Today in the workshop .....

[Nick DV]

There's also the risk of a puncture during a test drive...

One can reduce the risk by removing one's dentures and cutting one's finger nails................

 

[Robotstar5]

You've got to love a home made catch tank.

View attachment 534892

If you need any spare taps, I have a few

 

[Cato]

The owner of the XL was unsurprisingly disappointed to find that he was looking at £3k plus. So he's going to start looking for bits himself to see if it works out cheaper.

His next disappointments came when he asked if I could make up a detailed list and leave the bike and bits with me while he sorted it out. I said I can measure all the shims for spec, list out the bearings and so on but he'd get charged time taken. I also said that I'm not storing his bike for weeks/months while he visits auto jumbles and scours the internet. In other words I'm happy to help where I can, but don't take the **** as this is a business.

His final disappointment came when I pointed out that if he wants the engine building with second hand parts whoever sources them there won't be any warranty on it.

Some people seem to have some very unrealistic expectations of how much things cost and what they'll get for it.

 

[addjunkie]

His final disappointment came when I pointed out that if he wants the engine building with second hand parts whoever sources them there won't be any warranty on it.

Some people seem to have some very unrealistic expectations of how much things cost and what they'll get for it.

This is why one eventually gets to thinking…never work with the general public, though in your line of work they are a necessary evil!

 

[Cato]

This is why one eventually gets to thinking…never work with the general public, though in your line of work they are a necessary evil!

Believe me, if I could avoid it/them I would.

Most of the customers I get are OK and understand to be fair, but the odd one here and there have a disproportionate affect on my mood and attitude. I take some solace from the fact that as soon as they show their colours I'm no longer interested in whatever it is that they want me to do. So I can use phrases like :-

"I see. So based on all your years of experience running a business and working in mechanical engineering, how much di you think it would cost?"

"Yeah I can give a discount no problem. Let me know what you get discounted from the landlord, utilities companies etc and I'll match it."

"That's fine as long as while you leave it here I can park my van on your drive to make room."

I find that sarcasm is a great stress reliever, although even that can make things worse if you come up against someone so thick they fail to spot it.

 

[Greeves246]

The owner of the XL was unsurprisingly disappointed to find that he was looking at £3k plus. So he's going to start looking for bits himself to see if it works out cheaper.

His next disappointments came when he asked if I could make up a detailed list and leave the bike and bits with me while he sorted it out. I said I can measure all the shims for spec, list out the bearings and so on but he'd get charged time taken. I also said that I'm not storing his bike for weeks/months while he visits auto jumbles and scours the internet. In other words I'm happy to help where I can, but don't take the **** as this is a business.

His final disappointment came when I pointed out that if he wants the engine building with second hand parts whoever sources them there won't be any warranty on it.

Some people seem to have some very unrealistic expectations of how much things cost and what they'll get for it.

I assume he pays the current bill before he takes the remains away? Probably cheaper for him to source a complete engine.

 

[Cato]

I assume he pays the current bill before he takes the remains away? Probably cheaper for him to source a complete engine.

Yeah, with anything like this I charge a couple of hundred quid to take the engine out and strip it to the point where I can find out what the problem is. That way the customer knows what it'll cost to find out. Then as you say, the customer gets a quote or estimate and has the option to stop at that point, have me go ahead with it, pause while they decide or organise funds, source a replacement engine etc.

It's the fairest way I can think of to set the ball rolling on something that may cost anywhere between fifty quid and five grand, but no one knows until it's opened up.

 

[Blobber]

Believe me, if I could avoid it/them I would.

Most of the customers I get are OK and understand to be fair, but the odd one here and there have a disproportionate affect on my mood and attitude. I take some solace from the fact that as soon as they show their colours I'm no longer interested in whatever it is that they want me to do. So I can use phrases like :-

"I see. So based on all your years of experience running a business and working in mechanical engineering, how much di you think it would cost?"

"Yeah I can give a discount no problem. Let me know what you get discounted from the landlord, utilities companies etc and I'll match it."

"That's fine as long as while you leave it here I can park my van on your drive to make room."

I find that sarcasm is a great stress reliever, although even that can make things worse if you come up against someone so thick they fail to spot it.

I get a least 1 a month, luckily it's mostly Internet sales so I don't have to deal with them face to face

 

[Bornfree]

Well that XL600 escalated quickly when his "ticking noise" turned into four figures of knackeredness inside a couple of hours. That's why for engine work I quote a price to remove, strip and inspect, invoice that and then go from there.

Barrel & piston, head (line bored), crank rebuild, cam, cam chain, full set of bearings & shims, tensioner blades, gaskets, seals, helicoils, etc etc and I can't see this proceeding. Time to do an "I found [insert tale of woe] so unfortunately ..." email.View attachment 534899View attachment 534900View attachment 534901View attachment 534902View attachment 534903View attachment 534904

Lack of oil or lack of oil changes?

 

[Cato]

Lack of oil or lack of oil changes?

Looks like both, plus a 'rebuild' at some point in the past without doing the basics, and by the looks of the bore some water damage thrown in for good measure. A lot of the 40 plus year old Japanese stuff went through the 'cheap throw away bike' stage and suffered from neglect. An Xl600 that is to some a desirable bike now worth a few grand, was a couple of hundred quid run around or field bike in the '90s and treated accordingly.

 

[Robotstar5]

I find that sarcasm is a great stress reliever, although even that can make things worse if you come up against someone so thick they fail to spot it.

You'd have to put me in that camp as sometimes sarcasm can go straight over my head