Torque Sledge Hammer

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Dec 4, 2019 | 11:28 AM

#21

GalvTexGuy

Thread Starter

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2015

Posts: 10,060

Likes: 5,317

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sideburn

I don’t do my own work, I’m a busy professional. Just like the people that pay me to design things that just work, I expect a professionally trained mechanic to do the same. I don’t prescribe to the “that’s why I do it myself” mantra. Fact is there are some highly trained people out there that more than likely know more than you do.

As the OP said, he should have confronted the mechanic in this situation and that guy, if I owned the shop, would be on probation or fired on the spot.

In any profession, even yours, you're going to have a handful that are, let's say, underachievers. In my case (I'm the OP), I didn't have the option of viewing the resume or internal evaluations of the technician who was working on my bike. So, there's that. As far as calling out the dude, I addressed that in an earlier post. I'll get my satisfaction sooner or later.

Dec 5, 2019 | 08:40 AM

#22

ThePaintPirate

Club Member

Joined: Dec 2013

Posts: 2,969

Likes: 1,730

From: SE Iowa

Not to completely derail the thread but I appreciate hearing that an old timer, who I'm sure is more than qualified and has years of experience, is getting painted in the same light that a young tech is. Usually the complaints are to the kids still wet behind the ears, and the older guys are put on a pedestal as the supreme being that can do no wrong.

Dec 5, 2019 | 09:38 AM

#23

Naz

Road Captain

Joined: Nov 2019

Posts: 655

Likes: 759

From: Coconino County AZ

For most folks, years of experience increase your knowledge. But there's a difference between 10-years of well rounded experience and 1-year of experience ten times. Some of us with gray hair have actually learned more with experience, others have just gotten older but no wiser. Then some started out lazy and always taking shortcuts and have never stopped that strategy regardless of the poor performance.

In any organization, it's the people that make the difference. When you find a shop with good people, capable and skilled, you tend to stay with them. The others may get your money once then you move on.

Dec 5, 2019 | 12:21 PM

#24

Low budget Dan

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 1,239

Likes: 511

From: Getzville New York

Maybe he was just applying a couple light love taps to line up the castle nut, cotter key, and the drilled hole in the axle.
After it was set to spec

Dec 5, 2019 | 09:31 PM

#25

Dan89FLSTC

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 21,143

Likes: 12,707

From: South Carolina

Quote:

Originally Posted by Low budget Dan

Maybe he was just applying a couple light love taps to line up the castle nut, cotter key, and the drilled hole in the axle.
After it was set to spec

They stopped using cotter keys about 10 years ago.

Dec 6, 2019 | 07:19 AM

#26

martin10

Road Warrior

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 1,584

Likes: 520

From: VA

It seems to me that dealer techs rarely use a torque wrench other than maybe head gaskets and etc. They get used to doing it by feel. Not acceptable but not surprising either. In some ways I don't want to see or know how they do things. I do most of my own maintenance, but not things like tire changes. So when getting a new rear tire it would not surprise me in the least if a torque wrench wasn't used.

Dec 6, 2019 | 08:53 AM

#27

frontiercat

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 4,646

Likes: 40

From: Midtown Tulsa

A tech without a set of certified torque wrenches, in my opinion, is a liability to the shop he/she is working for. The wrenches will last forever if taken care of and regularly certified.

If you cannot trust the factory trained techs...