Help! Am I being ripped off?!

[mal3volent]

This is my story to date: My bike is running sweet. Real sweet. I love it. A mate takes it for a ride last Sunday and has a wee drop and cracks the fairings on one side, nothing too major. I have it booked in for a service the next day and take it in (quite quickly (i.e. 17000 rpm -ish, everything is great). When I go to collect it the next day the guy tells me that the clutch is slipping, he says he took it on the motorway and it slipped. I'm stunned. But okay, sure. He says that the reason may be the new oil. ? Really? Anyway, he tells me not to go too hard so I Nana it home. And he also tweaked the mixture ratio to make it easier to start. Next day I want to find out what is going on so I try to start it. Drama. It takes for ever to start and it won't idle properly. I get it going and go for a ride. No power. Just ridiculous. I'd say it rode like a 250GSX. The revs keep going up slowly but it doesn't pull at all. Needless to say I'm not a happy camper and I ring and tell them I'm bringing it round right away. I know it is not the clutch because it doesn't slip and rev up. It just has no balls. So I leave it with him. At this stage he has told me it was something to do with the intake, then the carbs, something was jammed shut, the fuel wasn't being regulated so it was running really rich, now he's putting in bigger jets and has taken some parts off some second hand thing which 'fortunately' they had lying around. (Obviously I have no idea what is going on.) I'm told it will be ready tomorrow but I haven't talked to him about cost. What I need to know is whether or not I'm being taken for a ride because of my naivety about mechanics. How much should this cost me? Is it possible that they did something while servicing and are going to charge me to fix it?

Thanks heaps for your opinion! I need them :)

[T.I.E]

sounds like he has fiddled with the carb set up and bugger the mix up possibly fowling the plugs, is it running rough or just lazy?
also did or has he blanaced the carbs at all do you know?

[imdying]

The state of tune hasn't changed, it shouldn't be necessary to rejet it.

New oil shouldn't make it slip, unless it has car oil in it now.

Where have you taken it, a backyarder or a known dealer in Dunedin? (no need to name names, just adds a little perspective)

[mal3volent]

Was probably running rough and lazy?! Not sure about balancing the carbs but he said today he had had them in an out a few times today?
Also, taken it to a major outfit in town. Won't name yet but if they don't satisfy I will let you know. Thanks :)

[mal3volent]

I only rode it for about 5 mins before I took it back to them. It just had no power, i'd give it some throttle and it would just putter along slowly building speed. When i turn into my road i can hit a certain speed (hmm) and stop before pulling into the driveway. I tried this and only got to a little more than half the speed.

Also, my first idea was he had just tried to make it run better by changing the mixture or something and had done that completely wrong and he could just undo what he has done. But it has been in the shop for a week, in parts on the dyno and he has apparently spent quite a lot of time on it...

[T.I.E]

its hard to say, but personally id wouldnt pay, pick up the bike take it for a run see how it is the next day. if its back to norm then sweet. he fiddled with it, its not working properly, he should fix his stuff up.
allthough be good to get a secound opinon.
overall from what you have said i wouldnt want to pay. possibly despuite it.
this is all from the info i have seen, there maybe more to it.
keep us updated.
but good to leave names out for now.
dunedin aint a huge place.

[imdying]

Take it back then, they're obliged to fix it correctly.

Do not fiddle with it, with the above obligation come 'it's their right to have the first whack at fixing it again'. Unless of course you want to kiss your money goodbye and go elsewhere, but if it's a big shop they should be able to sort it.

[mal3volent]

Thanks T.I.E. i think that is what i will do. When i pick it up i'll get a list of what was supposedly wrong and what has been done/replaced and post on here. Thanks again

[T.I.E]

letting us know what was wrong with the bike and what it took to fix it would be great. really helpful for us all, ya never know when one of us suffers from the same problems.

cheers andrew

[smokeyging]

You asked for the fairing to be fixed, not a new bike!. sounds to me that a boy racer machanic has thrashed the thing an now wants you to pay for it.

[Motu]

A mechanic will ride the bike a lot harder than you...he has to to find faults,so probably notice the clutch slip where you wouldn't...new oil can also promote clutch slip because it acts as a cleaner....not wrong oil like everyone thinks.It'll also be hotter when he rides and fiddles with it....so he has probably leaned it out a bit.He wasn't able to do a cold start because it was hot after he worked on it.But he should be able to put it back to approximatly your settings,there shouldn't be any major rejetting going on.Haul him up on that one and ask why.

[cowboyz]

mechanics are not held liable for their actions to other peoples vehicles. It is promoted by the secret squirel complex that has developed over the past 10 years where customers are discouraged to voice opinions on bad service. Works out well for mechanics and if they happen to be having a bad day or can't be bothered then it is just a one off and if you try to voice your experience you will feel a horrible bout of guilt that you are dissing a god.

Next time before you take your bike into the shop, work out how much money you can give away and tell the mechanic that is all you are willing to pay and that is the only work they are allowed to do on it. Weather they do a good job or not or actually fix the bike or not is only half chance.

Don't feel bad, Its just the way it is.

Does this help your problem? Not really. Only thing you can do is keep taking the bike back till the problems go away.



PS. I just LOVE the theory we have in this country where if someone screws something up one time then you should take it back to the same person to see if they can screw it up again.. Fantastic.

[Motu]

Are you a blonde? I love to rip off blondes....they are soooo stupid!

[Shaun]

Bike goes in for a Service! Not a re jet or anything else ( According to the first post)

If it was fine before they touched it, make sure it is the same when it leaves, pay them Nothing untill they fix it

[mal3volent]

You asked for the fairing to be fixed, not a new bike!. sounds to me that a boy racer machanic has thrashed the thing an now wants you to pay for it.

Hey Smokeyging - just to clarify I just took it in for a standard service, i asked about a quote for the fairing but not to get it fixed (cause my mate is paying for that, not me!)

[mal3volent]

A mechanic will ride the bike a lot harder than you...he has to to find faults,so probably notice the clutch slip where you wouldn't...new oil can also promote clutch slip because it acts as a cleaner....not wrong oil like everyone thinks.It'll also be hotter when he rides and fiddles with it....so he has probably leaned it out a bit.He wasn't able to do a cold start because it was hot after he worked on it.But he should be able to put it back to approximatly your settings,there shouldn't be any major rejetting going on.Haul him up on that one and ask why.

Thanks Motu. That is good to know about the clutch slip becoming noticable via an oil change. If it was on its way out then it is at my expense and that is fine. As for the rest of the work (which is my major concern) I will have to update you on what I'm told today.

[mal3volent]

Hey guys, Spoke to the guy today and he was really nice and showed me exactly what was going on. He said there are some pins which regulate the fuel and they were stuck and just letting the fuel flow in. He has fixed (changed?) them and the jets and had her on the dyno. He didn't have a final price but gave me some very positive indications. I pick her up tomorrow and will update again then. Much relieved. Thanks guys.

[smokeyging]

Good to know things worked out ok.

[rok-the-boat]

Sounds suspicious to me. Maybe he fu**ed it up on purpose knowing you'd be back with it.

[xxblackbirdxx]

If your bike was running fine when you took it in for a service and the mechanic in question has basically buggered it then it is his responsibility to fix it. Don t part with the money till they fix it. And then you only need to pay them for the service and not for experimenting with your bike.
If you hit trouble with the mechanic in question.
Get all the details of him , consult some one else and try to see how honest your mechanic has been with you. Take the swine to court if you find that he has pulled a fast one on you.
Some idiots give the rest a bad name . its important not let them get away with it.
If its proven that he was trying to put one on you then let the rest of us know so that we can avoid his services.

good luck with the bike.
Did you damage the casings in the fall, If so , did you damage the side with the coil, if so did the fall damage any of the electrical components inside the casing. For all you know it could be an electrical thing. It happened to me once when my then girlfriend dropped my fireblade.
Distant possibility but i thought i'd mention it.

[Macktheknife]

So what happened today then?
Did you get your bike back in good condition, running well etc?

[Edbear]

This is my story to date: My bike is running sweet. Real sweet. I love it. A mate takes it for a ride last Sunday and has a wee drop and cracks the fairings on one side, nothing too major. I have it booked in for a service the next day and take it in (quite quickly (i.e. 17000 rpm -ish, everything is great).



Here's your first clue!:yes: The bike was running fine before it was serviced!

If something is worse after I've fixed it, (and my wife will confirm it happens...:innocent: ), then go over step by step what was done! The bike has been stuffed up! He's replaced parts that were obviously working fine before the mechanic touched it. Shouldn't have been neccessary.

[Max Preload]

sounds like he's adjusted the float level and cocked it up the first time. Everyone makes mistakes - don't be too hard on them. At the end of the day what is important is that at the very minimum they fix it at their expense and apologise for the inconvenience.

I'm glad I don't have to take anything, to anyone, for repair.

[cowboyz]

exactly my point. Dont be too hard on them. They are only charging $70 per hour and for $70 per hour you can hardly expect them to be experienced, qualified AND pay attention to detail.

[Motu]

Any motor vehicle made after the early '80's will be set up for ''lean burn''.....they try to make them run as lean as possible to lower emissions.Just the simple act of cleaning the carbs will upset the mixture - as parts wear they develope air leaks,but also deposits build up in these areas disgusing the true extent of the wear....by cleaning these deposits off the motor will suddenly run much leaner,in the act of improving things now it runs worse! There are limited adjustments,because also since the early '80's carbs have been made tamper proof so they can pass emission tests for a set period of time.I work on cars and won't go near carbs these days - they are much more complicated than bike carbs and almost impossible to set up correctly....they get sent to a carb shop.

[Max Preload]

exactly my point. Dont be too hard on them. They are only charging $70 per hour and for $70 per hour you can hardly expect them to be experienced, qualified AND pay attention to detail.

They have overheads to cover too you know. I charge $50/hr in my profession which is medium/high and I don't even have work premises or much in the way of trade 'tools'. But I guess you're perfect at your job of driving a forklift... :yes:

[cowboyz]

They have overheads to cover too you know. I charge $50/hr in my profession which is medium/high and I don't even have work premises or much in the way of trade 'tools'. But I guess you're perfect at your job of driving a forklift... :yes:

Interesting assumptions you have made there.

I don't drive a forklift for a living but when I did (for the limited time I did it) I didn't make mistakes. Attention to details is something I devote alot of attention too in my professional life.

Interesting also to note that Motu has explained what could have caused the symptoms of the problem and he hasn't even seen the bike. Is he a miracle mechanic or just someone who is experienced in mechanics and can forsee possible problems when working on machines that this particular mechanic is unaware of? Should this conclude that Motu is justified in charging $70 per hour for his professional services and this other mechanic is not worth the money? Or should it be concluded that any mechanic is justified in charging $70 per hour (they are all about the same) and it is simply pot luck if you happen to get a good mechanic and bad luck if you get one that is either inexperienced or does not consider the ramifications of their actions?

I will save your post so anytime I am dealing with a company and feel I am not getting value for money I can refer back to it and remember that they have overheads.

I wait in anticipation for my next lesson in business 101.

[Motu]

Perhaps you are just a lawyer - I couldn't make any sense of that....could you run it past us again slowly with attention to detail and make it comprehensable this time?

[cowboyz]

Perhaps you are just a lawyer -

That is just nasty.


I couldn't make any sense of that....

Thats alright. I will send you the DVD - without subtitles - might help with your comprehension and all.

[Dodgyiti]

Changing jets?
Only if they had been changed from standard and either or all the air filter or end can or emissions gear has been changed.

Bit weird that part.
The rest sounds right.

[doc]

You guy's are just wonderful, when I have a cardiac problem, I will seek your assistance. Motu works in the trade and his opinions are valid as there are so many situations the shop handles, it's not their pride an joy they are working on. They are just doing what is technically required to meet that particular situation. The internet opinions are sort like a frenzy, some one reads that this worked this time, you don't really need that so they are all really ripping you. F..k me when I was a young upstart I remember fiddling with my norton's points , fu.kin it up big time takin to a shop and saying it just wont start. The shop stripped the carbs and spent quite a bit of effort on them plus a simple set the gaps and timming. The thing never ran betta when I got it back. Wasn't cheap tho, but hell I was back on the road.