dictater

Further on,

Took the bike to two more Honda shops, where they both told me its normal for a CBR 250 to sound that way, course it didn't sound that way a week ago so I know that's not true. I realize there is some engine noise and I understand what that sounds like, it doesn't sound like this. The bike has been serviced on all regular services dates according to the book with engine oil changed, last changed 17,5xx and now 20,3xx. 'Crank shaft comp.' I take it to mean crank shaft and then composite drawing as the mechanic was reading it straight from the manual. So after eight hours and four different shops and one of the rudest business owners I ever met, thanks for the chewed up egg sputtered all over my chest Kuhn O, I come to the conclusion that the first guy was overzealous and didn't know what he was talking about, the next two were living by that old Thai adage it cant need to be fixed as your still driving it. So back to the same problem I have found with motorcycles here for the last ten years; its all good as long you need nothing more than a tire change.

An extension to the original post, been having some engine noise, took it to the Honda dealer last week, two of the mechanics listened to it and told me there was no problem, I knew they were wrong, drove it for a few more days the noise got worse, mostly when engine was still cold, I thought it might be timing chain related, took it in this morning to original shop where the bike was purchased, shop discussed above where things seem to be abnormally expensive. They just got back to me and told me it's the crank shaft comp. the replacement part is 5,500 plus other parts and labor. I've had a lot of CBR 150's and never had a problem with any of them. This bike has just 20k k's on it, most of which were light use (before I got it) . Does this strike anyone else as exceptional, that the crank shaft would have to be replaced?

I bought a one year old CBR 250 which is almost ready for its next regular maintenance at 24,000 Kms. They guy I bought it from saved all his receipts showing how much he has been paying for the service and its seems to me for service and an oil change well over priced, on average over 3,000 Baht each service. Just wondering from anyone out there what your normal maintenance charges have been. There are a couple of Honda shops here and always had the feeling that the one this was bought at is not the best.

To follow up on my request for info on getting my once again dead GB 250 worked on does anyone have any experience with the shop listed on the thaivisa motorcycle directory map, Somchais old big bike repairs shop in Pin Klao. It certainly sounds like the right place. Just to recap my last post, I was driving at about 100kmp on my GB 250 and the timing chain broke, I assume that means having the piston and even valves replaced as well. This happened less then 1000 K's after "rebuild" here in Kan, any kan riders that was Ot near wat Nua who did that wonder job. It cost a lot to get it rebuilt last time and took four months because of lack of parts so said Ot. So anyone who's had work done there please get back to me.

I just received a new Lg Optimus phone from the US. Put my AIS 12 call SIM in and though it shows some aspects it doesnt recognize SIM, my number doesn't come up, it shoes working on GSM Thailand lists true and Dtac, but not AIS. I understand there are locks and codes but the phone doesn't say its locked and isnt asking for any codes. Any one have any experience with this? I understand there is alot to this but I have no clue.

I have an 84 GB 250 that I've owned for five years. I have been through some rough times getting this bike worked on, earlier this spring I had the engine rebuilt, timing chain, pistons at my local shop. Well it took the mechanic four months to finish the job, kept saying that he couldn't find the right chain. Since I've gotten it back I've barely ridden, taken it on some short 60-80 K run in rides. Then last week took the bike from here, Kanchanaburi to Surin. Everything was fine bike ran great but then on the way home just out of Buri Ram bang snap dead on the road. So I got the bike home and surprise surprise my mechanic who is always so friendly when I'm handing him money doesn't want to hear about it. This is not the first mechanic to have screwed the engine, which was in fact perfect before he opened it. It is the third engine in this bike each previous engine killed by faulty work. It was well know and agreed upon by both Thais and expats alike that Kan is a black hole for motorcycle work, but what I need it to find a mechanic in the surrounding area that has been tried and tested and get the work done once and for all, Im through with these A$$holes in Kan. Any recommendations? Any one have an old bike that's been well worked on? BKK-Ratchaburi-Ban Pong anywhere in the central area. Thanks all

I am stranded with my Honda 25 GB, for four months I have been trying to get a mechanic to repair the bike, there is a timing chain problem that started small but which I assume is now very bad, as I have been driving it. The only solution in Kanachanaburi seems to be replace the engine, which I did last time there was a problem, any one know of a really reliable shop in Kan, Supan, Ratcha, Cha- am , Hua Hin, yes willing to go that far to get this straightened out, I dont need to hear rumors I need info.... thanks.

This is a new question but directly related to the non B issue. I have a non B multiple which is due for the 90 day hop on the 14 of march, I am expecting to be out of the country for a short while just before this and so I thought it was working out perfect. A friend who works for a company in Bangkok that advices and helps foreigners with visa's told me I need a reentry permit before I leave or my non B will be void on return. On the other hand when doing the 90 day check it or whatever its called I am not to leave the country but only to go to the border immigration, not the immigration office in town here, but one at the border where they would restamp the same as when I always did my 90 check here in town. Some of this goes against my understanding and experience but in a way I understand how multiple entry as the Thai government thinks about it doesn't mean multiple entry as I do. Any one crystal on this?

As far as the LST aspect of this thread goes, ALST is where you start, you will have to take the two week course and pass the cerification test, then attend a BOSIET course and then you will have to spend alot of time reading forums and company sites to find out that nobody hires or wants ALST's around, because of this C**cking up previously mentioned, of course the only things an ALST does is operate the med lock, wash clothes for the divers bring them thier food, flush thier sewage and operate thier showers, but then maybe after a lot of experience, change the soda scrubber. No SAT divers life is going to be in an ALST's hands. and if no one wants to hire them there will be no qualified LST's to operate DC's safely.

I have buddies out here who trained to be LST (life support techs) 2 years ago who now make 700 USD a day.. a 6 week rotation makes about a million baht tax free.. They are living high on the hog with a full career in front of them (they trained in Plymouth, 2k GBP for the training course BTW)..

Sounds interesting...Anymore information or a link?

RAZZ

Razz...seems to me the only reason you are interested is because of the money mentioned....LST's look after the systems which support divers ie you are taking responsibility for someones life....and if money is your only reason for getting into this...then please stay out...

why else would anyone do it ??

Its not like you go and work offshore on some smelly rig with a bunch of roughnecks because you want to help your fellow man.. Of course you expect professionalism in a critical job.. but money is the only reason anyone would do it.

Why would an LST be involved with a bunch of roughnecks ?...different parts of the industry...Roughnecks are on drilling rigs and LST would be on a DSV or construction barge...nice to see you obviously know what you are talking about...

Of course the money offshore is a driving force, but these days every clown/loser is trying to jump on the O&G bandwagon, thinking its easy money..c*cking things up offshore and it ends up that the guys who really know what they are doing to sort out the messes created by the fly-by nights...I personally would be very worried if I was a Sat diver sitting in the chamber knowing that the guy who was looking after my well being had only been through a course very recently and his only motivation for being there was his day rate...

I was using roughnecks as in 'rough arse'.. As in rough work and usually living in rough conditions.. Not the job description.. Roughneck is defined as being a low skilled job in lots of trades as well as being a specific job within oil (just so you know what your talking about !!).. Same as roustabout etc its inst just restricted to the (mostly) seppo oil term.

Yes theres now lots of new arrivals to the industry.. But thats because the industry needs more staff than they have.. How do you propose the industry takes new people and turns them into the 'guys who really know what thier doing' without them being green at some point ?? And of course the LST's start as being junior and LST assists etc...

I am a recently qualified ALST who has also done the BOSIET course and have been looking for a couple of months with assisstance of a friend who is a long time SAT diver with absolutely no luck, no response and surely no encouragement. ANY ALST's, LST, LSS, DSS, or SAT divers out there with some suggestioins? I dont care where I work, just anxious to get to work.