Dodgy Engine Rebuild

just a note - I would suggest that you also post this on <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.netrider.net.au">www.netrider.net.au</a><!-- w -->. A much wider readership, and telling people there will spread the word much more rapidly.

No good about the outcome though!

Which Yamaha dealer told you to take it to Dr. Bob - I would also suggest telling that Yamaha dealer about the quality of service received.

 

Have you tried the department fair trading? Most people don't do it because it is time and money. But sometimes it is just the principle.

 

Ok Steve. It sounds like you got the rough end of the pineapple.

Try the A.C.C.C. at 1300 302 502 however if the failure is unrelated to the work that was done, it may be difficult to claim.
You may need evidence from another mechanic that the workmanship was the cause of the failure rather than the crank failing due to old age or metal fatigue.

On the other hand if you are wrecking the engine, I am looking for another head as one of my sparkers is stuck in the head. My head will have to come off eventually and it would pay to have another head ready as it may be a cheaper option than doing helicoils.

DAVE

 

Firstly, sorry to hear about a rider especially a fellow FZR owner getting done over. Bike's are inherently expensive things, and when they start going wrong it all turns sour a little too quickly.

I'd be trying to figure out what on the bike is salvagable; then weighing up the cost of replacing the engine. Hunting down a full replacement engine would have cost far less than Dr. Bob's 'full rebuild'! I'd definitely be wanting to know what he did as part of this full rebuild, especially what he did with the bottom end (ie. bearings). By the sounds of it, the engine spat it's bottom end bearings from old age. Not that i'm entirely sure what's involved in a 'full rebuild' but i would have thought bottom end bearings would've atleast been inspected if not replaced.

Questions need to be answered for you, and as a consumer i believe you have every right to go back to Dr. Bob and find out exactly what he did (if it's not already listed on a receipt/invoice). Take this information to another mechanic (reliable one) and ask them if a bottom end faliure is acceptable even after all this work.

Then it's a fine line between making a very big enemy, and getting your money back (or atleast part of) from Dr. Bob. In all honesty, given he has refused to deal with you again it sounds like he know's something wasnt right - and didn't tell you. I'd be seeking atleast the majority of labour time refunded, or atleast figure out what was reasonable.

For your information, i'm led to believe that FZR250 engine's are sold 2nd hand for ~$500-$1300 depeding on the condition and km's ($500 being marginally better than yours).

 

Not good to hear, steveinmelb, that DR BOB has much to answer for.

We have a popular Tv programme here, across the ditch, called "FAIR GO", and they thrive on rip off deals and shoddy workmanship, and have much success in bringing persons like DR BOB into the public eye.

Word of mouth is everything, in Business.
Rest assured, mate,....... he'll get bitten one day.

 

im not too hot on australian law but could you talk to yamaha as they recommended dr bob? if nothing else they might stop recommending him to people from now on, in fairness you dont have much to loose so id try just about anything once it isnt too dear

 

what's involved in a top end and bottom end rebuild? Would I be able to do one myself with a step dad that's a car mechanic? He's pretty cluey. How much would it cost to do top or bottom or both on your own?

I was riding my mates cbr250 the other day and noticed that his throttle is so much more responsive. like I just turn the throttle a little bit and get a quick response. However on my fzr250 my throttle is alot less responsive and has a lag when I crank it, it's alot more noticeable when the bike is cold but also it has nothing on my mates bike even when warm. When we ride however I keep up pretty easily and off the lights, probably cuz I'm used to it. Anyway my point being would a good ol rebuild help things out? Would give me a chance to give my bike one thorough clean out and fix up.

 

Hmm I have never heard of this Dr Bob... and I thought I knew the only mechanic who would even consider doing a rebuild on a FZR250... why?? Coz you cant get new parts for them!! not the internals any way! I have been told Yamaha has decided to change things like pistons, cilinders and some other parts without actualy listing the differences in any manuals.. so there are internal differences not just B/W 2KR, 3LN-1 and 3LN-3 but B/W years of manufacture... and the info on all that is not very well documented!!

So my advice... if you are going to do a rebuild... just do the head (top end) or replace the whole engine... they are the cheepest out of all the 4 cyl 250's... just getting a good one is difficult...

From expiriance don't go to Victorian Motorcycle wreckers... try Global or Yamwreck or ACE... apparently they get them streight of the boat!

 

I can recommend yamwreck - he provided me with all my bits and pieces for my fzr250 when I had it. He buys wrecked ones and rebuilds them to quite good condition.

 

so If I do a top end rebuild on my own. What do I need? Like what do I ring around and ask for so I don't get raped by dodgey mechanics for sounding like I don't know what I'm on about (which is the case... but still you know how mechs are).

 

My mate (for whom I worked) painted all his bikes that he rebuilt <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s --> And hopefully I'll be doing that soon...

 

Call around "Head" specialists and find out how much will it cost to reco a head on a "DOHC 16 valve 4 cilinder engine" then tell them the engine is off a motorbike and it is a 250... almost all of them will tell you to bugger off or they will tell you heaps of dough... but if you do it smartly and actualy visit them in person... be realy friendly and you might just score lucky and there will be nut case that will do it as a "project"... so it will be cheaper and better quality.. they have the tools to do it... it is just that they will have to dig up info on them... and that is not easy...

Incidently a friend of mine got his head rebuilt on a GSXR750 for a slab after going around the local industrial area...

 

Would this be the painter who had his shop burnt down? Bruce was telling me that he lost quite a few parts & bikes in that...

 

Bingo.. I was working for the guy (Simon form Sunshine Motorcycle Eng.) about 5 years ago... (for about a year and a bit) and during the past 5 years I was working with him on personal projects... towards end of last year I started to pour money into his buissness and take it over (so ever slightly)... except the whole lot went down in flames b4 easter this year... with a heap of my money, tools, and parts...

So now I'm taking over all of his work + more (I was going to just take over the tuning and servicing) and now it looks like I will be making fiberglass fairings, painting and plastic welding... and every now and than I'll do bit more <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s -->

 

Steve, have you been able to get any progress with your engine?? or are going to try for another one??

DAVE