Fixing bikes for mates sucks!!

[Conquiztador]

I recon I have done the last "I can help you mate" one.

My sons mates GN250 was the last drop.

Today I was told that I did do a crappy job and that is why the bike now won't run. This is apperently the story that goes around.

Here: My son's mate has a GN250. He did not check the oil level and so the top end blew. His dad rides a bike, but does not have the knowledge to fix. So I said "Hey, bring it to me and I take her apart and check what happened".

So they did.

It took me a few weeks to get to it. Honestly, as I was doing it for free, it was not top of my priority. But at last I did pull the head off. And there was a valve that had dropped, smashed piston and pieces everywhere.

So I told them: "U need a piston, valves, work on head. And probably split motor to clean out, and also a conrod as it most probably will be bent. New parts approx $500 - $1000. Waste of money. Bike is worth, what? $1,5K?. So I find a cheap motor and we will marry them."

"OK" the dad says. "I think about it." He leaves the bike with me.

A few weeks later he turns up with a s/h motor and says: "I got this one for $800 from a guy who told me it is mint"... "Right..." I say (been there done that...)

"OK" I say, "I fit it and we see".

So I do. A couple of weeks later. The motor looks like it is old and... but who am I to judge? I never open the motor, just fit it, new oil and start it. OK, so it runs ok. No smoke, so I think "Maybe".

I take her for a run. But clutch is slipping...

The dad comes over. I tell him re the clutch. I say: "We can fit the clutch from old motor and U be sweet. But perhaps you wanna leave as is and contact seller?"

So he decides to take away as is, and he also takes damaged motor.

I say:"U be OK to swap clutch your self?"

"Yep" he says.

Last I hear. I see them now and then. Boy now drives car and GN sits in garage. They never did anything re clutch.

Then I hear that I did a crappy job and the bike is now not working as a result of my workmanship... (That is what his mum is telling ppl)

I charged zilch!
I offered to sort the clutch for zilch!
I never opened the fuckin motor!
I even said that if any problems, just bring back and I will sort it! For free!!!

And then I hear that I am crap at fixing bikes!!!


Also had another similar situation a little earlier: Fixed up a bike, sold it cheap to a mate of my son. ($1,5K bike for $1,1K) Told him that if any issues, bring back. Never came back, but his dad hates me as I apperently "ripped his son off". Not 100% sure what happened but it sounds like they got a hole in one piston. After 3 months of daily use. And it apperently is my fault on a bike from early 80's...

So thats it. From now on I charge. And do nothing for "mates".

[Pussy]

Tell them... Fuck! Good on you for being so helpful, and I'm sorry to hear it wasn't appreciated

[tri boy]

Many mechanics will feel your pain mate.
Trying to help tight arse pricks ultimately raises your blood pressure, lowers your standing in their dipshit eye's, and generally wastes your valuable drinking time.
Reasoning with uneducated fools is one of the crosses that we all must carry.
In a day or two you'll feel more relaxed about it.

[awayatc]

know where you are coming from.....have learned my lessons as well....

You fix stuff for people who obviously ar not handy, and then more often then not after a while something else shits itself.....
which directly or indirectly gets blamed on your unrelated original repair.....

I now rather buy dead or sick vehicles, fix em and sell em.....
Lot more profitable.....

[fire eyes]

did any of your sons friends or friends parents ... actually say thankyou? .. for the time & consideration spent on helping.

[NOMIS]

been there done that, welded up a mates cast iron headers with a tig welder told him it gunna be birdshit but at least it wont leak, he went round showing every one my crusty welds, what did he expect sheesh. its cast not steel

[Conquiztador]

Need to learn to say: "NO!"

Been there before too:

Many years ago someone I knew had bought a 1/2 done beach buggy (the VW type) and he needed the electrics done.

So I did. For free... Spent a day pulling wires throught a crappy fibreglass body. Connected to battery (that was loose) and all worked. Sweet!.

So I tell him: You need to fit battery to body, and you need to do the earth-wiring properly after the battery is fitted. You be OK doing that?

The normal answer from someone who just want to get out and show off: "Yep, I be OK"

A week later I hear from another mate: "You did a crappy job of the elctrics. Works when it wants to."

So I go and have a look at the buggy and find that the battery is where I last did see it...well almost, it has now moved as a result of his driving and not being ancored to the body. And the earth connection is loose...

[MDR2]

Pretty crappy experiances there mate, It is a pretty fine line that you walk when friends are involved, I helped a friend do an engine swap for another friend on a car last year and it was stricktly cash in the hand and no garuntees on workmanship because HE sourced the motor.

Try not to lose any sleep over it, if you want you could always go around spreading rumours that the guy you dealt with told you that 'his wife was a lousy root'

[ynot slow]

Ungratefull wankers.Brother had same situation as an apprentice sparky(on his last 500 hours till tradesman) ,my supervisor at work when I was an apprentice asked me if my bro would be keen on wiring his new double garage on weekend for a cash job.

Brother worked out cable,sockets etc,added his labour and said yep will cost $xyz.Supervisor said when can you start,we did start next weekend,me running cables and clipping for him.After 2 Sundays of about 5hr each day,my bro gave him the account,which was for parts and labour,at the time the labour was $10hour(didn't pay me/charge for me),after agreeing to get the job done at the cost the dickhead whinged about paying 10 hour at $10ph $100 total labour.Brother said no worries I can rip the cable out,come back on Monday and do it for $25per hour.He would and still does the odd trade for trade barter.

[Henk]

Standard stuff. I'll now advise and help but not do the job. Got sick of people drinking my beer watching me work on their bike.

[awayatc]

Will always stop for anybody who breaks down....
BUT....
This last trip off I have Politely but firmly turned three different people from the neighbourhood away.....
Sorry not interested .....Bizzy

Select few only are still on list

[rok-the-boat]

Yeah - been there done that. But, the way to do it is to complete the job.

[HungusMaximist]

You get that sort of dumb shit all the time with you fixing other people's stuff for free.

It's not a new story but I am glad you pointed it out your experience. Best to either not to touch the bikes at all, or sort out some sort of warning/disclaimer if things fuck up you are not held liable.

It's really stupid how good relationships can turn sour because of some misunderstandings.

[Ixion]

Yup. Everyone's been there. I won't fix things for people who can't do it themselves (a few exceptions ).

I'll assist, show them what to do, explain what they're seeing. But they do the work , they make the decisions.

If they're not clued up enough to actually do any of it, I can't help. Take it to a garage, call a tradesman.

That's why garages and tradesmen won't give you the "according to the book you need $$$$$$ but we can sort it for <<<< " any more. They know there's too much risk that it will come back and bite them.

[kevfromcoro]

Standard stuff. I'll now advise and help but not do the job. Got sick of people drinking my beer watching me work on their bike.

been there and done that,,,,,drink all your beer .while you work on the bike.
thanks they say...will drop you off some beers to-morrow. not that shit you are drinking.and of course never see it...
people...hmphh