punters, and their expectations

[IOU0]

Been fettling a GSX750F lately for an acquaintance.
Very unloved and been sitting for quite a while.
Punter wants forks stripped, have a look at the brakes as he thinks somethings wrong and make sure the motor is healthy.
So check the top end, re set valves and balance carbs.
Forks get new bushes/seals and oil
Left caliper, you could see the dust seals trying to escape and the pads were goosed from binding.
Went to drop the caliper and the brake lines he'd fitted were a fraction more than finger tight
Checked all the other connections, applied a bit more oooomph to the bolts, bled it up and the mc seals are well past their best. A tried and tested getaround (bodge) was used so i could take it for a test ride and bed the pads in for him.
The front tyre was a thrupenny bit'd bt21 and bloody awful, but brakes were useable and no suspension leaks.
Yesterday i got a 1000 word ride report about how he thinks the left caliper is more efficient than the right and the damping is a bit over firm now. He notices these things apparently.
Its coming back next week for me to fit the mc seals and rebuild the other caliper to match the left, might even chuck on an old s20 i've got lying around which is far better than what he's got on!
It would be a great life without punters!

[Nidge]

Is this a paying punter?

[IOU0]

Only mates rates unfortunately, hence why i can afford an internet whinge!

[Nidge]

Only mates rates unfortunately, hence why i can afford an internet whinge!

Ahh worst of both worlds then.... good luck

[JackyJoll]

I was fixing bikes and got fed up with it and went and did something else.

I like the bit about one caliper braking better than the other though.

[Horse]

He said that's what everyone does with bikes, they either bodge it then expect him to fix it, or do the easy bits themselves and only bring the knuckle skinning jobs to him.
I think he's fed up with the bike business and I don't blame him.

Many members of the public don't understand that just because it's a hobby for them doesn't mean that others don't need to make a profit from it. Bike sales and repairs are examples of that.

[Mr. Dazzle]

TBF I wouldn't expect 99% of garages - car or bike - to do anything other than replace old parts with new ones. If I went to a random garage I would not anticipate they'd have the skills or tools to make anything except maybe a bit of bodywork/welding. That's just not how modern vehicles work.

That's not really a comment either way on the validity of garages, that's just how it is.

That's not to say you can't find people who can do something other than just fit new parts, but for me that would fall under "specialist" (or should that be specialist specialist?) and you'd pay accordingly.

[Horse]

That's not to say you can't find people who can do something other than just fit new parts, but for me that would fall under "specialist" (or should that be specialist specialist?) and you'd pay accordingly.

That's why I kept going to the same guy for 30+ years. He was content to do routine servicing, but could repair and fix too - or completely build a special if you wanted.

Andrew Sexton, Hook Norton

[DefTrap]

I rarely take vehicles to "proper mechanics" - prefer to do it myself. When I do I'm largely paying for their diagnosis skills and, often, because the job requires too much crawling in the dirt.

I don't think I've met a single tradesman or mech who hasn't scoffed at the previous "bodgers attempt". Standard practice innit? The BGas men were notorious for dissing the work of the previous BGas man's work.

[IOU0]

So punter is back today, armed with new seals for the m/cylinder and the seals for the other caliper.
We get talking about the bike etc and he divulges that the local dealer wanted what i've charged him for everything just to change the fork seals!
Apparently his wife has given him a budget to spend on the bike, hence why he needs mates rates!
So after fitting the new seals, the brakes are still not very good ( though considerably better than before). The tried and tested washer is re-inserted and he pronounces himself happy with the feel of the brakes now!
Just waiting for the next essay now!

[JackyJoll]

Has she got a nice figure?

[IOU0]

Guessing a prehensile thumb!