[maxpower_hd]

I just have to rant about this to make me feel better.

WTF is it with some people! I am currently doing some work to a friends car. He's a carpenter so we are trading labor. It is a 1995 Chevy S10 Blazer. He had a new rebuilt motor installed about 8 months ago at a local shop. When he got it back, it had a slight vibration under load. He took it back to the mechanic and he said that it had nothing to do with the installation or the motor. That it was most likey the u-joints and that he would have to charge him to fix it. He replaced those and it still did it. The mechanic now said it must be something in the transmission and he would have to remove it to diagnose it for sure but that it might need anything from a new flywheel or torque converter to a whole new transmission.

Well it is now $2600 later and the vibration has become so bad that they can't even drive it. I had him bring it to my house and within an hour I had the problem diagnosed. The morons that installed the motor left most of the bolts out of the transmission! There were only three holding it in and of those, only one was tight and one of the others was about a 1/2" from even touching the bellhousing. The rest were simply not there. I replaced the missing bolts and tightened everything up and it's all as it should be. Price $3.00 for bolts and about 2 hours of labor.

Now why the hell would anyone let a car leave their shop like that and then deny it had anything to do with their work? Let me see.............there was no vibration with the bairly running motor............hmmm..........then there is a vibration with the new motor. I guess something must have wore out while it was sitting there getting a motor installed. WTF! It's guys like that that give mechanics a bad rep. To top it all off, the guy is supposed to be a friend of his. With friends like that, who the hell needs enemies?

Freeking MORONS!

Thanks for letting me vent.

Peace

[CD]

That wrench is just way to good to work in a 'lil ole garage he should be the senior tech at the local HD Botique.

[maxpower_hd]

YEAH! More like head french fry tech at the local burger joint!

[Killer-B]

maxpower,
Feel any better now???

[SK]

Originally Posted by maxpower_hd

With friends like that, who the hell needs enemies?

Freeking MORONS!

That should be "With friends like that, who the hell needs enemas".

[scooter]

I keep thinking that one day, I'll stop hearing about idiots like that....because maybe people will wise up and accept some responsibility and accountability for their actions? Naw...I just woke up from one of those utopian dreams...sheesh. What was I thinkin'?

Good thing your carpenter at least has YOU to look out for him, right?

And on the bright side...hey, at least he won't need very many more new parts on that vehicle, at the rate that "mechanic" was replacing them....

scoot

[GreyBear]

In a way I feel sort of sorry for the mechanic.....a pi*&#ed of guy with a hammer is a bad enemy to have, lol. In the old days we would have nailed his hands to his work bench but....times change....isn't it a pity....

Ride Free.......

[maxpower_hd]

Originally Posted by Killer-B

maxpower,
Feel any better now???

Yes I do feel better. Now I'm just dissapointed in the guy rather than pissed. I know him too although he is not my friend. My wife's cousin went to school with him and they used to work together for a little while.

I don't think he did the work personally but he still should have taken the time to check things out a little better. If he didn't want the business then he shouldn't have taken on the work.

[FLHTbiker]

Interesting hmmm.........Here is my story. Last spring my 1980 EL Camino tags expired and good old Oregon still makes me take in to DEQ. Well, it failed. So I stopped at yes a friends repair shop with big DEQ letters on his sign, who I have also rode with and belongs to the local HOG chapter. $786.00 later it still would not pass DEQ and he told me that the motor must be tore down and would need a new carb. I said I would have to wait, I actually smelled a rat. I took it home and pulled the carb off tore it down and rebuilt it myself. Took it back to DEQ and it passed with flying colors. Oh yes, I did stop at his shop to let him know. He could tell I was not very happy with him. I took it to him in the first place as my time is really restrictive sometimes with my inspection business. I have not been back to his shop sense and don't think I will be returning any time soon. We have also not rode together sense. I personally think the guy could have been a little more honest and upfront with me. I think he figured I wouldn't be upset about it.

[maxpower_hd]

We plan on letting him know about this too. I think at the very least he needs to know what his guys are doing and that we were right when we brought it back in the first place. This is something that he should have been responsible for to fix. He wanted no part of it.

I happen to be in a position to recommend others for work. I am obviously not going to recommend him. In fact, I will make sure anyone who asks me not go to him and tell them why. I usually won't badmouth anyone because we are all entitled to our mistakes. However, it is how you own up to them and learn from them that makes the difference.

[GreyBear]

Sad story , but hapens all too often. Problem with groups like HOG. They are open to anyone, if you buy a H-D and pay your money you have a patch. A lot of good people in there but then theres a lot of good people in the general population too, along with a fair share of rats. It really pisses me off when a "friend" scr#$s ya over. But like the sign my Uncle had over his work bench said: "Dear Lord, help protect me from my friends and relatives......I can look out for my enemies myself. I KNOW what they're up to!"

That is part of the down side of bikes and especially H-D's becoming so popular. Was a time when, just like waving at another rider,(Brief segue, do a lot of folks NOT wave cause they are stuck up...or are they so green they are afraid to turn loose of the bars with both hands?) it was a sub culture that was close knit and helped other riders. But that was when people rode thier bikes to places like Daytona, Laconia and Sturgis. Back when those pleaces were bike rallies instead of Winnebago camps.....

Ride Free...............

[FLHTbiker]

GreyBear, not so with our Chapter. Latus motors pays for your membership into the HOG chapter but only after you meet certain requirements. They want to be sure that you are truly interested first so after you buy a bike at Latus you are then invited to a meeting. We have a card that must be filled out. In that card there are 4 rides to attend, 2 chapter meetings and our group riding class. Only when all of those are signed by a Road Captain or an officer in the Chapter can you buy your patch. Now, buying a Harley at Latus or any dealer you are automatically given a one year membership into HOG nationally. But then you must send in your money every year after that to stay current in National. Our dealer Latus will continue to pay your local dues. Even if you already own a Harley and want to join our local HOG Chapter (Rose City HOG) you still have to have your card filled out.

As for this guy who worked on my El Camino and is HOG chapter member it was him who worked on my car not his employee. His answer to me when I asked him about why did you not work on the Carb and connect the vacuum lines correctly he really did not have an answer.
In my job if I make a mistake I can be held liable for it and it could cost me big bucks so I am very careful and very thorough. Like maxpower no, he will not get a recommendation from me.

[GreyBear]

Well FLHT, it sounds as if that chapter has a pretty good idea and the dealer is truly interested. Thats good. Pity that all chapters aren't that way. Lots of places ya have 40 bucks and a national membership you're in.
As to the guy that worked on your El Camino.... what a waste. If you can't do it right don't do it period. I love El Caminos, have had 3 and they rock. Even if the last one did cost me my hair, LOL.

[chucktx]

sounds like doctors......their licensed to "practice" medicine.....with no warrantys...............
chuck