How Much Does A Shoddy Mechanic Cost

[ray23]

Went to a machanic that a friend had, had good luck with. He got in over his head with mine, had a leaky head gasket off. He was convienced he could make one WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

He wanted to do a valve job, while he had the head off. Not a bad is idea,so I said go ahead. That was 3K. Next thing I know he is asking for 3K more to buy piston rings. Mind you the bike was running good, running hot that could have easily been the head gasket.

Piston rings no permision on that so I went out and checked he had the pistons out. I went right through the roof on that. Told to him to put the bike together, so I could take it to a different shop.

Got out to pick the bike up one cylinder wasn't firing at all. I told him I said to make the bike like it was. He said it was like it was before. Guess I have been in Thailand to long didn't punch his running lights out. Just careful and took the bike home. His answer was to pull out the crank shaft. No way in hell was I going to let this guy do anything

Wow only cost me 9,000 baht or did it.

The guy had installed the valves wrong, dented the tops of the piston, bent the new valves that had been put in. Broke crank case balancers on the crank shaft. The result a complete over haul of the engine, You guys may remeber I just rebuilt this bike two years ago. and I had a long thread on here about it.

Went to another shop, where a friend actively supervises work as hobby.

This is just the start tearing everything down to find the damage and get a parts list

This is the shop wher the bike is now loacted on Nong Khai Hwy just past the PTT gas station and before the Nong Som Rong turn off.

Scary he actualy uses the shop manual I have and he owns torque wrenchs.

We have the parts list now and are ordering parts from Japan through Red Baron in Bangkok. I usually bikebandit in the states they have all the parts for my bike. I'm hoping shipping will be less and maybe I will slide by on the 20% tax

so waht does a shoddy mechanic cost 9,000 baht and counting

[wana]

The price you pay doesnt necessarily make any differnce

ive had good work done for 30-50-100 thb sometimes

for something like rebuild engines ,i would go to a major dealer though

not a hole in the wall shop with scattered bike pieces and beer bottles strewn everywhere

[karlos]

You know you're in trouble when the bike shop's chairs are made from a brake disc and two halves of a wheel rim......

[ray23]

The price you pay doesnt necessarily make any differnce

ive had good work done for 30-50-100 thb sometimes

for something like rebuild engines ,i would go to a major dealer though

not a hole in the wall shop with scattered bike pieces and beer bottles strewn everywhere

Me to but hey we were getting flat tire fixed and then leaky head gasket replaced. The guy puts in dam_n good tire tube But, it went to hell in a hand basket after that. The guys wa recommended by a friend who seemed to have wonderful expierence with the mechanic I didn't.

The new guy does work like this a 750 CC Honda rebuilt from the frame up, newly rebuilt engine. Really sweet the guy is going to sale it with a book

[JonnyF]

Goes both ways. I bought a new led taillight for the ksr110 last week and took it home to fit it. Then i realized the electrical connectors didn't match up so I took it to a random tin shack guy to do it.

Much to my surprise he did a fantastic job, I expected him to just cut and splice the wires but he fitted the proper connectors, water proofed it and thoroughly tested it, got me a bottle of water from next door while I waited etc. Very tidy job and total cost was 70 baht including my water.

Having said that, for engine work i'd never trust a tin shack guy unless recommended by a friend.

[ray23]

Guys I'm having problems finding parts for this. In my shop manual they are called crank case balancers.

They are hard black rubber or plastic device that slips over the studs on the larger part. I believe they run the cam shaft gears ( not sure) is there another name for them?

I usually have no problem sources parts from Bikebandit.com. I can't find it on there. It;s in america so you have shipping and 20% tax to deal with. But, they have proved very reliable in the past.

I was going to use Red Baron, But, they don't return calls or e-mails. They would have ordered out of Japan.

Any ideas guys ? Ifound everything except this one part.

[ray23]

Found everything I need at:

http://www.babbittsonline.com/home

Less then Bikebandit, shipping is high.

A friend found it for me

[Gonsalviz]

HD BKK has not impressed me a lot but that was for some simple stuff. Hiway pegs installed at strange angles and a way overtorqued oil filter.

They did send a guy out to do a couple of recalls. He did seem to know what he was doing. I reckon they are the most expensive around.