Be very, very careful who does your work

[shrub]

A couple of years ago I purchased a motorcycle from a local dealer. It was a Japanese import and brought in as a write-off. The frame was bent and needed work around the steering head, which was then completed.

When I got the bike the steering felt loose so I complained and the dealer did some work and returned it to me. It was better, but still not brilliant so I complained again and was assured that it was OK and that it was basicaly my imagination. I got busy with life and didn't bother making an issue of it, but was never happy with the steering. A couple of weeks ago I had a new tyre fitted and while the wheel was off I decided to pull the steering head down and see what i could do, thinking it was probably just an adjustment issue.

I discovered that the top bearing was a standard sealed ball bearing, not a steering head bearing, so I purchased a tapered roller bearing and fitted it. Now I'm no mechanic, and there was no improvement, so I took the bike into Sportszone to get them to do the job.

The lads there got stuck in and told me that I needed a complete new kit which they ordered. Then when they went to fit it, it turned out that the frame had never been repaired properly and the bearings didn't actually fit, and that it was in fact dangerous to ride.

It turns out that the mechanics who originally worked on my bike were not actually qualified mechanics. One of them is now out of the industry and the other claims to be a qualified car mechanic, but apparently even that is in doubt.

The moral of the story is if you're getting work done, make sure the mechanic is a qualified bike mechanic and that the dealer is an MTA dealer. Otherwise you might as well do it yourself.

[YellowDog]

If the frame was bent and they say they straightened it with your cash, then surely the garage is liable?

[neels]

This is why if it is humanly possible, I'll do it myself.

And I always assume that if it's at all possible for somebody to fuck something up, then they will. If you start with that expectation, then when they actually get it right for once it's a pleasant surprise.

[T.W.R]

One failing in your story shrub.... frame work such as you describe has to be done by a certified engineer not a mechanic

[shrub]

If the frame was bent and they say they straightened it with your cash, then surely the garage is liable?

Alas no. The warranty period is long gone and because they're not MTA they have no accountability. Just a lesson to be very careful who works on your bike, there are cowboys out there who should not be trusted to work on anything more than a lawnmower.

[onearmedbandit]

I would've thought, MTA or not, any business is liable for the work they do, and in this case regardless of warranty period. You paid for work to be completed to a satisfactory level, it wasn't (and this was agreed to by the business as they accepted that further work had to be done), and then even so you still had doubts, but were assured by the business that all was fine.

Fast forward two years later, and you are now informed that the work was never completed to a satisfactory standard, the business is therefore liable to correct the work, or in this case refund your money.

Re the MTA, you don't actually have to belong to it to operate.

[shrub]

One failing in your story shrub.... frame work such as you describe has to be done by a certified engineer not a mechanic

But the bike was assembled by the mechanic and given that the bearings didn't fit properly the mechanic should have sent the frame back to the engineer.

[T.W.R]

But the bike was assembled by the mechanic and given that the bearings didn't fit properly the mechanic should have sent the frame back to the engineer.

try getting the bike through the LTNZ and you'd be laughed out of the building saying that to them and told bluntly to have the bike stripeed down to a bare frame and checked & certified by a engineer

[shrub]

try getting the bike through the LTNZ and you'd be laughed out of the building saying that to them and told bluntly to have the bike stripeed down to a bare frame and checked & certified by a engineer

So what you're saying is that when a mechanic goes to assemble a steering head and finds that the bearing doesn't fit properly it's not his responsibility to do whatever he needs to do to make it fit? The inspectors that certified it also carry quite a lot of responsibility for passing a bike that was unsafe, but ultimately someone who presents himself as a tradesman and charges according should know when a bearing doesn't fit properly.

Even I thought it seemed loose, and I wouldn't make a mechanic's arsehole.

[imdying]

because they're not MTA they have no accountabilitySure they do, just not through the MTA... Disputes Tribunal here you come! Pay your $35 (or whatever it is now) and have your day in court, it's fun!

[shrub]

I shall do so.

[T.W.R]

So what you're saying is that when a mechanic goes to assemble a steering head and finds that the bearing doesn't fit properly it's not his responsibility to do whatever he needs to do to make it fit? The inspectors that certified it also carry quite a lot of responsibility for passing a bike that was unsafe, but ultimately someone who presents himself as a tradesman and charges according should know when a bearing doesn't fit properly.

Even I thought it seemed loose, and I wouldn't make a mechanic's arsehole.

:nono: as per your original post you said you took it to a bike shop to get the work done, now if you'd told the whole story you would of said you'd been informed of the proper procedures to getting a written-off bike roadworthy again and left it in the hands of said shop, upon completion of the job you would of be handed all the required documents to produce for a the LTNZ inspector to check over :yes: your fail to not actually sighting the documents in the 1st place

And don't worry I'm in agreement with you when it comes to Mechanics & so-called mechanics...there's plenty of ones saying they're motorcycle mechanics when they're either failed diesel mechs or in house trained mechs who would struggle to find their certs if asked on a good day. Even the current MITO certification requirements have so many loop holes in it that ones who come away with MITO certification aren't worth a pinch of piss....the training regime can be signed off by the so-called workshop manger without even having the work requirements actually checked by the supervising mechanic

[shrub]

:nono: as per your original post you said you took it to a bike shop to get the work done

Not quite. The dealer purchased it as a write off and asked me if I was interested in it, which I was because it was a model I wanted with good Ks, and apart from crash damage looked like it had done very little work. They then set about doing the work required to rebuild it and get it roadworthy before supplying it to me as a complete and ostensibly roadworthy bike.

[imdying]

I shall do so.There's a catch (which you should probably know before you pop down to the civil office (in the main doors, past the counters, through two set of double doors)... you'll need to pay to have it fixed, and then take them for that amount... you can't win first and then get them to pay whatever it costs later. You dig?

[p.dath]

What does "qualified" bike mechanic actually mean? How can you tell if someone is "qualified"?

[shrub]

What does "qualified" bike mechanic actually mean? How can you tell if someone is "qualified"?

To me it means they have completed a motorcycle mechanic's apprenticeship and passed all relevant exams. There is a big difference between being a car mechanic and a bike mechanic, and if you stuff things up on a bike it could be the life of the rider at stake.

[GOONR]

This is why if it is humanly possible, I'll do it myself.

And I always assume that if it's at all possible for somebody to fuck something up, then they will. If you start with that expectation, then when they actually get it right for once it's a pleasant surprise.

I work on the assume that if it's at all possible for ME to fuck something up, then then I will.

Luckily I have no tools to speak of and I trust my mechanic.

[davereid]

Being a member of the MTA binds a member to the MTAs rules, which includes protection of the public.

But there is no test to become an MTA member, you just pay your fees.

The Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers (IAME) full membership is only available to fully qualified mechanics, and they actually require proof of qualification, or the IAME exam must be passed.

IAME is active in NZ as well as Oz.

http://www.iame.com.au/index.html

[pete376403]

Bike mechanic, car mechanic, diesel mechanic (I'm in the last category, apprenticeship at GG&H and exams passed, cert is in the drawer) - any and all of them should perform work on any machinery to the proper required standard. It's no excuse to pass off sloppy workmanship on the grounds that "I'm a car/bike/lawnmower tech so not my fault if it's not quite right".
In the case of the head bearings - a bearing is a bearing and it either fits or it doesn't, "nearly" or "almost" isn't acceptable.

[AllanB]

It's no excuse to pass off sloppy workmanship on the grounds that "I'm a car/bike/lawnmower tech so not my fault if it's not quite right".
In the case of the head bearings - a bearing is a bearing and it either fits or it doesn't, "nearly" or "almost" isn't acceptable.


Well said.

I'd write this down and quote it at the small claims court. :yes:

[davereid]

"I'm a car/bike/lawnmower tech so not my fault if it's not quite right".

Good post.

You would have to ask why someone who could not do the job took it on without subcontracting the bits they could not do to someone who could...