Bike shop trying to screw me?

[00sanchez]

Ok, for those of you who didn't see my first experience, the thread is here http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=60122.0

Well, the bike is now running ok, but I just went to take it out and saw a puddle of fork oil coming out of my left fork. The forks were rebuilt at the shop, and they charged me 2 hours of labor and around $66 for the dust/fork seals. Total, it cost me $162. So, I call the shop and they said they farmed that part out to the local dealership. I had him call them to see if they can redo them. He calls me back about 5 minutes later saying that the guy had told him the forks were slightly bent and that there's not much he can do.

My question is this: If my forks were shot before, wouldn't I have noticed a leak if the "bent" forks were the cause of the leak, or would the oil have already all been pushed out to where there wouldn't be a leak? Is this guy dicking me around so he doesn't have to redo the work for free?

Also, if the forks were bent to where this would be a possible outcome, shouldn't they have called and asked me if I wanted to go forward with the repair knowing I may have to replace the forks anyway seeing as how the repair might be a waste of money?

What are my angles here, because I'm stupid angry at this point. I basically paid these guys upwards of 500 dollars to install a new air filter because I've now had to redo everything they did except  a carb sync/rebuild and replacement of the tach seal.

[adidasguy]

1. You can put a straight edge on them and see if they are bent.
2. When they redid the forks - they could have done it wrong
3. When they redid the forks, if they measured oil with the fork extended rather than compressed, there could be way too much oil in there.
4. Where is the leak? If the seals - that's one issue. If at the bottom, they didn't tighten the bottom fork bolt that holds them together or forgot the crush washer.

You can lift up the dust cap and see what's there for the seals.
You can remove the fork caps and measure the oil level. Even with forks extended, oil level should be the same. If one has much more than the other it is a problem. I think with forks extended, oil level should be about 9" down (about 4-4.5" with fork compressed. Someone can correct me on the measurements.) Have someone sit on the back on the center stand so no weight is on the forks when you take the caps off.

[Paulcet]

Was "bent fork tube" noted on the paperwork they gave you when picked up the bike?  If not, they should refund your money IMO.

The shop should have contacted the customer before doing the work if they thought the work wouldn't be warrantee-able due to prior damage.

Oh, by the way: who are these idiots you took your bike to?  You need to let your fellow riders know about your bad experience. Hit your local bike forums, too.

[adidasguy]

If the  paperwork didn't say forks bent, they're giving you BS. How could someone remember they replaced seals in bent forks? They just don't want to correct their bad work. Why would a dealer with a shop farm out the work? Can't they fix a fork seal? Are yu sure you got your forks back and not someone else's?

[warlock214]

Sounds shady! They should have called and say the forks were bent. I just don't understand service folks!! If they made a mistake then they should correct it! Repair services paid for wasn't rendered IMO! Refund!!

[00sanchez]

Adidas, the leak is coming from the seal on the left fork. It looks like a slow to mild ooze leak.

And, no, they didn't tell me the fork was bent until I called today to complain. I'm probably going to measure the distances at a few points to see for myself if they are bent, but looking at them with a crude measurement with a zip-tie, they don't look bent at all. I rode it up to the place that actually did the work, and the guy wouldn't commit to saying that my forks were bent. What he said was, "I get about two forks a week from those guys, so I can't say if yours were the bent ones... blah blah." He offered to do the work free if I bought a seal and took the forks off and brought them up to him. I've honestly never been treated so poorly after spending so much money.

Keep in mind there was no leak when I brought the bike to the shop initially, so I'd assume that the leak would have presented itself if the forks were bent. The only logical explanation is that the forks were bent by one of the two shops or the guy botched the seal job.

So far, the invoice shows:

New K&N lunchbox filter 49.99
2 32.5 pilot jets 6.99 -- These were fluted jets, part number BS30/96 (by looks only. Not exactly sure) instead of the correct N151.067. I replaced these with 40s
2 Carb Rebuild Kits 32.95 each
2 Fork Seals 31.44
2 Dust Seals 35.78
2 125 Main jets 12.00 -- these were replaced with 140's by myself
1 Tach Seal 6.77 -- I asked for the tach to be fixed as it jumps around after around 4k rpm. This wasn't fixed, just the seal was replaced

Then the rest is caps, caps and chems.

Labor as follows:
2hrs for fork rebuild
2.5hrs for carb rebuild
1hr for rejett and air filter
1hr for tach diagnosis/seal repair

Now, don't get me wrong, but a carb rebuild/cleaning should take about 30 minutes after disassembly and rejetting should take about 2 minutes if the carbs are already open. The airfilter is just a reconstruction assemply procedure, so I'm not sure why that's on there. There is also a carb synch on there as well, but that takes all of 10 minutes if the bike is already opened up.

Now, I watched a video of somebody doing a valve adjustment, and they were able to remove the tank, hoses, etc. in 15mins by not rushing. I can get the carbs off in less than 30 minutes, and I'm new to this. I'm thinking I got raped. However, when I called the shop, he almost started arguing with me about the type of pilot jet, he had no idea about the jet sizes when I called the first time a few weeks ago, and now he has no idea about the forks.

Oh, and get this, I called the day before I picked up my bike and asked if it was ready. His response was that he was putting the bike back together, but he was stuck on one of the hoses... HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO HOOK UP THE HOSES! I had to walk him through where the hose from the evap canister to the carb went.

So far, then, I've had to rejett the carb myself, buying all new jets; I will have to resynch the carbs again, I'm having to re-rebuild the left fork. So, basically, I paid $548 for them to keep my bike for three weeks, replace the tach seal, order an air filter, and rebuild and synch carbs. I also asked them to adjust my valves -- they didn't. The invoice just says "You will need to adjust valves soon". Really?

Now, I'm not one to request money back and things, but this just seems a bit screwy to me. I'll probably bend over and take it because, get this, I don't want them to feel bad.

Anyway, I ordered a new fork seal for the left side and am going to try to find a way to pull the forks to take them up to the second shop. They didn't remove them in the first place, so I can't really expect them to do it without paying them.

Last question before my vent is over: It's not a shooting leak or a gush, but it does pull oil up and dive a lot. No oil is getting to the breaks or the tires. Would this be safe to drive until the part arrives on Wednesday? I would like to attempt the skills test on Saturday (first time I tried it was too cold to drive 1hr because I lost my winter gloves. Second time the instructor canceled after the first group due to one lightning bolt during a light rain)?

[00sanchez]

BTW, the shop's name is Marley Motorsports in Columbia City, IN.

[noiseguy]

Gak. That kind of stuff is why I don't take bikes to mechanics. Good bike mechanics are really hard to find.

Before you take it back, check your oil levels in both forks. This is a pretty straightforward job... if it's overfilled get the oil out and see if it's fixed.

If not, take the bike back and tell them to redo the work. You shouldn't have to buy new seals... this is clearly on them. If the bike hasn't been wrecked / abused and rides normally, forks aren't likely bent... it's typically not a subtle problem.

[knowles]

If it was me i wouldn't do anything or they might try and say that you did it (broke it), i would bring it back and have them fix the problem, or give you the money back. With the hours, most shops look in a book and it tells them how long the work is suppose to take, most of the time it doesn't take that long but thats what you get billed. A good shop will see that the carbs are already apart so the job wouldn't take that long and will give you a better rate. I say you got you got it up the butt. I would tell them in a non yelling voice that if they don't (fix it or give money back) that you are going to sue them (with me you need to back up the threat if your going to make it you should follow thru and do it). I would also tape record the conversation (you will have to look and see if it legal in your state to do it, in MN where i live only one person has to know that the conversation is being recorded). Hope it works out for you.

[noiseguy]

The reason I suggest that he check the fork oil level is to avoid another trip to this guy's shop... since he's clearly incompetent.

If the level is fine I'd take it back, and I *wouldn't* tell them that you looked at the forks. Just tell them to fix it right this time or give you your money back (all of it, parts and labor.)

Don't threaten to sue... do it or don't do it.

Ask for it fixed for no charge, or a refund so that you can take it to someone competent. If he refuses both, tell him calmly that you believe you're in the right, tell him you'll follow up with him in small claims court, and reporting your experience to the BBB, and walk out. Then file in small claims court, and write a letter to the BBB detailing your experience. Document everything.

[ohgood]

1 don't ride your bike. there is no telling what they did and did not 'remember' to do. the fork seals are an idiots job. any idiot, except them.
2 request a refund
3 they took time to check the valves, but didn't reshim ? why ? don't know how i'll bet
4 yes, you're being ripped off: by incompetence
5 find another mechanic