Rockin_John
Serious Thumper Alliance Member
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Posts: 1562
+36° 10' , -95° 48'
Gender:
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I agree: IF he did all he claims, you got a "top end overhaul," not a "valve job." And if your engine gushed that much oil that quick, it likely did have a major gasket failure. And if the performance went down the tubes after the oil gush, the head gasket is the likely culprit.
Personally, I'm not sure you got reamed so bad... IF the work was done right, and the engine holds up for a couple of years or 10k miles.
However, the other folks here are correct about the business practices: He should have gotten a final "OK" before starting in on an overhaul. He should have returned all the old replaced parts.
And knowing the Savage as we do here, unless you've had the timing chain replaced in the last few thousand miles; he should have done it, or at least reported its condition, while he had the engine torn down.
But... he was probably already nervous about the size of bill that was racking up against you (your bike) already. He could have ended up owning a bike he didn't want if the bill was so high you couldn't or wouldn't pay it!
It would be a good thing, and much appreciated, if you told us here who the mechanic was, as long as you have told the story completely and fairly. (And it sounds like you are being fair and not vengeful.)
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Need to amend this post: As someone else mentioned: The "shop rate" $$$/hour vary greatly. If you dropped you bike of at a Mr. Super Tuner race bike shop that charges $120 an hour, that is your mistake. There is likely a regular independent shop around that charges $65-$80 an hour and does decent work.
And also, unless it sounds like I'm altogether taking the side of all shops (which I wouldn't do, because there are plenty of bad rip-off artists out there). One major point is how high is their parts markup? Did they charge you $185 for a gasket set that cost them $95? Some shops do that. Like a 100% markup. IMO, they are due some markup for the trouble of ordering the parts etc... but the ones that double the money ARE rip-offs, and need to be put out of business by word of mouth.
So... Are you prepared to let us know what he charged you for parts item by item? That would go a long way towards knowing how bad. or IF, you were really hosed badly.
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