The Wrench Monkey's Lounge

*Tod* · 07-12-2008

Open Bar, and there's Beer and Soda in the Fridge, help yourself.

Come on in, crack open a cold one, and shoot the breeze with your buddies...uh, just wipe your hands first.

Bob Brooks · 07-12-2008

OK, Tod-
I'll be the first to jump in here since you're in Texas; really not too far away. My latest wrench monkey event was the installation of a Baron's Big Air Kit on my VN900. Very nice piece of equipment, but the two screws that old the chrome cover on are probably the most difficult to access of anything I have done on that bike. BUT, it really "opens up" the engine. That's the only engine mod I have, and the general wisdom on the forum seems to be that I should not need a fuel processor unless I change the factory pipes, which I don't plan to do.

*Tod* · 07-12-2008

Sounds good Bob.
I like the look of the Big Air Kit, David had one on his Meanie and it looked really good on it.

By the way, no one really has to worry about hijacking the conversation in here, since there's no set topic, it's just free form conversation.

A2rider · 07-12-2008

You're gonna get a big, fat kiss the next time I see you!

This is great!

Can we talk about anything? Dumb things we've done, and other people have done mechanically?

Looky! Looky! A place away from the crazy people that don't know what a manual is.

Oh happy day!

*Tod* · 07-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by A2rider

Can we talk about anything? Dumb things we've done, and other people have done mechanically?

Yep, that pretty much sums up what this place is for.
Stories, stuff you've done, bikes you'd love to restore...you name it.

Quote:

Looky! Looky! A place away from the crazy people that don't know what a manual is.

Oh happy day!

You are most welcome.

zedx11 · 07-12-2008

thanks Tod.

racinfast002 · 07-13-2008

im here for the booze

azwiley1 · 07-13-2008

Ok Tod, now I feel I have to take back what I said about the mods in the other thread.

A2rider · 07-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by racinfast002

im here for the booze

For booze, you must either tell stories or agree to what we say!

rbentnail · 07-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by A2rider

For booze, you must either tell stories or agree to what we say!

Yes dear. Anything you say dear.

zedx11 · 07-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbentnail

Yes dear. Anything you say dear.

LOL you know how to push buttons.

rbentnail · 07-13-2008

Actually I just got done sending an email to a couple of coworkers. Both bought Kawis over the weekend so I sent them the link to the forum. One bought an '08 V2K. He's a big guy and would look like a circus bear on a tricycle on anything else. The other bought a 900 for his son. The "kid" rides the old man's Goldwing now so the 900 won't be a problem for him. They 900 guy is already asking me about windshields and bags- he knows I'm a wrench guy so I might get some free beer outta this. We'll see how that goes.

Did a charity ride yesterday, re-met some Kawi folks who have been lurking. Hope they sign up. Also met a new guy. He and his wife ride a 1500 Classic. Hope he makes it here. There was some stuff he seemed really interested in doing with his bike.

What did really p!ss me off about the ride tho- somewhere I lost my gremlin bell!! The wire loop thingee is still there but the bell is gone. It was the one I got from Pippi250 all the way from San Diego when we did our bell exchange. Man what a bummer!!!!

rbentnail · 07-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by zedx11

LOL you know how to push buttons.

Yeah, it's a running gag with me and my wife. I gets lotsa practice....

Bob Brooks · 07-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tod

Yep, that pretty much sums up what this place is for.
Stories, stuff you've done, bikes you'd love to restore...you name it.

You are most welcome.

The classics...Older whiskey, faster horses, younger women, more money...will surely prevail in this lounge.

StarGate · 07-13-2008

I'm just here for the booze and loose women.

OK, so I lied. All I'll say is you better hide the cake.

LoudFastUgly · 07-13-2008

I love it, a thread about nothing. How Seinfeld.

As a professional (?) mechanic, I'm often asked "How long will that take?".

When you're new to a piece of equipment or diagnostic tool, it always takes longer than it should to repair said equipment. Less Hurry Equals More Speed. Through the years with practice and specialized tools, techniques to expedite repetitive repairs have been developed to reduce the time required to complete the job. The reason for this is not to save the client money (remember tools are NOT FREE and must be used repeatedly to pay for themselves, let alone be profitable), but to make the job more profitable for the tech - You may be billed 4 hours (blue book) and the job may take only 2.

NOW HOLD IT! You wouldn't squak about a dentist charging you the same if the procedure required half the time with the same result, would you? Some clients know this and yet still press the issue, Aka; A wholes. Some clients do not know this and need to be educated.

As to the question, "How long will that take?" In my mind I've had many, many, many answers to this... and the best of them is as follows:

Me "How long is a piece of string?"
Customer "I don't know"
Me "Exactly"
Customer "Can you give me an idea?"

Now, If they seem like decent people, I'd give them a roughtimate. If they seem like a Jerk, they get:

Me "Can you push string?"
Customer - now a little annoyed "NO"
Me "Neither can I".
Customer - now thoroughly upset "Look, HOW LONG"
Me "The length of this conversation, plus however long the repair is" holding my hands up and slowly spreading my arms like I was unballing some string.

StarGate · 07-13-2008

The most I've heard a customer "squak" was back in the late 80's. I get a call and after hearing what the customer had to say, I informed them that even though they payed a monthly maintenance agreement fee that this call would be billable at a rate of $200 and hour with a 2 hour minimum. A little grumble over the phone but they said get there asap. 20 minutes after walking in the door the problem was resolved and I was attempting to leave. Thought I was never going to get out of there.

LoudFastUgly · 07-13-2008

I get 4 hour minimum call out, customer pays Time and a half on saturday, double bubble for Sunday plus parts regardless of rental or fixed maintenance.

Customers don't 'squak' anywhere near as loud as the Service Manager does about warranty, rentals, fixed maintenance or the worst possible - rework.

zedx11 · 07-13-2008

one of the things that get me is when people park right in the middle of the garage door or ride right into the shop. I have a XX o'clock appointment, I'm here.

how many people set an appointment at their doctor and just walk right into an exam room and sit down, I have an appointment?

A2rider · 07-13-2008

Good day riding.

07-12-2008	#1 (permalink)
Tod The Pondering MOD Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 19,870	The Wrench Monkey's Lounge Open Bar, and there's Beer and Soda in the Fridge, help yourself. Come on in, crack open a cold one, and shoot the breeze with your buddies...uh, just wipe your hands first. __________________ “Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it.” - Cullen Hightower

07-12-2008	#2 (permalink)
Bob Brooks Riding to Stay Young Forum Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 342	OK, Tod- I'll be the first to jump in here since you're in Texas; really not too far away. My latest wrench monkey event was the installation of a Baron's Big Air Kit on my VN900. Very nice piece of equipment, but the two screws that old the chrome cover on are probably the most difficult to access of anything I have done on that bike. BUT, it really "opens up" the engine. That's the only engine mod I have, and the general wisdom on the forum seems to be that I should not need a fuel processor unless I change the factory pipes, which I don't plan to do. __________________ Bob 2006 Vulcan 900 Classic/Silver Houston, TX

07-12-2008	#3 (permalink)
Tod The Pondering MOD Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 19,870	Sounds good Bob. I like the look of the Big Air Kit, David had one on his Meanie and it looked really good on it. By the way, no one really has to worry about hijacking the conversation in here, since there's no set topic, it's just free form conversation. __________________ “Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it.” - Cullen Hightower

07-12-2008	#6 (permalink)
zedx11 yellow doesn't corner wel Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: KC, KS Posts: 22,249	thanks Tod. __________________ Darrell Ignorance is a disease my friend. You should rid yourself of it.

07-13-2008	#8 (permalink)
azwiley1 Former foxhole digger Forum Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,187	Ok Tod, now I feel I have to take back what I said about the mods in the other thread. __________________ Larry US Army 1989-2005 Desert Shield/Storm/Provide Comfort Vet PGR Member Rest in Peace Deron!

07-12-2008	#4 (permalink)
A2rider Banned BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: KCK Posts: 19,729	You're gonna get a big, fat kiss the next time I see you! This is great! Can we talk about anything? Dumb things we've done, and other people have done mechanically? Looky! Looky! A place away from the crazy people that don't know what a manual is. Oh happy day!

07-13-2008	#7 (permalink)
racinfast002 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 21	im here for the booze

07-13-2008	#12 (permalink)
rbentnail Formerly a Kaw owner Forum Supporter Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Asheboro, NC Posts: 3,791	Actually I just got done sending an email to a couple of coworkers. Both bought Kawis over the weekend so I sent them the link to the forum. One bought an '08 V2K. He's a big guy and would look like a circus bear on a tricycle on anything else. The other bought a 900 for his son. The "kid" rides the old man's Goldwing now so the 900 won't be a problem for him. They 900 guy is already asking me about windshields and bags- he knows I'm a wrench guy so I might get some free beer outta this. We'll see how that goes. Did a charity ride yesterday, re-met some Kawi folks who have been lurking. Hope they sign up. Also met a new guy. He and his wife ride a 1500 Classic. Hope he makes it here. There was some stuff he seemed really interested in doing with his bike. What did really p!ss me off about the ride tho- somewhere I lost my gremlin bell!! The wire loop thingee is still there but the bell is gone. It was the one I got from Pippi250 all the way from San Diego when we did our bell exchange. Man what a bummer!!!! __________________ Russ On an foot-draggin' 07 Yamaha FJR

07-13-2008	#15 (permalink)
StarGate Navy Vet S.A.R. crew BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NE Arkansas Posts: 5,030	I'm just here for the booze and loose women. OK, so I lied. All I'll say is you better hide the cake. __________________ Mike Original Owner 1981 KZ1000-K1 LTD 2000 Suzuki King Quad Photos Last edited by StarGate : 07-13-2008 at 02:06 PM.

07-13-2008	#16 (permalink)
LoudFastUgly Got KZ? BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ontario Kanata Posts: 882	String is a wonderful thing I love it, a thread about nothing. How Seinfeld. As a professional (?) mechanic, I'm often asked "How long will that take?". When you're new to a piece of equipment or diagnostic tool, it always takes longer than it should to repair said equipment. Less Hurry Equals More Speed. Through the years with practice and specialized tools, techniques to expedite repetitive repairs have been developed to reduce the time required to complete the job. The reason for this is not to save the client money (remember tools are NOT FREE and must be used repeatedly to pay for themselves, let alone be profitable), but to make the job more profitable for the tech - You may be billed 4 hours (blue book) and the job may take only 2. NOW HOLD IT! You wouldn't squak about a dentist charging you the same if the procedure required half the time with the same result, would you? Some clients know this and yet still press the issue, Aka; A wholes. Some clients do not know this and need to be educated. As to the question, "How long will that take?" In my mind I've had many, many, many answers to this... and the best of them is as follows: Me "How long is a piece of string?" Customer "I don't know" Me "Exactly" Customer "Can you give me an idea?" Now, If they seem like decent people, I'd give them a roughtimate. If they seem like a Jerk, they get: Me "Can you push string?" Customer - now a little annoyed "NO" Me "Neither can I". Customer - now thoroughly upset "Look, HOW LONG" Me "The length of this conversation, plus however long the repair is" holding my hands up and slowly spreading my arms like I was unballing some string. __________________ KZ550A4 Last edited by LoudFastUgly : 07-13-2008 at 03:00 PM.

07-13-2008	#17 (permalink)
StarGate Navy Vet S.A.R. crew BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NE Arkansas Posts: 5,030	The most I've heard a customer "squak" was back in the late 80's. I get a call and after hearing what the customer had to say, I informed them that even though they payed a monthly maintenance agreement fee that this call would be billable at a rate of $200 and hour with a 2 hour minimum. A little grumble over the phone but they said get there asap. 20 minutes after walking in the door the problem was resolved and I was attempting to leave. Thought I was never going to get out of there. __________________ Mike Original Owner 1981 KZ1000-K1 LTD 2000 Suzuki King Quad Photos

07-13-2008	#18 (permalink)
LoudFastUgly Got KZ? BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ontario Kanata Posts: 882	I get 4 hour minimum call out, customer pays Time and a half on saturday, double bubble for Sunday plus parts regardless of rental or fixed maintenance. Customers don't 'squak' anywhere near as loud as the Service Manager does about warranty, rentals, fixed maintenance or the worst possible - rework. __________________ KZ550A4 Last edited by LoudFastUgly : 07-13-2008 at 03:36 PM.

07-13-2008	#19 (permalink)
zedx11 yellow doesn't corner wel Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: KC, KS Posts: 22,249	one of the things that get me is when people park right in the middle of the garage door or ride right into the shop. I have a XX o'clock appointment, I'm here. how many people set an appointment at their doctor and just walk right into an exam room and sit down, I have an appointment? __________________ Darrell Ignorance is a disease my friend. You should rid yourself of it.

07-13-2008	#20 (permalink)
A2rider Banned BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: KCK Posts: 19,729	Good day riding.