Should I be Responsible???
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
Should I be Responsible???
OK, here goes. I will keep this as short as possible.
I blew a head gasket in the front cylinder. I replaced it myself and when I was done heard a weird noise in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears at maybe over 3000 RPM. OK, So I took it to my local indy, told him the entire situation(he knew already because I bought all my stuff there to repair it) I specifically asked him to check the compression just because I was curious what it was. After spending about 8 hours tearing my bike apart starting with the primary, he eventually decided to check the rear cylinder and found that that head gasket was blow as well. Not really blown but definitely leaking! PLEASE correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't the mechanic have found this out if he would have CHECKED THE COMPRESSION like I had asked? So, Should I be responsible for the 8 hours of labor spent on the wild goose chase through the primary , front cylinder and the tappets? I will do what I have to do and I don't want to be an a$$hole, he is my local indy and I like the guy! BUT, I don't want to be taken advantage of. I haven't gotten my bike back yet, it is still in pieces waiting for parts. Which means that I haven't been charged for the labor but judging from the conversations with the mechanic it sounds like I will be.
ANY INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. Give it to me straight, I can take it!
John
I blew a head gasket in the front cylinder. I replaced it myself and when I was done heard a weird noise in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears at maybe over 3000 RPM. OK, So I took it to my local indy, told him the entire situation(he knew already because I bought all my stuff there to repair it) I specifically asked him to check the compression just because I was curious what it was. After spending about 8 hours tearing my bike apart starting with the primary, he eventually decided to check the rear cylinder and found that that head gasket was blow as well. Not really blown but definitely leaking! PLEASE correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't the mechanic have found this out if he would have CHECKED THE COMPRESSION like I had asked? So, Should I be responsible for the 8 hours of labor spent on the wild goose chase through the primary , front cylinder and the tappets? I will do what I have to do and I don't want to be an a$$hole, he is my local indy and I like the guy! BUT, I don't want to be taken advantage of. I haven't gotten my bike back yet, it is still in pieces waiting for parts. Which means that I haven't been charged for the labor but judging from the conversations with the mechanic it sounds like I will be.
ANY INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. Give it to me straight, I can take it!
John
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
never did. Every time I talked to him I asked if he checked it and he told me he didn't. I guess he was waiting until it was fixed to check it. But If it was me, that is a simple, easy way to eliminate a few things right off the bat.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 967
Likes: 3
From: Eastern Massachusetts
Did you take it to him and say "I want you to check the compression," or did you take it and say, "I have this problem, and oh, by the way, I'm curious about my compression, would you check that while you're at it?" If the former, then yeah, he should have just done it right away. If the latter, you left it in his hands and relied on his experience. If he really spent 8 hours on on your bike, you should pay 8 hours of his time. Otherwise next time you need him, he'll be out of business.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
I asked him to check the compression. I was not, however trying to tell him how to do his job. Maybe I wasn't firm or demanding for lack of any better words, But Knowing the history of the problem and knowing that I asked him to check it, I would have thought he would have checked it first. And it would have been a mute point if he had not found another blown head gasket I am totally prepared to pay him for his time, but I might not be so willing to take it to him for troubleshooting anymore.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
As a mechanic myself, I (and every other mechanic) can tell you stories of owners who told us what has already been done to correct a problem so we shouldn't waste their time and money checking that aspect. After many hours of checking every other possibility, you go back and check only to find that the problem lies right where you were told not to look. Who should pay for all the wasted time?? No way I'm going to eat it.
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,625
From: along the shore of Mishigami
How is the job order written or was there one written up?
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 941
Likes: 27
From:
Compression checks rarely find bad head gaskets, unless they are really bad. Leak down tests can find them a bit better. Just a FYI.
As for the trouble shooting ability of the mechanic, I won't comment. But if your feeling like he/she didn't do a satisfactory job, then you should look for someone else who does.
As for the trouble shooting ability of the mechanic, I won't comment. But if your feeling like he/she didn't do a satisfactory job, then you should look for someone else who does.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
Silvertip- I never told him "not" to check anything. Actually, The first thing I questioned was my work. That is why I was curious about the compression. I thought maybe I damaged a ring , or something, putting it back together and I definitely relayed info to him. I am by no means an expert. I had a bad ingition coil and we believe the misfires from that compromised and led to the eventual blowing of the front head gasket. I did tell him that I didn't touch the rear cylinder. I am not looking to get anything over on him. Like I said in my previous post, I like the guy(the owner that is)
man4mopar- thanks for the head gasket info. I kinda thought that but wasn't sure. It definitely was not completely blown, but definitely scorched pretty bad. And the "weird noise" only occurred at over approx. 3000 RPM's.
seniorsuperglide- There was a job order written but from my recollection it was pretty vague something like find weird noise,check comp., tune up,running rich.
Thanks everybody for their input. I thought this would be the general concensus. I guess the bottom line is that no matter what he charges me I am prepared pay it to get my baby back! I guessI was dreaming! All I can do is hope he has some compassion and gives me a bulk rate on the labor or something seeing as how the mechanic will have at least 10 hours in it when it is all said and done. She better run like brand new when I finally get her back!LOL The parts were supposed to come in today so I should be hearing something tomorrow
JMO but when a customer tells me they tried to fix something themselves and still has problems, the first thing I do is check what they did.
THANKS AGAIN
John
man4mopar- thanks for the head gasket info. I kinda thought that but wasn't sure. It definitely was not completely blown, but definitely scorched pretty bad. And the "weird noise" only occurred at over approx. 3000 RPM's.
seniorsuperglide- There was a job order written but from my recollection it was pretty vague something like find weird noise,check comp., tune up,running rich.
Thanks everybody for their input. I thought this would be the general concensus. I guess the bottom line is that no matter what he charges me I am prepared pay it to get my baby back! I guessI was dreaming! All I can do is hope he has some compassion and gives me a bulk rate on the labor or something seeing as how the mechanic will have at least 10 hours in it when it is all said and done. She better run like brand new when I finally get her back!LOL The parts were supposed to come in today so I should be hearing something tomorrow
JMO but when a customer tells me they tried to fix something themselves and still has problems, the first thing I do is check what they did.
THANKS AGAIN
John
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 282
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas area
Mechanic checks X, Y, Z, A, B, C and finally discovers the problem in the rear cylinder which you basically implied he should ignore, "I didn't touch it."
Now you want to blame him for not finding it right away after the wild goose chase he was sent on?
Wow, Silvertip is like a prophet. Good call, man.