Weld it.

 

Hmm, I assume if you can get in there to epoxy it you could get in there to weld it. I will ask why this isn't being considered.

I'm not so sure he is at fault. You brought him a bike and a water pump that you couldn't get in. He put it in an then started the bike, at which point something went wrong. But what did HE do wrong? Unless you can prove the hole happened as a result of him installing the pump incorrectly, I don't see how this is his fault...

What are you talking about? There was no hole in there when I brought it to him. He is the mechanic. He should know how to install it properly. If there was an issue with the pump or the bike prior to installation he should have been able to identify it and tell me about it. He was the one that put it together, started it up and ultimately blew the hole in it. I was standing there watching while all this happened. Anyway none of this matters because the owner already looked at it and said the pump wasn't aligned properly causing the damage...

Ask for pictures, lots of pictures of the repair with epoxy.
Will the shop warranty the repair for any length of time?
Are you willing to bet your own life that the motor won't grenade at 150 MPH?

I'd ask the shop to do the epoxy repair and give me $2,000 in cash.
Negotiate this down to $1,000 in cash. Or get yourself an attorney. If you go the lawyer route, you maybe out of your bike for a year.

After you pick up the bike and the cash, trade the bike in on something newer asap. There is so much vibration and engine temperature changes in a hi-po bike motor I just don't see how epoxy could be a permanent fix.

Maybe a used motor from ebay is an alternative.

good luck with it.

You think them giving me cash for it is going to happen? The bike is 2004 with 50k on it. I feel like legal fee's will end up costing more than the bike is worth...

I was actually considering just getting it back from them and riding it directly to the dealer and trading it in. I have been considering a new bike for some time now I guess this might just be the push I need.

Thanks for your input.

 

If it was me, I would tell them I wanted it repaired properly at their cost. If they do not want to go that route you can consult a attorney. You may have to sue for damages. But you deserve to have it fixed. I had a friend who owned a older s10 he took it to Walmart for a oil change they left the drain plug out and it locked up the motor. He received 3k for a new motor the truck was worth at best a grand. Just a example.

 

I'm not so sure he is at fault. You brought him a bike and a water pump that you couldn't get in. He put it in an then started the bike, at which point something went wrong. But what did HE do wrong? Unless you can prove the hole happened as a result of him installing the pump incorrectly, I don't see how this is his fault...

 

There was no hole in the motor when the OP brought in the bike, was there? If you took your car into the shop to get a new water pump and the shop told you there was now a quarter sized hole in the block, what would you do? You would get a lawyer, wouldn't you?

Now there is a hole in the motor because the mechanic tried to fix the bike. The shop should have insurance to cover this kind of stuff.

Are you saying the OP has to prove there was no hole in the motor before he brought it in? If it's not the mechanic's fault, who's fault is it? The OPs?
This situation has small claim's court written all over it.

 

Ask for pictures, lots of pictures of the repair with epoxy.
Will the shop warranty the repair for any length of time?
Are you willing to bet your own life that the motor won't grenade at 150 MPH?

I'd ask the shop to do the epoxy repair and give me $2,000 in cash.
Negotiate this down to $1,000 in cash. Or get yourself an attorney. If you go the lawyer route, you maybe out of your bike for a year.

After you pick up the bike and the cash, trade the bike in on something newer asap. There is so much vibration and engine temperature changes in a hi-po bike motor I just don't see how epoxy could be a permanent fix.

Maybe a used motor from ebay is an alternative.

good luck with it.

 

Id tell the shop you wouldn't feel safe riding it with the quick fix (epoxy) and if ask for it to be fixed back to the state you took it in on, which includes a motor without a hole in it

Sent from my DROID RAZR

 

The only way to really fix this is replacement or welding / re-machining it either would be kind of expensive . If it were to be welded the whole engine would have to be totally dissasembled clamped to a heavy steel bench preheated then tig welded then possibly re-machined depending on where the hole is . If they won't give you a satisfying outcome court costs might be prohibiting but that shouldn't stop you from threatening a law suit . Whatever happens don't trust the epoxy fix it will leak or come out . Unless you have a buddy who tig welds for a living you might just be stuck dumping the bike for a new one .

 

This pretty much sums up my vision of a "worst case scenario" to the tee. I figured they don't want to weld it because of that welding process and expense of actually doing it. So they will refuse to do it and stick to the epoxy being sufficient schpeel. I'll have to threaten legal action. They probably won't care. The bike isn't worth the time and fees of going through with it. I might try clark's idea of demanding $2000.00 from them to go somewhere else and to have it fixed properly (but of course pocket the cash and trade it in for something newer)

In the end I'm going to be stuck with having to deal with the hassle of getting rid of this thing and the expense of buying a new one. Neither option I wanted to deal with right now.

 

Ksouc77 it and get a new 10 :evil

 

The only problem with that is,
some other poor slob will buy it and potentially have it grenade on the hwy.

 

If it can't be fixed properly and you want to sell it, I suggest parting it out and getting as much as possible out of it.
I know, it's a PITA.
But it looks like you're stuck with a PITA, no matter how this turns out.
If you wouldn't feel right riding it with epoxy in there, then it's wrong to trade it and let someone else ride it like that,.....unknowingly.

 

Is the epoxy you are talking about like jbweld? If so it might work but it might leak after a bit, so try to get someone that can weld it in and go trade it, and after that delete this tread just in case something happens the dealer cannot sue your ass...well at least have less proof.lol

 

As with the many others, I would try to push for the shop fixing the situation properly (new motor) or at least get it welded to fix the hole so you can trade it in.

While talking about trade-ins, what were you thinking of getting?

 

I don't see where the thread is getting side tracked.
You asked for advice. :rolleyes
Since getting rid of the bike doesn't sound like an option, go along with their program and tell them to fix it with the epoxy. Get something in writing that says they'll guarantee the repair or have the motor professionaly repaired by welding or a new crankcase.
Don't take the bike back and try and repair it yourself or else you'll be assumming responsibility. They broke your bike, they need to fix it.

 

The side tracking would be getting into a discussion about which new bike I should get :rolleyes

As an update I spoke with two other shops they said an aluminum weld would have to be done (if parts replacement is impossible) but the process is going to require a full disassemble of the engine welding labor then full reassemble with replacing all gaskets and bearings. Probably 1,000 - 2,000 bucks.

I then talked to a dealer and asked them honestly if they would touch it even if the epoxy was holding for a certain period of time they said they unfortunately wouldn't touch it.

So my bike is now completely worthless at this point. The problem with the warranty thing is that it doesn't make me feel any more comfortable riding an epoxied engine. And the bike is still worthless (assuming I am honest with the buyer/dealer).

 

And I think you should get the Concours if you trade the bike in.
It has the same motor as the 14.

 

If the weld is the only way to go according to other shops, and considering the cost of said weld, it would seem a fix with new replacement parts would be the way to go considering the price difference shouldn't too much different. I don't remember what bike you have, but checking a website I have a new "SET - CRANKCASE" is about $1050 Canadian. That seems to be just for the case though, no parts with it, however I'm assuming that the parts in yours aren't damaged just the case?

 

Yea its about that much for the case. But you also have to take into account that you need to replace all gaskets/bearings and small bits when rebuilding the engine.

The problem with parts replacements aside from cost is the parts are back ordered as the bike is a 2004. That could take much longer than the weld job.

 

The website I'm looking at says shipping status for a 04 636 (assuming what you have) crankcase 3-6 business days. However I have never ordered from them I just have it bookmarked because it lists all OEM parts as well as diagrams for everything (all seals/bolts etc) for the crankcase (in this case).

 

Hmm. I called to inquire about the order with the dealer so I'm not sure.

At this point the next step is to bring up these options and discuss the fact that they made my bike worthless with the mechanic and see where that goes.

 

Take a picture of the fix then get a written reciept from the shop acknowledging that they performed the repair with the epoxy.

that should cover you legally on many things. should you decide to still ride it and it blows up on you causing an accident - this will allow you to file a lawsuit against the shop: your insurance company can also file a lawsuit against the shop.

I dont know how they work in canada but most states in the US has a consumer complaint department with the states attorney general - this actually works but takes time since the controller has to submit the official complaint to the shop by mail. The shop then has 15 days to submit a letter back stating their reasons, the controller submits the response to you. they will schedule a phone hearing with both parties involved - it should be a quick 15 minute call.
Again depends on where you are, different states have different consumer protection laws.

Otherwise, you can file a small claims court case representing yourself.
anything beyond that. there are plenty of lawyers who will be willing to charge you $1000 to collect $1000 for you

 

That sucks that your bike is worthless now but that's kind of what I thought the shops would say. I guess parting it out would be an option but hopefully you won't have to go with that option unless you really have to . I guess this is where the fight with the shop begins . I hope all goes well, if you lived a little closer I would offer to weld it for you but when you pay in beer there is no warranty .

 

I think they should fix it. If we break shit at work we have to put it back right. As for the epoxy, if it is marine tex it would more than likely hold but I'd still want a new part.

 

Just read this entire post. At one point I believe you said they buy & sell bikes. Have they got anything in stock right now you would be interested in? Perhaps a smoking deal on a newer bike could be possible? Could settle this without involving lawyers & insurance companies.

 

Pretty much everything they have is old crap that I wouldn't be interested in.
The reason I mentioned that is because I would think they might be open to the option of buying it off me, repairing it on their own schedule or however they like, parting it out or reselling it.

I am going to certainly bring this up once I speak to them. In my opinion its the simplest and most painless solution for both parties. They may even have insurance that covers this kind of thing which can pay out on it for them, who knows.

 

Being that they're in the buying & selling business, they may know where they can get a bike you would like to have. You may have to threaten legal action to get them to do anything, mentioning how expensive that could be, possibly higher insurance rates, etc., or how things might be worked out in private.

 

The real problem with threatening legal action is they might not even care because there is a chance I could lose. Realistically I have no evidence that they did this damage, they can just lie. I have no witnesses, the only people there all work for him. It will end up costing alot of time and money to go through claims court for a bike worth 4k. I could still win on the merit of my argument even with lack of evidence/witnesses but its really hard to say without talking to an attorney.

That reminds me where the hell has DW been? :banghead.

 

Well, I don't know how it is there, but here it costs nothing to just talk to a lawyer. Wish you all the best.

 

Sorry but i would have already served them with court papers. I don't play games and people sing a different tune when they get served. They are in the wrong and the owner has already stated that the pump was not aligned and it caused the damage. And why didn't the bone head mechanic put the bike into 6th gear and turn the back wheel by hand and see if it was right and spinning freely before trying to start it using electric motor power.

 

Preybird1 may be right. You may have to hire a lawyer & have him send a letter to the shop with your demands & threat of a lawsuit. Sometimes that is all it will take to light a fire under their butts.

 

Whatever happens, let us know. Thanks.

 

Talk to the shop if you are not satisfied with your outcome consult a attorney. Most of the time shops do not want the negative impact of a lawsuit. So they will make it right and do it fast. As far as time off work add that into your lawsuit. A 4,000 dollar bike will turn into a whole lot more if this goes to court. It's not the money it's the principle of the matter.

 

The shop should have loss insurance or something I would think if they do this kinda thing.