Get my bike back today (29 November)

**Fatjim** · 29th November 2006, 11:28

Oh, bugger about the bike then car. Be nice to seee the Z around a bit. Might try to scrounge a test ride?

**Crasherfromwayback** · 29th November 2006, 11:34

Originally Posted by bistard

Oh,so you mean I cant slag off Motorad/Sawyers then,damn
Oh well there will be plenty of other oppertunities no doubt

nah....do it mate!

**Krayy** · 29th November 2006, 11:39

Originally Posted by Jim2

TSS are fixing it. There was a thread about the accident. Basically two surface changes and loose gravel in the braking zone at the end of a street and a car. Low side.

Parts take for flipping ever. It was rideable after the accident, but I'm picky about cosmetics.

Hell it's not a flipping Benelli, it's a Kwaka for god's sake! How tough can it be to get parts!?!

**Ixion** · 29th November 2006, 12:01

Originally Posted by Motu

So what's the car? The Commodore V6 is the easiest water pump to do these days,a true 20 minute job,although we'll still waste another hour sorting out air locks.But FWD V6 engines are a nightmare to work on,shutting the bonnet is the best part of the job.

I hope the new plan to limit the age of imports backfires on them like I think it will.They will remove the $10,000 bracket,and it won't be filled from the top but from the bottom.So those still good but worthless cars will have some value afterall....and become repairable.At the moment people are walking away even from head gasket jobs,once a repair goes over a grand they flag it.We used to average an engine job a month,and a couple of head gaskets a month - now we are lucky to do one engine job a year,and only half a dozen headgaskets.We have to get away from the disposable car,not make them even more worthless.

Yes. If they start actually doing emission testing at the border, then watch the cheap used import trade shrivel and die. Why d'you suppose those cars are cheap in Japan? Cos they fail emission testing!

What I suspect will happen is that the older car market will be pruned, the complex hard to work on stuff will be junked, but people will find it's worth while to keep the Holdens and Nissans and such like running.

'Twill suck to be a boi-racer if that happens.

But NZ is very dependant on the private car. Public transport is never going to work in this country, and our low income levels mean that a big percentage of the population aren't going to be able to afford a new(ish) car. But they still need transport

(Gee, can't afford a car but need to get to work. Wonder what a solution to that could be> Might be a REAL good time for people in the industry to look at starting up their own shops).

We need a "NZmobile". Simple enough to be fixed and kept running, tough enough to stand our roads, big enough to carry a decent load. And fu*k blurdy emission controls.

**James Deuce** · 29th November 2006, 12:07

'92 Mitsi Galant Viento. It's been bloody reliable until this very instant. I think it's probably water pump rather than head gasket, as there is no oil contamination at all.

Krayy! You weren't listening! It takes FOREVER, I said!

Parts are all ex-Japan, so 6-8 weeks. They should be here in another two weeks. I did suggest ordering from Aus instead. No line of communication in that direction apparently.

**MSTRS:Me** · 29th November 2006, 12:08

Ixion - most of us wouldn't be seen dead in a Lada

**James Deuce** · 29th November 2006, 12:10

Originally Posted by Fatjim

Oh, bugger about the bike then car. Be nice to seee the Z around a bit. Might try to scrounge a test ride?

No worries - bring the fireyawn. I've always wanted to crash, err, try one and I don't fancy stacking a Bayliss Rep.

**Ixion** · 29th November 2006, 12:11

Nothing wrong with Ladas. Seriously tough cars, and very easy to work on. I wish they made a modern version of the Trekka.

As to not wanting to be seen in one, a cage is for transport not Jonesing.

**Paul in NZ** · 29th November 2006, 12:23

Originally Posted by Ixion

Nothing wrong with Ladas. Seriously tough cars, and very easy to work on. I wish they made a modern version of the Trekka.

As to not wanting to be seen in one, a cage is for transport not Jonesing.

Totally agree - I mean a flash car really makes me look cool... ah hem...

**Fatjim** · 29th November 2006, 12:24

Originally Posted by Jim2

No worries - bring the fireyawn. I've always wanted to crash, err, try one and I don't fancy stacking a Bayliss Rep.

That's what the 'yawn is for! But for $25kish you can stack the Duc too

**Hitcher** · 29th November 2006, 12:24

Originally Posted by Krayy

Hell it's not a flipping Benelli, it's a Kwaka for god's sake! How tough can it be to get parts!?!

Don't get me started on parts delivery. For those who may have forgotten my torment at the start of this year, a Honda ST1300 that got a "bit scraped" down one side on Boxing Day, was not received by its foaming-at-the-bung owner until Easter. A few weeks could have been shaved if ANZA had thought to check the straightness of front forks before they had bolted all of the other bits on, but it still took eons. I think that parts companies save money by using relayed teams of Korean kayakers, with no maps or compasses, to deliver their items, rather than using something a bit quicker, like aircraft.

**Fatjim** · 29th November 2006, 12:33

At a guess, alot of parts aren't stored at HO in Japan, but ordered in in batch's as the orders pile up. Some exceptions to this obviously, but that's how these things tend to work.

**Ixion** · 29th November 2006, 12:49

I used to work in the motor parts industry, for a Robert Bosch agent. PROVIDED we were allowed to bypass Australia, we could get any Bosch part out of Germany within 72 hours. If we had to go through Australia it took at least three weeks.

I also worked in the pharmaceutical industry. We could get ANYTHING from the USA or UK within a day.

Now I work in the IT industry. A couple of years back I had an IBM AIX server go down on the morning of the 24th December. Sent the diagnostic report to IBM at 10am . At noon , they called. Needs a FSU replaced, nearest one is in the USA. Oh, bugger, oh well, do what you can.

Went home. On Christmas Day, around 11am, I got a call." Hi, it's XX from IBM here , your FSU has arrived from the States, it's on my desk, do you want me to come out and fit it this afternoon" (Remember, this is Christmas day!). "Uh, no mate, she'll be right you just enjoy your Christmas". Now that's what I call service! Big Blue FTW.

**Motu** · 29th November 2006, 12:57

The 2 or 3 weeks ex Japan just seems to be the standard coverall,from my experiance of ordering shit loads of parts it takes as long as it takes.One of my parts guys said they don't actualy know what parts are in stock in Japan or where they are until the order is actualy submitted - they may be on back order from their (Kawasaki) supplier,they may be in a container on the water...or in a container out the back waiting to be unloaded....your parts man is actualy in the dark himself,hence all the conflicting information.

Staying ahead of Mitsy V6 water pumps is very important.They often sieze,strip the cambelt and good bye valves.Standard cambelt job for these includes all tensioners,idlers,seals,auto tensioner and water pump.Serious money....but so is another motor.