I just want to put a shout out to B&A Cylinder Head for being straight with me.
Earlier on a mechanic I've used in the past (name not mentioned as I do not believe in defaming anyone), I was lead to believe that I needed lifters, or (Tappits). His business was out of commission while moving so I started looking elsewhere for some other opinions on what might be wrong with my bike. After talking to some other mechanics, I had got a few opinions that it might not necessarily be my lifters making the ticking noise I was hearing during idle after the motor warmed up. I guess you could say this was an honest mistake, and or misdiagnosis. The only problem is, that misdiagnosis could have, and would have cost me some serious dough to fix absolutely nothing.
Previously, when I had my motor built up a bit, I had my bike Dyno-tuned, so I brought it to the place that did that. It turns out after a trip to B&A Cylinder Head and a Dyno set up that the ticking sound I am hearing is just my motor doing what all or most Harley motors do eventually when they have some miles on them. There is one of several parts that is worn, or off by less than 1,000th of an inch. Not enough for the naked eye to see. He said he could replace those parts for the tune of about $1900.00, and then you would be sure you got which ever one it was that was making that tick, or knock. He also went on to tell me that the noise I am hearing is nothing to worry about and that if it was his bike he would just ride it as is. If I wanted to spend $1900.00 with him, let's have me save up the money versus charging it on my credit card and putting me into debt for nothing. He said later on I could put that money to better use and put some more horsepower between my knees rather than wasting it on chasing a noise that isn't hurting anything. By the way, the diagnosis fee including setting it up on the Dyno., was way less money than what it should have been based on the time he had into figuring out what was wrong with the bike, or in this case being certain that he could say that there was nothing wrong with the bike. But he gave me a figure, and he stuck to it. Did I mention that he came and picked up and delivered my bike to me with his covered trailer, so I wouldn't have to ride it back and forth to his shop in the winter? What Excellent service!
Honesty and word of mouth advertising is EVERYTHING in this business, so I felt it was only fair to spread the word that I have found someone I am willing to share as a good honest motorcycle mechanic. He could have told me that if I didn't spend that $1900.00, my motor was in jeopardy of blowing up, and I would have handed him my credit card.
Needless to say, I'll be saving that money. He'll be seeing more of me in the future, and hopefully more of my friends who ride too.
15 comments:
Mr M, the link to the custom paint pictures on top of this post has hijacked your blog. It scrolls across the screen saying, "you know you want to see it," or something like that I had to 'chase' the comments icon three time before I could catch it, but I still couldn't read this post because it goes to an all black screen.
Arizona Harley Dude,
I'm totally confused here. This may just be a fluke.
I just had my son go to my blog on another computer that was not "signed in" to my blog, and he could view the blog post and open comments fine.
That Logo, "Kulass Speed Shop paint" with the scrolling marquee is mine. It hasn't Hijacked my blog, I put it there.
Plz do me a favor and check again, Let me know what happens.
Thanks
Hey Mr. Motorcycleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, you gotta fix this. It’s making me dizzy. It’s all whacko on this end.
Willy D.,
Try again. Let me know if I fixed it. I think I know what the problem was.
Thanks!
Just tried on another putter. Same thing. All goofy.
Just tried putter number 3. Whoopee! It’s just like a carnival ride!
I think it's fixed! let me know.
That’s better. What was it? Hey, I bet that’s some kind of record. You’ll have all these comments and no one even read the post yet. I don’t know why, that just seemed funny right now :)
MM - I am pleased that is now fixed. It was just like I had taken some hallucinogenic drugs (which of course I have never done..... Cool effect though, man.
Yep, it is fixed and I would say the other comments prove I'm not crazy, but then they were written by WIlly D. So I'm sure about the crazy part.
Always great to find an honest shop and I have been having one of those tapping noise things going on also.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just kidding. The hallucinogenic part is over. I had those words on the Kulass speed Shop Logo scrolling, and I forgot to command the computer to tell my blog when to stop scrolling, So the whole thing started and wouldn't stop.
Saving your money is a good thing. Finding one to give you what you needed to hear is great. Kind of a funny story years ago my shovel was making a high pitch sound when running down the road. I work on my own bikes. So I did the lifter thing. Feeling good at my work I roll the old shovel out. Going down the road I hear that sound. I pull over just ah bitching. I bend down and that is when I noticed the DAMN guard plate under the engine was lose and vibrating. Was I pissed and feeling stupid.
Oh..funny how things work I have not had what AHD has had with the screen.
That’s the trick. Having a wrench that knows what sounds are normal for an engine with a few miles, and what sounds need more investigation.
Hey Paul, were you calling me crazy? If so, thanks! That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me all day ;)
A fair and honest private mechanic is very hard to find. I stick with the dealership.
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