Thai Mechanics: Cowboy Stories...

[MaiChai]

Ok, disclaimer before I start this topic. The country we all know and love is still developing and we can't expect standards to be up what we are used to at home; BUT...

This is a thread where you can vent a little anger about what they did to your bike! Tell us your stories

I have had many bad experiences with Thai bike shops over the years that I do my own maintenanc/repairs. However I was down Sukhumwit a couple of days ago to get car insurance (very cheap; direct from the insurer meaning I pocketed the agents commission of about 1000-1500 baht; PM me if you want to know more). Anyway I got a puncture and since I was far from home had to go to a bike shop (up Ratchada road) to get it fixed. The bike shop is south bound on a bridge just after Suttisan. Anyway, guy really did an ugly job taking the rear wheel off. Bike is a Suzuki Smash so a common bike. Anyway he puts a new inner tube in it, charges me 120 baht (inner tube is typically 50-70 baht), and I go off on my way. Near home I get another puncture; this is too much like coincidence. The tyre is worn and this bike gets alot of weight on it, so I buy a new extra wide tyre (Camel brand) 2.75, and limp home. I change the tyre and there was a steel wire stuck in the tyre; basically the engineer did not check for nails, etc, when he changed the inner tube. Now that is the thing you are suppose to do!!! While I was at the bike shop, another engineer was cleaning the carb on a Fino. Now this was a new bike and I really did not like the way he was doing it. I mean lack of precision, sloppy spanner work, dropping bits, busy chatting with someone and not concentrating. If this was my bike I would be very unhappy.

While I am here, I notice that in Malaysia and Indonesia, on the Honda Waves, etc, folks put really big tyres on their back wheels. In Thailand, your average racer boy on his Fino tries to put the smallest tyres he can buy on his bike. Might as well buy a bicycle! Now on a 1000cc bike they have huge tyres on the back, for a very good reason! Are these guys so dumb to not realise that they have better safety/traction/more weight carrying ability on a large tyre than a small one? Does fashion and styling take presedence over safety and performance? Am I missing something?

Since installing the large tyre on the Smash, we no longer hit the rims when going over speed bumps, and much better traction when accelerating. I also put 10 new spokes in the wheel (3 were broken and 7 more broke when testing them by pinging them to check tension). Hopefully we won't get more broken spokes, will get less punctures and in general the rear rim won't get such a beating!

PS: I fixed the puncture rather than a new inner tube. This is something the Thais never seem to do. Other irritation is that the tyre says 'For front use only'; have I been conned or has the bike shop been conned, or are they too stupid by not being able to read English? Not much I can do about this so we will have to live with it: TiT.

[canuckamuck]

I'm having a little trouble imaging a Suzuki Smash with traction problems on acceleration. I have a CBR 150, and I wish I could get some tire spin.

Best I can do is put my feet down and pop the clutch on gravel.

Although I do understand your point about the tiny tires. It seems very odd that they prefer a slight increase in acceleration over cornering, stability, and braking. Although the same guys will often have a beefed up brake system. I guess so they can leave a long skidmark that ends with a body shaped ring of white paint in the intersection.

Sorry I don't have any bad mechanic stories, I am always amzed how cheap they do the work, and it has never been done poorly.

Edited June 28, 2009 by canuckamuck

[MaiChai]

haha. I have a 50kg daughter, a 30kg son and I am 85kg. Sometimes my gf does not get up in the mornings so I have to take both of them with two heavy school bags to school. I also have a TZR150 and a NSR150, but the carb on the Smash is really small and the fuel consumption is amazing compared to the other two. So for long trips I often take the Smash, that basket comes in handy, and less gear shifting, etc.

Ok I should be zooming around on the sports bikes but I also enjoy this bike too It does have better traction with the larger tyre and that larger tyre will save the back rim

[Pawpcorn]

haha. I have a 50kg daughter, a 30kg son and I am 85kg. Sometimes my gf does not get up in the mornings so I have to take both of them with two heavy school bags to school. I also have a TZR150 and a NSR150, but the carb on the Smash is really small and the fuel consumption is amazing compared to the other two. So for long trips I often take the Smash, that basket comes in handy, and less gear shifting, etc.

Ok I should be zooming around on the sports bikes but I also enjoy this bike too It does have better traction with the larger tyre and that larger tyre will save the back rim

I HIGHLY recommend getting the Mag wheels (wide rim) for your bike. I drive a Yamaha Nuevo, and used to have the spoke wheels... and used to have flats ALL the time... Since the installation of the Mags, ALL problems ceased, and have only run over one nail, with the obvious results.

Spoke rims eventually cause problems, and are easily damaged; generally unsafe at any speed.

I asked my b/f WHY the small rims in Thailand... and although I'm sure it's very much fashion (Suay!!!) he pointed out that the replacement tires are also quite a bit cheaper...

Just my 2 baht's worth...

Take care,

Pawpcorn

[thaicbr]

Ok what have Thai mech............. cant finish that word. what have Thai people with to many spanners and not enough brains done to my bikes...ummmm the list is long but here is the best one.

Mechanic was asked to rebuild a CBR250 engine (crank bearings shot) and tells me no problem (he worked in Korea before).

So i say do you need me to get you any parts, gaskets etc. he sez no problem. we agree a price 14,000baht and he begins. after a few weeks i ask is it ready. "umm no have problem" he sez. What problem , it seems i need a new fuel pump ok .

Then 2 weeks later its finished. I collect it everything seems ok. i ask him where did he get the head gasket... " i made it" he sez........oh my god i think. What did you make it from. he shows me gasket material. what the ffffffffffffff. thats no good i say. he sez 'no problem., if problem come back'.

Ok i take the bike away. it seems ok. i ride it about 100km's then its blowing water out the exhaust like a pressure washer(it was actually pretty cool) never seen that before. luckily i was only about 3 km's away from his place, so a motorcycle taxi pushed me back. He sez no problem i fix. This time i tell him 'I WILL GET YOU THE CORRECT GASKET'

I order from the Uk. I take it to him and the little <deleted> tells me its the wrong one. I say its the correct gasket just fit it, do as your asked.

I think every thing is ok. I wait a week, get a phone call that its finished. I go with my Thai friend to collect it. First thing asked did you use the gasket.......................................'No he says it wrong one' so i say what the <deleted>+k did you use did you order correct one (the gasket i supplied WAS the correct gasket). He said i make gasket, BUT this time i use aluminium same the one you give me. what the fffffffffffff. Any way the bike last another 4 weeks before it has the main bearing growl again. I take it back he sez my fault because i not change the oil. my Thai friend loses it big time and wants to kill the guy, I had to hold him back. it was funny at the time.

By this time i give up and source a 2nd hand engine from Japan. Every thing fine once it was set up. ( i told them not to use gasahol. cbr250's run shit on it) what did they use gasahol, so they couldn't set the carbs up properly. 3 shops that was. it was only when i gave up and got it home we drained the tank put 91 in then started again. lovely runner then.

Now i do as much work myself. And have found a Thai mechanic ( a true mechanic) that sorts other stuff for me.

So the moral of the story is if you do not get a personal recommendation do not use a Thai mechanic unless you have given them some small work to test their ability.

Amazing Thailand.

Allan

Edited June 29, 2009 by thaicbr

[BigBikeBKK]

I've been lucky- bought my Ninjette and ER6n new from Kawasaki and their service staff seem quite competent. Of course, never had anything break on either bike so only routine maintenance, but I've seen them working on older bikes and the shop is spotless, well organized, and they seem to know what they're doing.

Only time I've had a problem is when I had Dr Bike build me a custom rack for a Givi box- Looked solid but after only ~2000 km the rack broke cuz the bastards used thin wall tubing for the main stays, box got wedged under the tail of the bike locking up the rear tire and had I been on a curve I'd have been off the road...

So, after that scare I'm pretty reluctant to trust anyone but the factory trained mechanics...

[thaicbr]

Hey Tony i didn't realise that Kawasaki did service repairs on older bikes. That sounds like it might be worth looking into. Do you know if they just fix Kwakers.

[BigBikeBKK]

Hey Tony i didn't realise that Kawasaki did service repairs on older bikes. That sounds like it might be worth looking into. Do you know if they just fix Kwakers.

Yes- they will work on older bikes- Kawasaki only as they don't have parts or training to service any other brands.

Look past my bike in this pic and you can see an ancient Kwacker on the service stand to the right-

Because they've sold and continue to sell so many new bikes they're getting really busy. If I remember right they have 6 or 8 service stations on the ground floor. They expanded their service center to the second floor where they've added a few more stations, but still can't seem to keep up and as a result they are talking about not accepting older bikes in order to provide timely service to the customers who purchased new from Kawasaki Thailand.

Happy Trails!

Tony

[blakegeee]

As far as the little tires (low-profile), it IS a performance thing. I am sure most people get them because it looks cool but a low profile tire has less side wall flex so it is better for cornering. Steel wheels (stoked) are actually stronger than mag wheels. Mag wheel are made of magnesium which is not as hard as steel so they break easier. The advantage is that they are lighter weight so slightly better performance. They may also have less flex (better cornering) but I am not sure about that. Obviously the most common reason for getting mag wheels is just styling however.

As far as Thai mechanics go, I also get extremely frustrated! There are very few shops (2 actually) that I will get anything done at nowadays. I had one shop rebuild my disc brake reservoir and he screwed it up some how. My front brakes suddenly seized while driving and I obviously fell and was cm's away from having my head squished on a busy road. It took over a year of bringing it to other shops to get it fixed. They kept telling me that they fixed it when they didn't. They wouldn't believe me (dumb farang) that the problem was to do with the rebuilt reservoir and they were always trying to fix the caliper. Finally after fighting with shops to leave the caliper alone and fix the reservoir (over a year later) I finally got it back with a new reservoir and it was perfect ever since. The original guy must have put a seal in backwards or something but the other shops said that they took everything apart and put it back together and the reservoir is fine. As it was painfully obvious from the start, the reservoir was the issue.

[chuppachops]

I took my cbr150 to get a new sparkplug in he said ok no problem. So he took the tank off and placed it on the back of my bike.. 2 mins later i hear BANG.. it fell off onto the concrete floor i didnt want to cause any problems or make the guy feel stupid so i didnt say anything to him. after about an hour he put everything back together complete with scratches and dent in the tank. charged me 150 baht and i rode away very dissapointed knowing that if i said anything it would acheive nothing.

as i was riding up the road i noticed my tank was bouncing all over and moving about a lot. I pulled over to check and they had forgot to put back in some rubber parts that make the tank slot into the frame to stop it moving. I went back to the shop and he was sweeping up. ( lost the parts in the bin somewhere)

ahhhhhh mai pen rai.

anyone know a good garage in phuket pls let me know. thanks

[PeaceBlondie]

No horror stories - but like Tony, I've almost always used only factory-trained mechanics in huge, spotless Honda shops. A year ago, after thinking I'd totalled my new CBR150, we took it to the shop 38 meters from where I now live. 14K baht later, all fixed, except a cracked front disk reservoir, which was quickly fixed.

[Lancelot]

I layed my little Honda CZi down (sand?) and the rear brake pedal was hanging at a weird angle because the hollow shaft or dowl that oes throuh the brake and center stand journals was bent. I immediately took it to a shop and Somchai quoted me B250. I said ok and they replaced the dowl and I drove off. The brake pedal seemed sloppy and upon further inspection, I saw that the dowl was too small. I knew that taking it back would accomplish nothing so I took it to a couple of Honda shops until I found one that understood that the dowl was the wrong size. They ordered the correct part and when I went back a few days later I was only charged B100.

Its just not worth goin to independent shops, but YMMV.

Chok dee!

[phobic]

Hello,

I just wanted to add something i noticed alot here with the so called "mech's". Alot of them will intentionally break you bike ( tighten chain to much, break a fairing etc..) and this is for a good reason! And that reason is, they are hoping to get more work ( MONEY) because you will come back to them and try to get it fixed. This happened to me recently, the mech ( i found out later this is not the first time he does it.. and he sells jabba lol to finiance his business ) tightened my chain way to much when i went there to get it lubed and tightened, i didnt see this since i went to buy something to drink.. but anyway 1 day later i feel that the back tire wobbles(sp?) abit so i stop to check it out, and i see that the sprocket teeth are broken and the sprocket is bent.

so I go back to tell him he f-d my sprocket up, and the usual no problem.. and he got a sprocket ( 45t ) which he wants to put on and he also found that my rubber thingys behind the sprocket is bad and want to change them too.. so i left the bike there and went to buy a 44t rear sprocket and went back but this time i stayed to keep an eye.. and yeeesss.. he wants to put the rubber thingys for a wave and this will ensure that i have to come back sooner or later..

Ok i took the bike and everything and rolled it to a shop across the street and they fixed it no problems what so ever..

[LivinLOS]

Too many horror stories to count... And include pretty much every bike shop and mechanic on phuket.. They simply dont care about gaskets, worn parts, dire work etc..

Went to one who was reccomended.. He took it apart and simply couldnt get it back together right and had 'hand rebored' a single barel out with an awl !! When I got it apart he had the timing chain 2 teeth out.. A miracle the vales didnt hole a piston.

[t.s]

a freind of mine had his whole bike overhauled shortly after purchasing. on his first ride from bkk to pattaya, one of the front brake assemblies came completely off its mount. the garage owner was mortified and has never charged him for labour since. other than that the job was fantastic.

similarly i had my vfr overhauled for a trip down south. as i reached chumporn, we pulled over, i got off the bike and the rad hose blew off. hot coolant everywhere. it had not been properly tightened.

i check these things now. frequently.

[momosan]

Today I went to have the light that shows what gear the bike is in to be installed on my CBR. Went back to get the bike and found the mirrors had been swapped around left->right. I was a little bit miffed but didn't say anything since it looked different and thought it would just work as well. On the trip home I realised that they way they were now only allows about 50% visibility as previously. So I tried to put it right myself. Took them both off (at the pivot ball point) and tried putting them back in, broke the glass with my hand. Two small puncture wounds requiring me to pull the shards out. Now I know you're not meant to take em out like that since they won't go back in. Gotta have to get replaced with OEM parts says another mech. Also said it's probably gonna cost more than the gear light+fitting costs. Bastard.

[wjmark]

Had a flat on my Wave front tire, and pulled into the Honda dealership about 15 minutes before closing. All the mechanics were cleaning up, so they had 'the kid' change the tire.

I waited about 10 minutes, watching 'the kid' struggling with the wheel. Finally he got it off, changed the tube, put the tire and wheel back on. Then he wheeled the bike back up to me at the front of the shop.

I paid, got on the bike, grabbed the bars, and nearly shat myself.

'The kid' had turned one of the forks around, so the lug for the axle bolt was at the front of one fork and the back of the other.

My handlebars were facing one way, and the wheel was facing the other.

'The kid' had wheeled this monstrosity up to the front of the shop, and had not noticed the 60 degree angle between the wheel and the bars - incredible!

One of the mechanics came up, yelled at 'the kid', and then set things right.

What amazes me is not the error of turning the fork around and still putting the axle in - anyone can make a mistake. No, what amazes me is 'the kid' wheeled this bike to the front of the shop (about 20 meters), and didn't notice that he was steering one direction, and the bike was going a different direction...

sigh

[MaiChai]

I had a 15 year old boy do the steering bearings on an NSR once. He got a bit of direction from the head mechanic, but on the whole he did most of it himself and did a good job. It was a pretty complex job, if I remember rightly. Can't think I did anything as clever as that at 15. Thailand: Land of Surprises I do remember this being quite a cheap repair too. Now, however, everyone is money grabbing and you really have to look at the bill when you get a repair done

Edited July 1, 2009 by MaiChai

[Datsun240Z]

Seems there is the need for a good foreigner bike mechanic, well I am one. Would love to start something in the south. I noticed the Som Chai mechanics to, but don't want to say much are hurt their feelings. Guys we have to admit, almost none is a real mechanic or know what he is doing. That is even here in The Netherlands...

[Netfan]

I don't have any horror stories as far as bad work done, been lucky. But when I lived in Hua Hin I had a 400 Shadow that I brought to a guy for minor stuff. The Shadow has no gas gauge. I did notice the "low fuel" light would go on pretty quick after picking it up, but I never paid much attention to how much gas was in before I dropped it off. Until one day I know I had filled it up, then after picking it up a few hours later I got about 5 kms and the light went on. They were draining the tank every time! He was a good mechanic, so I just made sure I brought it in with zero gas. Problem solved.

[neverdie]

You can get cowboys everywhere, I don't trust people with my vehicles or my bikes here in Thailand or back in Oz.

A few years ago I bought a HSV Club Sport, nice enuf toy, actually at the time it was my pride and joy % meticulously maintained and presented.. Not a cheap car either. Anyway, at that stage in my life I use to trust people. (NOT NOW!).

Anyway, I dropped my car in for its 10,000km service & decided that I would cross the road and up a few hundred metres and look at cars in another dealership. After a coffee and a walk, I walked back to the main road enroute to where my pride and joy was being worked upon & as I did this I heard the familiar rumble of a vehicle, I was only use to hearing from the inside (the drivers seat actually). To my surprise my vehicle pulls up at the lights & its driver (Greasemonkey Mechanic) notices me on the footpath admiring the vehicle, anyway, before I can mutter the words (Hey fool thats my car), the lights change to green and the moron inside it unleashes its full 380 HP and departs the starting grid with the rear tyres blazing. Anyway, neverdie is gentle placid sort of person, who managed to make his way back to the driveway of the dealership just in time for this Greasemonkey to arrive & my greeting wasnt so pleasant. HOW DARE HE!

Anyway, without going into all the detail, the mechanic was sacked & ended up in the local court & the dealership provided the service free & a new set of tyres. Ohh and they called me sir for a long time after that. Ever since then I had an extreme distrust of mechanics & have even been found waiting outside the lawnmower shop for the old rover grasscutter.

I also wait for my little Suzuki Raider when its being tuned here in Thailand & whenever a mechanic mentions the word 'testdrive' I always decline & tell them I will let them know when something is wrong with the vehicle. The Bastards.

[Datsun240Z]

I don't have any horror stories as far as bad work done, been lucky. But when I lived in Hua Hin I had a 400 Shadow that I brought to a guy for minor stuff. The Shadow has no gas gauge. I did notice the "low fuel" light would go on pretty quick after picking it up, but I never paid much attention to how much gas was in before I dropped it off. Until one day I know I had filled it up, then after picking it up a few hours later I got about 5 kms and the light went on. They were draining the tank every time! He was a good mechanic, so I just made sure I brought it in with zero gas. Problem solved.

This is really a no no, I mean common? Stealing gas? Only in Thailand...

@ Neverdie: Reckon ( Doesn't matter what country ) 75% does not now what they are doing.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Datsun240Z

[lennya12threh]

ive never had a problem.. most of the times ive went to a mechanic were with my vfr and i go to the mechanic behind seacon square. a couple thai guys, always with 20 big bikes in their shop. never any small ones. one can speak good enough english to say just about anything......

[neverdie]

I should also mention that recently I had a thai mechanic remove, clean, service & tune my Suzuki's carby & as he seemed to be really switched on, I also asked him to do an oil change, oil filter & airfilter & he also adjusted and lubed everything. He was very careful with the bike, seeing that it was spotlessly presented.

Anyway its running like a dream (okay not my ducati dream), so thumbs up to him. Ohh and the best part, it took him slightly over 2 hours all up & he charged me 105 baht labour. Very happy with that as well, so no complaint from me about my thai mechanic.

[Travelmate]

I never had a problem with Thai mechanics.

But then again I never let a Thai mechanic do anything major to any of my bike.

If you want to know how good they are. Ask them of they got a torque wrench? If you get a blank stare, leave the premises and go elsewhere.

[BigBikeBKK]

If you want to know how good they are. Ask them of they got a torque wrench? If you get a blank stare, leave the premises and go elsewhere.

Ha ha ha!!! That is SOOOOO true!

[thaicbr]

Best to ask if they know HOW to use a torque wrench not just if they have one.

[MaiChai]

Very good point about the torque wrench. Otherwise how can you get clutch springs or cylinder head bolts right? I have one and use it regularly. I don't have a shop manual for the gf's Suzuki Smash so when I changed the clutch I checked torque settings before I took things apart (and made a note of them). However if Somchai had been at it before me they could be wrong In which case compare against the shop manual of other similar bikes to get an idea of what is a realistic setting Honda Cub 70 is a good one for most of the step throughs

I think Honda designed the Wave/Dream to be 3rd world mechanic proof! You don't need any special tools or large spanners; just the arm strength of a typical Asian male!

[Lickey]

There are many reasons why you cant un-tourque a nut or bolt accuratlely,

If the nut has been Loc-tited on, it has a wavy washer or spring washer underneath, if some part had to be heat-treated before fitting, the gasket has collapsed in the bolted joint, dot-punched into a groove, a lock-nut,

Un-torqueing does give the fledgeling mech an idea,but its totally inacurate,

[Datsun240Z]

I should also mention that recently I had a thai mechanic remove, clean, service & tune my Suzuki's carby & as he seemed to be really switched on, I also asked him to do an oil change, oil filter & airfilter & he also adjusted and lubed everything. He was very careful with the bike, seeing that it was spotlessly presented.

Anyway its running like a dream (okay not my ducati dream), so thumbs up to him. Ohh and the best part, it took him slightly over 2 hours all up & he charged me 105 baht labour. Very happy with that as well, so no complaint from me about my thai mechanic.

This sounds like a good one, fair price to