaje
SOHC (Single overhead cam) SOHC
Saddlebag Alforja
Screen Cúpula; Parabrisa; Pantalla
Screw Perno; Tornillo
Seal Empaquetadura
Seat Asiento; Sillín
Seizure (engine) Gripado
Self-locking nut Tuerca autofrenante; Tuerca freno; Tuerca de seguridad; Tuerca autoseguro
Sensors Sensores
Shaft Eje; Arbol; Cárdan (this seems to be used for both drive shafts and the universal joints they use)
Shaft drive Transmisión por cárdan
Shock absorber Amortiguador
Sidestand Pata de cabra (literally goat's hoof); Caballete lateral
Sight glass Ojo de buey (literally "ox eye" - also means porthole)
Silencer Silenciador
Silent block (rubber mounted engine) Silent block
Single-cylinder Monocilíndrico
Sleeve Casquillo; Buje; Cojinete liso
Slicks Slicks
Slide valve Válvula de guillotina
Spanner Llave
Spark plug Bujía
Spark plug cap Pipa de bujía
Speed (1) (of motion) Velocidad
Speed (2) (of engine) Régimen
Speedometer Velocímetro
Spoke Radio de rueda
Spring Resorte
Sprocket (1) (especially rear) Corona
Sprocket (2) (especially front) Piñón
Sprung weight Masa suspendida
Squish band Squish, área de
Starter motor Arranque; Motor de arranque
Steel Acero
Steering Dirección
Steering axis Eje de dirección
Steering damper Amortiguador de dirección
Steering geometry Cotas de dirección; Geometría de dirección
Steering head angle Ángulo de dirección
Stoppie Invertido
Stressed member (e.g. engine as part of frame) Autoportante
Stroke (i.e. of piston) Carrera
Subframe Colín
Suspension Suspensión
Swept volume Cilindrada
Swingarm Basculante
Switch Interruptor; Ruptor
TDC PMS
Tachometer Tacómetro
Tank (petrol, etc) Depósito
Tankbag Bolsa cubredepósito
Telescopic forks Horquilla telescópica
Temperature Temperatura
Thermal rating (of a spark plug) Grado térmico
Thermostat Termostato
Thread Rosca
Threadlock Pegamento para tornillos (literally glue for screws)
Throttle Acelerador
Titanium Titanio
Toothed (of gear, etc) Dentado
Top dead centre (TDC) Punto Muerto Superior (PMS)
Top speed Velocidad punta
Topbox Baúl
Torque Par (de torsión)
Torque at crank Par motor
Torque specified for a bolt/screw Par de apriete
Torque wrench Llave dinamométrica
Track (2) (racing) Circuito (carrera); Pista
Track (1) (path, trail or rough road) Pista
Trail (fork geometry) Avance
Transfer port (in a 2-stroke engine) Transfer
Transmission ratio Relación de transmisión
Transmission shaft Árbol de transmisión
Tread (of tyre) Dibujos (literally drawings or designs)
Triple clamp Tija
Tubeless Sin cámara; Tubeless
Two stroke Dos tiempos
Tyre Neumático
Tyre pressure Presión de inflado
Universal joint Cárdan (Also used to mean shaft drive. The four-armed crosspiece in which the connected shafts locate is called "Cruceta de cardan")
Unsprung weight Masa no suspendida
Upside-down fork Horquilla invertida
Valve Válvula
Valve adjustment Reglaje de válvulas
Valve guide Guía de válvula
Valve opening/lift Apertura de válvula
Valve overlap Cruce de válvulas
Valve play Juego de válvulas
Valve seat Asiento de válvula
Valve timing Calado de la distribución
Velocity Velocidad
Venturi effect Principio de Venturi
Viscosity Viscosidad
Viscosity index (how affected by temperature) Índice de viscosidad
Visor Visera; Pantalla
Volt Voltio
Vulcanisation Vulcanización
Wankel Wankel
Washer Arandela
Water cooling Refrigeración por agua
Water pump Bomba de agua
Weight transfer (under braking or acceleration) Transferencia de cargas
Wet sump Cárter húmedo
Wheel alignment Alineación de las ruedas
Wheel balance Equilibrado de ruedas
Wheelie Caballito (also used for bunnyhop); Guili; Wheelie
Width (e.g. of tyre) Anchura
Windscreen Cúpula; Parabrisa; Pantalla
Woodruff key Chaveta
Workshop Taller
Yoke Tija

[BreddyRobe]

In most of the lessons, you read the sentence, click on the sentence to listen to the sentence, and then you can practice speaking by repeating after the audio file provided by a native English speaker. This proven method strengthens your reading, speaking, and listening all at the same time and makes learning English easy. You will improve your English speaking using this method.
ACT

[mollydog]

Seems to me most current young travelers depend solely on Google Translate ... since they have an incredible speak function that actually WORKS!

I know my MC parts and basics pretty well in Spanish ... but if I'm stuck, Google Translate is brilliant. Sadly, this could mean fewer will have a real conversation beyond basic tourist chatter.

Then again, I always got left behind when hanging with grad students in Colombia when conversation turned to politics and beyond. These kids were VERY WELL educated, had read a lot, had a lot to say. (Unfortunately they were targets of secret police ).