Is It Worth Going To A 'mechanic'?

[goldfish]

Just had a quick look at a friends Mio 'cause it didn't stop. No worries, just adjusted the rear brake but there were no pads left in the front caliper. The owner, a good friend, isn't around and I wasn't gonna buy new pads before she agreed. Sorry, but I've been in thailand long enough. Besides, the last pads I bought were aftermarket and didn't fit correctly. The retaining spring kept moving out of place and stopping the pads from moving. Result, no working brake.

Anyway, I cleaned up the caliper which looked as tho it had been parked at the bottom of the lake for the last week and fitted an old, worn pair of pads. Should last a couple of weeks. Had to replace an innertube when a friend punctured it before giving it back. It was then I noticed the dent (very big, can feel it when riding) was caused when a 'mechanic' changed the tyre and not by a pothole as I first thought. The tyre was a tad undersized, he must have put a lot of force into it.

Had a look over the bike. There are bodywork screws missing from when somchai forgot to replace them, a rubber sleeve over the throttle cable adjuster is missing, the front disc has been replaced with one which should never have made it off the drawing board (about a sixth of the necessary metal, warped the first time the lever was pulled) a circlip missing from the pad retaining pin, and probably more I haven't yet noticed. All within the first 10,000km. The first time the filters were cleaned was when I did it. Gave it a service after she had the disc fitted. The pads were nearly worn thru. Gave her the air filter to clean but she gave it to somchai. It came back just as dirty. There was also three times too much oil in the auto drive and the anti squeal shim in the front caliper is missing

So, my point being, is it worth going to a mechanic unless really necessary?

[ajahnlau]

Just had a quick look at a friends Mio 'cause it didn't stop. No worries, just adjusted the rear brake but there were no pads left in the front caliper. The owner, a good friend, isn't around and I wasn't gonna buy new pads before she agreed. Sorry, but I've been in thailand long enough. Besides, the last pads I bought were aftermarket and didn't fit correctly. The retaining spring kept moving out of place and stopping the pads from moving. Result, no working brake.

Anyway, I cleaned up the caliper which looked as tho it had been parked at the bottom of the lake for the last week and fitted an old, worn pair of pads. Should last a couple of weeks. Had to replace an innertube when a friend punctured it before giving it back. It was then I noticed the dent (very big, can feel it when riding) was caused when a 'mechanic' changed the tyre and not by a pothole as I first thought. The tyre was a tad undersized, he must have put a lot of force into it.

Had a look over the bike. There are bodywork screws missing from when somchai forgot to replace them, a rubber sleeve over the throttle cable adjuster is missing, the front disc has been replaced with one which should never have made it off the drawing board (about a sixth of the necessary metal, warped the first time the lever was pulled) a circlip missing from the pad retaining pin, and probably more I haven't yet noticed. All within the first 10,000km. The first time the filters were cleaned was when I did it. Gave it a service after she had the disc fitted. The pads were nearly worn thru. Gave her the air filter to clean but she gave it to somchai. It came back just as dirty. There was also three times too much oil in the auto drive and the anti squeal shim in the front caliper is missing

So, my point being, is it worth going to a mechanic unless really necessary?

You're talking about 1 mechanic. I'm sure there are hacks in your country as well. I've found the best are at the dealers. Alittle more baht but sometimes worth it.

[Lickey]

Mrs decided to take her Wave to the local Honda shop for a service, Ive been very busy on the farm recently and havent had a chance to look at it, although i ride it sometimes, so i know the chain is slack, the rear brake needed adjusting, the front brake light switch didnt work and the speedo cable was broke, so for 380bht she got an oil change and a speedo cable, the chain was still like a cock in a sock [enclosed chain ] none of any of the moving parts were lubricated, eg, footrests, rear brake linkage pivots, sidestand pivot, the tyre pressures were not checked [still had unbroken dirt on the valves } Now, if i had a better comand of the lanuage, i would go to the honda shop and stick a few fredies into them, same as i would in my own country, so im with you on this Goldfish, if you want anything done, do it yourself,

Cheers Lickey..

[tubber]

Nope, do it yourself like Lickey says. If you want your carbs balanced Lickey I will be taking a run down to Udon sometime soon.

Cheers

Jim

[Lickey]

Hi Tubber, yes, i rekon the carbs need balancing, when i start her up i never use choke, just hold engine about 1500rpm and she spits and farts for a minute or so then clears, on a run, she behaves nice, but cogging down a couple to get going has the same effect like turbo lag, it seems like the engine is saying 'whats all this then? and then it gets going!! Will PM you soon Jim,,

without contradicting myself, the above posts are about 12/1300cc XJR Yamahas , 4 carbs that do need balancing from time to time,

Cheers Lickey.

[tubber]

<br />Hi Tubber, yes, i rekon the carbs need balancing, when i start her up i never use choke, just hold engine about 1500rpm and she spits and farts for a minute or so then clears, on a run, she behaves nice, but cogging down a couple to get going has the same effect like turbo lag, it seems like the engine is saying 'whats all this then? and then it gets going!! Will PM you soon Jim,,<br />without contradicting myself, the above posts are about 12/1300cc XJR Yamahas , 4 carbs that do need balancing from time to time, <br /> Cheers Lickey.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Are you sure it is the carbs? Sounds like you got an air leak on the inlet side. No worries, can do the carbs anyway, I will take my vacuum gauges all you need to take is an empty washing up liquid bottle (sounds like Blue Peter) preferable a Sunlight one, it plugs straight in to the fuel line from the tap to carbs . And some Gaffa tape.

Cheers

Jim