I DISLIKE MECHS! (rant)

[blackiedog]

I hear ya..and maybe you are getting ripped off..and maybe not..I'm not there..but on this site I've heard way too many times about mechanics ripping off bikers..and mostly by riders that know very little or nothing at all about the mechanical workings of a bike. Sure it happens...but I can't believe it happens as much as said. Most mechanics that are good ..rip themselves off for their time..some customers that come in for a valve setting..don't realise what is involve..especially if body work has to come off..then when the job is done..the customer wants you to adjust the drive chain..lube it..check tire pressure...steering bearings to tight??...and want to ask you all kinds of other questions..all at the mechanics expense too..then they have the nerve to ask if they get a discount because they've been here before...geez..I wish the doctor would give me a discount because I've been there before..or maybe the lawyer would do my next divorce for free because I got screwed over the first time..maybe the copp won't give me another speeding ticket because I've already paid enough fines...sorry if I offended anyone...but just getting off a rant..blackiedog

[Thmastr]

Originally Posted by blackiedog

I hear ya..and maybe you are getting ripped off..and maybe not..I'm not there..but on this site I've heard way too many times about mechanics ripping off bikers..and mostly by riders that know very little or nothing at all about the mechanical workings of a bike. Sure it happens...but I can't believe it happens as much as said. Most mechanics that are good ..rip themselves off for their time..some customers that come in for a valve setting..don't realise what is involve..especially if body work has to come off..then when the job is done..the customer wants you to adjust the drive chain..lube it..check tire pressure...steering bearings to tight??...and want to ask you all kinds of other questions..all at the mechanics expense too..then they have the nerve to ask if they get a discount because they've been here before...geez..I wish the doctor would give me a discount because I've been there before..or maybe the lawyer would do my next divorce for free because I got screwed over the first time..maybe the copp won't give me another speeding ticket because I've already paid enough fines...sorry if I offended anyone...but just getting off a rant..blackiedog

lol that is awesome!

I find this entire response funny seeing how it is a rant geared towards people who don't like mechanics in a thread where there are complaints about mechanics! priceless!

I know where I stand on my mechanical ability... the only thing I will do involving the engine will be a sparkplug change and an oil change the rest I leave it to my trusty mechanic.

every thing els I try to do it myself, weel alignments, chain check ups coolant flushes... and once I get a jack I will take off my tires and change suspension oil...

all I need are tools, patience (lots of it) time.. about 10 times more than patience... a shop manual, and this great forum!

and if I don;t feel confortable I will take it to my mechanic where I know the job will be well done!

[zedx11]

most of that fell on deaf ears any way.

I pretty much quit doing stuff around here for people that aren't friends for most of the reasons you stated. other people from the local site PM me once in a while so I started pricing work at shop prices. wouldn't have started that if they would have all paid for the work done or said other things were wrong after I did something simple and never even touched what they said is wrong now.

[ChopperCharles]

I learned how to work on my own vehicles BECAUSE of crooked or stupid mechanics. My local Honda shop employs the dumbest of the dumb. My bikes are older than most of the kids they have working in the shop!

Lets see... I've had a mechanic install the washer on my V65's rear axle on the wrong side of the caliper bracket and that warped the rotor when he torqued it down. I've had tires installed backwards, I've been charged for new valve stems when they just left in the old stems, I've had a mechanic forget to install the rear caliper brake stay bolt, I've had a service manager try to ride my bike back around to the front, without first pumping the brakes after the front wheel was removed, and crash it into a dumpster, I've had a mechanic perform a first service on a new 2002 Ace at 600 miles, which includes a charge for adjusting the valves, but he NEVER adjusted the valves! (I put play-dough in the valve cover allen bolts. If he had put an allen key in there to remove the bolts, it would have forced the play-dough out!), and I can't count the times I've delivered a nicely washed and sexy looking bike to the service department, and when I got it back it was covered in hand prints, grease, and looked like it had been left outside in the rain.

So forgive me, but my experience tells me never to trust mechanics. There's only one in the entire world I would let work on my bike. One. He's the only one who has proven himself. But he only works on Honda V4's and he's 150 miles away. (Dave Dodge in Huntersville, NC)

Charles.

[zedx11]

not to take away from your experience but...

the shop I worked at kept track of the mechanics returns. in the 6 months that I worked there I had 1 return. it was something that was stupid that I had never seen before and after it being pointed out never made that mistake again. the problem is that the mechanics are treated like crap. low wages, no tool allowance, the owner sending the special tools that the manufacturer autoships back so he don't have to pay for them, not keeping simple things like fuel line in stock, the list goes on but these were the top of the list.

try doing a good job without the proper tools or supplies.

[BlackBeauty]

For the majority of repairs, all you need is a service manual that will give you the step by step and pictures, and ofcourse tools. The majority of the time, I just use the tools that are in my small box (Basic hand tools) for stuff, easily aquired for about $100. $100 is only about 2 hours shop time. Just try to do it yourself next time. Just don't go too far with it before you back out because I hate trying to work on something that someone else has tried to take apart.

[kunoichii]

well if I didnt have a reason to think these guys were shady, I wouldnt have said anything. I did say something because there have been numerous acounts of people saying these guys are bad. They said they cut corners and dont do a good job. I dont mind paying a lot of money to get my bike fixed, but I dont want to spend a lot of money if I am not getting good service. And you know when you see shady people on the street. Like hoods on, on drugs, looking to shoot you and rob you.... yeah they all work at this shop.

[elr658]

Then why, if you have a functioning third of a brain, DID YOU TAKE IT THERE?????? There are enough honest shops around you can patronize. If you walk into a *****house expect to get f****d.

The only Japanese bikes that get worked on in the shop I co own are mine.

[kunoichii]

Originally Posted by elr658

Then why, if you have a functioning third of a brain, DID YOU TAKE IT THERE?????? There are enough honest shops around you can patronize. If you walk into a *****house expect to get f****d.

The only Japanese bikes that get worked on in the shop I co own are mine.

I didnt think they were going to give me the run around like this. (they still havent contacted me, even after I went in there and asked them whats up) I had my tires put on not to long ago, and they did a good job, so I expected them to do a good job on this. So far, I have no clue what they are doing. I asked them, and they said they would get back to me that night or the next day. 3 days later I am still waiting.

[CrazyCracka]

I didnt think they were going to give me the run around like this. (they still havent contacted me, even after I went in there and asked them whats up) I had my tires put on not to long ago, and they did a good job, so I expected them to do a good job on this. So far, I have no clue what they are doing. I asked them, and they said they would get back to me that night or the next day. 3 days later I am still waiting.

Bro you should jus go down there. They prolly will keep extending this thing as long as they can esepcially if your not pushing um a little to finish up.

[kunoichii]

Ok, so an update. I don't think this was my fault, but here it goes. The oil was dirty when I got the bike. They said the dirty oil could have caused some of the problems, but it wasn't all of it. Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I didn't think that putting 10w-40 and 10w-50 oil in would make a difference. I didn't mean to mix them, but I did when I changed the oil. So they said that made the problems.. I don't know. I'm not a mechanic. Anyway, so far, I am at $320. They need to replace the cam-chain, and the chain guides. After that, they want to check the main bearings on the crank shaft to make sure there isn't any other damage. Now I am up to $1,838.80. If there is any damage to the crank shaft, its $739 for that, $130 for the rods(x4) and if there is any damage to the engine case its $814. I am willing to pay, but I REALLY don't want to if there is any other way. Has anyone ever changed a cam-chain before? Is it hard? I have a service manual, just no tools, but I am pretty sure I can get them.

[ChopperCharles]

Dude. You're being ripped off. Stop. Now. Take it somewhere else. Mixing oil can't cause any problems. YOU ARE BEING LIED TO. Take your bike to someone else. NOW.

Charles.

[kunoichii]

Thats all I needed to hear.

[kunoichii]

Alright, I called the shop to get my bike back and they said they are charging me for putting it back together. Is this right? I am contesting it, saying that I will pay for seals and stuff, but I am not paying for labor. It just doesnt seem right.

[mikeyg678]

never let a mech do anything before u get a estimate and know whats being done and if it changes u should be notified ASAP and u dont have to agree to let them fix it.

[kunoichii]

I finally have my bike back, after a month of it being in the shop. They didn't do anything other than take it apart, diagnose the problem and put it back together. I go to pick it up and they say it will be a little more than they had quoted me. Now it is a lot more than they had quoted me and I am just getting mad. So I go pay the bill, and get on my bike and leave. I am too angry to talk about it to them at that moment. I just want to get home. Then I get home and I snap. I see some screws missing, the bike is all dirty with grease and dirt and scratches on the plastics. I call them and basically tell them about it and they said they would replace the screws, but cleaning it isn't their job. At that I really did flip. I felt the blood rush to my face and turn bright red. I was so angry all I could say is they have horrible customer service and that I expect them to pay me back for the missing things. Now I don't know what to do. I want to cancel my payment and tell them that I won't pay for anything after you took it apart, but I don't think I can get away with that. Help

[Hacksaw]

Call the BBB and file an official complaint. They can lean on them alot harder than you ever could.

Keep in mind that you no doubt signed a document authorizing work. There is usually a blurb in there about tear downs. They should have estimated you for a tear down at a minimum. I never let friends go to a mech for a tear down though. It's like getting hit for a repair twice, since they usually end up with a huge estimate to repair something simple.

You may have to chaulk this up to learning...... I know that's why I began doing all my own work. Been screwed on simple things, even a tire change on a car, watching the little idiot pull out an air gun to start a lug nut, and having the nerve to say it was stripped to begin with.

[Kevorkian]

Unless you want to go to small claims court (document everything, hope you have). You are pretty much done.

You can report them to the BBB, which you definitely should.

Other then that, it is over.

Find a good mom and pop service place, those tend to be the best, IMO.

[Emc-Icon]

yup.. or do it yourself.. seems to be the best way to do it...

[OKC_Kent]

You sound too trusting, listen to your gut feeling more and put your antennae up higher. And start spreading the word about these ripoffs.