Mt Eden Motorcycles: Workshop warning

**-df-** · 27th April 2010, 12:31

Originally Posted by Headbanger

People shouldn't be expected to pay for a tradesmens mistakes. It has more to do with setting it right rather then getting it right 100% of the time.

Spot on, I make mistakes, everyone does...I was even happy enough to leave the bike with them for another week...but the putting it right didn't happen.

**-df-** · 27th April 2010, 12:34

Originally Posted by imdying

Now having said that, I would be willing to negotiate in some circumstances (say it was one of my older bikes) as, after all, I would still have my new clutch installed. I'm not a total cunt, but I would be expecting them to come to the party in a mutual way... heck they could even turn it to there favour if they were crafty enough about it... say they kept all the money for the original job but give me 50% off a top of the line Arai, that would go a long way.

Yep, if I had just been offered the problem sorted for the original quoted price I'd have left happy enough and probably would have still used them again.

**Headbanger** · 27th April 2010, 12:43

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

As long as clients are price driven there will be a higher percentage of fuck up's.

Most of us are value driven.

Paying $600 to not have your bike fixed is not great value.

**Smifffy** · 27th April 2010, 13:28

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Read Brian d'marge post. He understandas how this can happen and is not immediately obvious. Those reading this thread who have lots of experience and mechanical aptitude know exactly where I am coming from.

So those with experience and mechanical aptitude could also be reasonably expected to suspect that irregular wear may have occured, due to an incorrectly set up perch,lever,cable. After all, you state that it is not uncommon. It is not immediately obvius to the inept and inexperienced.

A mechanic (the ones I 'enjoy' going to) might give options "we can do the lever and cable etc for $X, but it may not fix the problem" "we can do a new clutch for $y but that may not fix the problem either" "we can do both for $z and you should be good for a while". I usually end up going for Z because I want hassle free motoring.

If I wanted to futz around with the same problem week after week, and then get it fixed properly, I would attempt it myself, or go to a mate's backyard. I go to a mechanic because I am prepared to pay to have it done right.

I guess that's the problem with the airline analogy. Charge Pilot's rates and more people would be prepared to endure the extra hassle of getting the job done on the cheap.

**Max Preload** · 27th April 2010, 13:35

Originally Posted by Headbanger

Most of us are value driven.

Paying $600 to not have your bike fixed is not great value.

How dare you, the customer, attempt to determine what is value! Just hand over your damn cash and STFU!

Re: the clutch perch: Had this been a problem with a worn clutch then replacing the clutch plates would have brought the operation back to how it was 1½ years ago (working fine) but given that changing the plates (I'm willing to bet fibres only and nobody checked the steels for warpage...) made no difference whatsoever to the current problem then you'd have to say it has nothing to do with the present issue.

**bogan** · 27th April 2010, 14:01

Perhaps I should share my mechanically experienced SOP:
1) get aquianted with the problem
2) think of possible causes
3) pick cheapest and easiest to fix
4) if problem continues repeat, if its fixed

**Brian d marge** · 27th April 2010, 14:58

I would be interested to hear what the problem was

I mean Assuming the clutch was stripped checked cleaned and put back together ( correctly ) then it could be something unexpected such as the perch/lever relationship or wrong clutch cable Something ins not allowing the plates to separate individually ( probably lifting as one big block !)

I am surprised that the the bike was released without ( one assumes ) being checked off (or it was working when checked off )

One thing that motorcycles do very well is give you evidence of what went wrong or is about to ,,, ( Aircraft crash investigations can find a small crack less than 1/2 a mm that caused the component to fail ..... )

let us know before u sell ( maybe someone here could look at it )

Stephen

**Katman** · 27th April 2010, 15:36

At the risk of diagnosing something from information on an internet forum, I'd be inclined to think that Max Preload's on the money with his post in the other thread.

I'd be checking the state of the clutch basket fingers.

**Maha** · 27th April 2010, 15:41

Originally Posted by Headbanger

People shouldn't be expected to pay for a tradesmens mistakes. It has more to do with setting it right rather then getting it right 100% of the time.

Absolutely, I once cocked up a vinyl install (was just a laundry) for a nice old couple. I wasn't happy with it, the customers were but not me. I went back to the shop, got another bit of vinyl and went and replaced it, at my cost. I was happy with my then judgement.

**nodrog:Me** · 27th April 2010, 15:45

if my bike fucks out can i bring it to kiwibiker to get fixed? i like the idea of it being fixed by a panel of experts, first time, and for a awesome price which would probably not even cover the cost of parts.

**Smifffy** · 27th April 2010, 15:50

Originally Posted by nodrog

if my bike fucks out can i bring it to kiwibiker to get fixed? i like the idea of it being fixed by a panel of experts, first time, and for a awesome price which would probably not even cover the cost of parts.

Sure, I will even throw in a free tyre armour all treatment and a brake disc lube. You have to supply your own parts from the internet though.

**Maha** · 27th April 2010, 16:14

Originally Posted by nodrog

if my bike fucks out can i bring it to kiwibiker to get fixed? i like the idea of it being fixed by a panel of experts, first time, and for a awesome price which would probably not even cover the cost of parts.

I would sit on your bike naked and.......squirm!....