Am I getting ripped off?

[Baron Von Slippy]

Took my bike in to have a problem diagnosed, although told them what I thought it was (which turned out to be correct). So they found the fault (cam chain tensioner), removed the head to check the valves hadn't been bent, and replaced the part.

The part costs $140, and I'm being charged $800 for the job in total. Anyone have any views as to whether that's fair or not? Also, anyone have any feedback on what it should cost to get a fork seal replaced (with fork seal and oil supplied)? Upside down fork.

[onearmedbandit]

Head off head on is a reasonable job.

[hayd3n]

if they removed the head , thats at least a new head gasket and some decent labour refitting everything,

[Road kill]

Sounds a bit steep,,,until you break it down.

To do a cam chain on an average UJM I'd be looking at around 4-5 hours if it all goes accoarding to plan.

Back in the day I had to pay others for this type of thing I'd always deliver the engine,not the bike.

That's a $200 saving right there.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Sounds a bit steep,,,until you break it down.

To do a cam chain on an average UJM I'd be looking at around 4-5 hours if it all goes accoarding to plan.

Back in the day I had to pay others for this type of thing I'd always deliver the engine,not the bike.

That's a $200 saving right there.

Not really. Especially if they had to take both cyl heads off. And why would you do that?

[Brian d marge]

IF the cylinder heads come off then; yes but if compression is the same across the cylinders , the NEXT question to the customer IS:

Would you like us to check the valves to make sure ....... it will be 800 dollars !

But if one cylinder is down , then yes it needs to be checked ( oil down bore comp ok blah blah ...)

Stephen

[Katman]

Was the tensioner just noisy or had the cam chain jumped teeth?

[Banditbandit]

$800 for labour does seem high .. but if they had to remove the motor from the frame to get the heads off (I had one like that once - used to piss me off) then the price could get up there .. are you being charged for a new head gasket etc ??? If not, then ask them why they took off the heads but didn't bother to replace the gaskets ...

Go back and ask why it was $800 for Labour

[Crasherfromwayback]

$800 for laboput does seem high .. r

The labour amount is $660.00.

[Banditbandit]

Oh yeah ... I plead Monday morning before coffee ... still seems a little high .. still ask the question .. or was it you who made up the bill ???

[The Reibz]

For those that think the labour cost is to high please go and do a gasket change on any 4/6 cylinder engine and then ask yoursef that question again. Were the chain and guides also replaced?

[T.W.R]

Cost of the 1st job sounds about right for part/s & labour albeit a bit drawn out time-wise...can & should be done quicker on a simple engine like a v-twin.
Fork seal replacement = 1hrs labour minimum charge.

[Crasherfromwayback]

.. or was it you who made up the bill ???

Lol. Hell no mate. I sell 'em not fix 'em!

[jasonu]

Fork seal replacement = 1hrs labour minimum charge.

Good luck finding a bike shop that will do a fork seal in an hour. I am not saying it can't be done in an hour if you really hustle but I doubt a shop will do it that quick.

[T.W.R]

Good luck finding a bike shop that will do a fork seal in an hour. I am not saying it can't be done in an hour if you really hustle but I doubt a shop will do it that quick.

:lol: used to do them all the time in about 40mins the thing soaks up the time is waiting for the oil to settle before the level is set :yes:

1hrs labour is the usual minimum charge

[Katman]

I'm still wondering if it was just a noisy tensioner.

If the customer rode the bike in running on two cylinders I fail to see the need to remove either of the heads.

[Baron Von Slippy]

It was just the cam tensioner replaced, they pulled one of the heads off and replaced the head gasket. I just stumped up and paid it after reading the comments here...It does a seem a little drawn out time wise (considering how simple those engines are), but not worth getting any panties in a twist.

[Baron Von Slippy]

I'm still wondering if it was just a noisy tensioner.

If the customer rode the bike in running on two cylinders I fail to see the need to remove either of the heads.

The biek wasn't running, it had been noisy for a while, but I'd put off getting it fixed, so it skipped teeth!

[Baron Von Slippy]

Anyone out there interested in changing a fork seal (fork dropped off with oil and seal) as a quick cashie? Auckland area.

[Eddieb]

The biek wasn't running, it had been noisy for a while, but I'd put off getting it fixed, so it skipped teeth!

Pay the money and count yourself lucky that you got off that lightly.

[Winston001]

Dunno.

Fork seals on my BMW R80 RT cost $600 and that included a few small bits like sparkplugs and tank filters. Its a big job far beyond my patience. The whole fairing has to be taken off and even though the German engineering makes this straight forward, it was not quick or easy.

On the Ducati ST4 I had the shims checked and something else (forget). $800. Again it was a prick of a job because the whole front fairing had to come off and even with a manual, I struggled to work out how to do that. Turned out you have to start with the mirrors :eek: and work down. Shag!

Much as I love Ducati I have to say the bloody Italians do not design for easy maintenance.

The German machines by comparison deserve to be in a gallery of form meets function. One nut to release the shaft-drive back wheel. One shim and a nut to remove the fuel tank. The Honda XR200 is a pain for both jobs (admittedly chain drive adds complications).

[R650R]

Sounds about right with regard to info given.

On any workshop job though it pays to speak with whoever will be doing the job and give clear instructions on what you want done and see what they write on job sheet.
Give them phone number and say call me if xyz etc needs to be done.