Motorcycle & Marine Services

Motorcycle and marine engines are becoming more sophisticated and require technicians to have extensive technical training. Motorcycle and marine engines are a separate technology from automobile and diesel mechanics. The motorcycle service industry includes ATVs, dirt bikes, and street bikes. The marine service industry relates to bass boats, pleasure boats, personal watercraft, and cruisers. While all have similar maintenance and repair requirements, all can develop unique problems that test the technician’s expertise.

Only full-time day classes are available on the main campus.

Employment Stats

  • Program Length 1 year (Diploma)
  • Job Placement 100%
  • Average Earnings $33,590 / yr
  • Cost $7,549

About Program

As the pool of qualified technicians shrinks, Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), a division of Chattanooga State, works with the motorcycle and marine industry to combat qualified technicians’ shortage. Today’s motorcycle and marine products include items that require general maintenance as well as major repair. Technicians must be skilled in many areas of expertise and find themselves facing new challenges daily.

Classroom and shop learning experiences are focused on fundamentals and principles of operation. Students deal with live projects and determine the owner’s complaint, the cause of the complaint, and the correction required to repair the problem in a professional manner.

Job Expectations

Technicians may work in all types of conditions, including cold, heat, various lighting conditions, and confined or tight spaces. Hazards include muscle strains, possible eye injury, possible exposure to chemicals, possible injury from contacting rotating mechanical assemblies and hot surfaces. Appropriate safety equipment and extreme care are a must to prevent injury.

Expected Earnings

Earnings as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook are as follows: Mean hourly wages of Motorcycle Technicians were $16.32. The low 10% eared less than $10.07 and the top 10% earned more than $24.24. Mean hourly wages of Marine Technicians were $17.96. The low10% eared less than $10.88 and the top 10% earned more than $26.66.

Course Schedule

Students may enroll during the fall, spring, or summer term provided space is available. Students who are eligible to enroll will be given an opportunity to register for one of the open seats during each term’s enrollment period.

  • Full-time classes
  • Day class only on the main campus
  • Enrollment is limited to 30 students in each class

Full-Time Program Schedule for (semester) (Hours)

Semester

Day Class

Evening Class

Days

Fall (450 hours)

7:00am – 1:45pm

Not Available

Monday - Friday

Spring (450 hours)

7:00am – 1:45pm

Not Available

Monday - Friday

Summer (390 hours)

7:00am – 2:00pm

Not Available

Monday - Friday

Tools

It is recommended students wait till the first day of class before purchasing tools
Students have ten class days to provide tools. The student should have paper, Pen/Pencil, and Textbooks on the first day of class.

*Required
**Instructors reserve the right to edit this tool/supply list as needed for industry and instructional needs

 

**Required Textbooks & Supplies

·       1* Textbook Understanding the Outboard Motor -Third Edition, Author: Eugene W. Stagner, ISBN 0-13-094318-5

·       1* Textbook Modern Motorcycle Technology Second Edition Author: Edward Abdo, ISBN 13: 978-1-1116-4064-4 or 10: 1-1116-4064-5

·       3*Uniforms shirts minimum Please see dress code for color and description

·       1*Pencil/Pen and something to write on and take notes

·       1*Flash drive (thumb drive) Minimum 4GB

·       1* Headphones/earbuds for sound when watching training materials on computers

·       1* 500 Sheet Pack of typing/copy Paper

·       1*Safety Glasses must be clear (no tint or mirror finish)

·       1*Head Phones Hearing Protection 25 dB minimum protection (no earplugs)

 

Hand Tool List

·       1 Roll/Service cart 30’’ wide 24” deep minimum with at least three roller bearing drawers

·       1 Set of Shallow Sockets 6 point 5mm thru 16mm 1/4” Drive

·       1 Set of Deep Sockets 12 point 5mm thru 15mm 1/4” Drive

·       1 Ball Swivel 1/4” Drive

·       1 Spark Plug Socket 13/16”

·       1 Spark Plug Socket 5/8”

·       1 Spark Plug Socket 18mm

·       1 Socket organizers for the 11 items above

·       1 Ratchet 1/4” Drive (Higher tooth count is preferred 80 tooth or better)

·       1 1/4” Drive Extension 6”

·       1 1/4” Drive Extension 10”

·       1 Ratchet, 3/8” Drive (Higher tooth count is preferred 80 tooth or better)

·       1 3/8 to 1/4 drive adapter

·       1 3/8” Drive Extension 6”

·       1 3/8” Drive Extension 10”

·       1 Set 3/8” Drive Sockets Metric Shallow 6 Point 12mm thru 19mm

·       1 Set 3/8” Drive Sockets Metric Deep 6 Point 12mm thru 19mm

·       1 Ball Swivel 3/8” Drive

·       1 Set Combination Wrenches Standard Length Metric Size 6mm thru 19mm 12pt 12 Wrenches

·       1 Flat tip Screwdriver 7/32” tip standard length

·       1 Flat tip Screwdriver .” tip standard length

·       1 Flat Tip Screwdriver 5/16” tip standard length

·       1 Phillips screwdriver #1 size standard length

·       1 Phillips screwdriver #2 size standard length

·       1 Phillips screwdriver #3 size standard length

·       1 Diagonal Cutter 8”

·       1 Needle Nose Pliers 6”

·       1 12 oz. Ball Peen Hammer

·       1 16 oz. Soft Faced Dead Blow Hammer

·       1 Adjustable Arc Joint Pliers 7”

·       1 Adjustable Wrench 12”

·       1 Wire Strippers / Crimper

·       1 12Volt Test Light incandescent bulb 6v‐12v (plain test light, nothing fancy clear bulb)

·       1 LED Pocket Flashlight

·       1 Snap‐On Digital Multi Meter number 504 required (this is the only meter used in training)

·       1 Claw Pick‐Up Tool

·       1 magnetic pickup tool 16 oz. lift minimum

·       1 feeler gauge set 0.002”‐0.015” (Kastar 1610 or similar work well)

·       1 Wire Spark Plug Gap Gauge set 0.015 to 0.045” (should not be the type used as a key chain)

·       1 Compression Gauge (range minimum 0‐250 PSI) with 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm adapters

·       1 1/4” drive Inch Pound Torque Wrench Minimum Range 40 to 200 Inch-Pound Ratcheting

·       1 3/8” drive Inch Pound Torque Wrench Minimum Range 5 to 75 foot Pound Ratcheting

·       1 Gasket Scraper (Blue Point PK70 is a good one that is less damaging to aluminum parts) or similar

·       1 Marine Gear lube pump (can be bought at Academy or Walmart and can be used for both lower units and ATV motorcycle differentials)

·       1 set of funnels (cheap plastic set will do)

Cost

Three semesters – 1,290 clock hours

450 hours

$1,383

450 hours

$1,383

390 hours

$1,383

Tools (estimate)

$5,000.00 (avg.) Dependent on brand and quality

Books (estimate)

$400.00

 

Special Fees Charged in Addition to Maintenance and Tuition

  • Credit by Examination Fee - The regular course fee is charged for each special examination and must be paid prior to taking the examination. Non-refundable. (See Academic Regulations.)
  • Credit for Life Experience Fees - Assessment Fee for Experiential Learning $45.00.  Experiential Learning Credit $15.00 per credit hour in excess of 3.0 credit hours. $90.00 maximum.
  • High School Equivalency Test (Hi-SET) - $75
  • Placement Test Fees - ACT - $45.00. (Refer to Admissions Policy.)

TCAT Special Fees

Charged in Addition to Maintenance and Tuition

  • Credit by Examination Fee - The regular course fee is charged for each special examination and must be paid prior to taking the examination. Non-refundable. (See Academic Regulations.)
  • Credit for Life Experience Fees - Assessment Fee for Experiential Learning $45.00.  Experiential Learning Credit $15.00 per credit hour in excess of 3.0 credit hours. $90.00 maximum.
  • High School Equivalency Test (Hi-SET) - $75
  • Placement Test Fees - ACT - $45.00. (Refer to Admissions Policy.)

Books

Your text books will cost around $400.00

  • Understanding the Outboard Motor -Third Edition, Author: Eugene W. Stagner, ISBN 0-13-094318-5
  • Modern Motorcycle Technology, 2nd Edition Author: Edward Abdo, ISBN 10: 1111640645 or 3: 9781111640644

Curriculum

Fall Semester

  • Shop Safety
  • Basic 12 Volt Electrical Circuits
  • Series and Parallel Electric Circuits
  • Electrical Wiring Diagrams
  • NC3 504 Multimeter Certification
  • Voltage Drop and Amperage Testing
  • Starting Systems
  • Basic Electronic Fuel Injection
  • Battery Powered Ignition Systems
  • Battery Maintenance and Selection
  • Charging Systems
  • Stator/Magneto Powered Ignition Systems
  • Marine Accessories
  • Motorcycle Accessories

Spring Semester

  • Shop Safety
  • Unit Identification and Service Literature
  • Periodic Maintenance and Unit Inspection
  • NC3 Torque Training
  • General Engine Service Procedures
  • Chassis and Hull Maintenance Requirements
  • Hydraulic Systems Operation and Service
  • Fuel Systems Theory and Maintenance
  • Tires, Wheel, and Propeller Inspection, Selection and Installation

Summer Semester

  • Shop Safety
  • Metric and Standard Precision Measuring
  • Basic Engine Fundamentals
  • Two Stroke Theory, Failures, and Repairs
  • Four Stroke Theory, Failures, and Repairs
  • Mechanical Failure Analysis and Repair Recommendations

Career Opportunities

Service Technician- Motorcycle/Marine/Small engine/Power equipment/Lawn and garden equipment
Parts sales
Service manager
Shop foreman
Other fields that utilize internal combustion engines
Service Writer