The restoration has begun... Now the questions!

Well, well, well.... Looky who's coming back to town! "Hi! Everyone!" It's been way too long since being here! If you remember, the temps were getting too hot in the garage to work comfortably and the fact that I work outside most of the year anyways, I had to become a hermit to the A/C for some time... I just wasn't expecting it to take this long! Just this past week here in Mesa,Az it was still in the 90's... I had today off because of rain and thought I would take a moment to get back in touch with "The Guys" here at VFRWorld and let you know that it looks like the temps are finally going to come down! When I left I had just gotten my rear shock back recently from Jamie Daugherty, it came back looking real nice! I haven't heard from Dave Dodge in awhile and am going to be sending him an email to find out what we can do for setting a schedule to pick up my engine, it has been almost a year that he has had it and I am anxious to get it back, actually I can't really go much farther without it as I need to get it mounted before I can install my forks and rear suspension... I will get started doing some detail work to bits and pieces and then I will also be finishing up the bodywork and looking to lay down some paint.

Thanks to everyone for being patient and understanding, it has been a brutal summer down here! Also, I want to say "Thanks!" for all of your kind words and support for the project, it has definitely had it's ups and downs and I am sure there will be more to come... But, we'll get thru this!

See you guys soon!

 

Hi Salvo!

Thanks for the update. Your project bike is one of my favorites here. I'm glad you will be able to get some wrench time in this Fall.

Looking forward to seeing what nifty things are on the workbench!

 

Salvo just though I'd check in on your progress, Heard form DPR on engine?

 

Thanks for asking

No time selling all. 1000.00 can takes all Lots of new, Have to concentrate on my Venture as it is going on a long Canadian drive to Toronto. see past post for pics..


News..... Sold the Vent6ure kept the VF1000 Thonking of Bonniville for Sept. or I'm just nuts!

Todays date is April 27.11

Still looking for spare engines for this beast perferd ones with second gear,lol


Thanks for the great Emails Cheers Mike R..

 

Hey Everybody!
Sorry it has seemed like my project has dropped from sight... Here's an update for you guys.
Well, I WAS supposed to have my engine back in my hands by Christmas time last year and then it was the middle of January... DRP had told me back at the end of January that the cams were ground on the wrong centerline, 106 instead of 108, and had to be sent back to be rewelded and reground! I don't have any idea what the turnaround time is on such a job but it has gotten to be very very disappointing!!! So much so that in the time that has passed I have since received a 1964 VW Bug from my wifes Grandfather and I have boxed up the whole bike project and gotten started on my Bug project... I don't know when I'll get back to the bike... For sure, not until the Bug is finished, I can't have both taking up my garage space.

I am disappointed with how the whole bike project has turned... DRP has had my engine for over a year now and it has been "Paid in Full" since before December '10. So, That is where things are at now... I'll try to keep popping in here once in a while to let you know how things are coming... Right now, At a COMPLETE standstill!

Take Care Everyone!

 

Good luck with your new project, really unfortunate about the engine situation. Don't forget about your bike, you've put so much work into it already.

 

Thank you for the update Salvo.

Bummer on the delays. I hope things get back on track with the engine rebuild. I wrote to DD awhile back regarding working on a 500 engine upgrade. He wrote that he was pretty swamped with work at the time.

The cam snafu is a similar concern I have had in going forward with my engine project. Finding the right company is key.

If I could ask, do you know who DD was working with on the cam re-grind?

 

I'm sorry but I do not know any of the vendor information in which parts may have been sent to for work... You could probably just ask Dave, if he is too busy to take on your project I don't see why that would stop him from at least giving you the vendors contact info... Good Luck!

 

Truly a huge bummer. was enjoying your build

 

Ouch..that sucks about your engine man. Build looks like it was going so well too...

 

Keep up the story we are all so interested in it. Reread my earler post guys.. Mike R..

 

Hey Guys...

Well............ My last visit to you I was still waiting for Dave Dodge to finish my engine after a delayed finish date of Dec. 2010. He told me that there were some things still being taken care of and he would have it done soon.

Then.... when that didn't happen, he told me just a little bit longer...

I finally sent him an email stating that I wanted a "hard" date on when I could pick up my engine... He stated that he was trying to finish mine and another fellas before the end of the month which would have been May.

I sent him an email at the beginning of June saying that I wanted to pick up my engine the weekend of the 4th of July, he said that he " Would make it happen...."

I got a phone call from him after sending an email asking what day of the weekend would be good for him for pickup, and he tells me that "despite all of his hard efforts, he just wasn't going to be able to finish it by the weekend and that he was sorry..."

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what to do anymore! He has already gotten $4100.00 of my money for this business transaction and all I want is my F***ING engine back!!!!

Are any of you Lawyers out there that might be willing to slip me a hint as to what to do?

I really don't want to drop any more cash into this engine, it has already been too much as of now. I had high hopes for an excellent finished, restored bike and now I really don't care....

Anyways, for those of you looking for a place to send your business..... Hmmmmm, I seriously don't know!

 

Thanks for the update.

This is very unexpected. Did Dave Dodge give you an idea of the lead time for a full rebuild when you first dropped off the engine?

I have always read that DD does excellent work but this seems an excessive wait, even for perfection.

I hope this works out for you.

I have really enjoyed seeing the progress on this bike. It is going to be a beauty when complete.

 

No, There was no set pickup date except that I mentioned I would like to pick it up by the following Christmas which was last year in 2010. He lives in the same city as my in-laws and we were going to be there anyways... He said "No problem".

I was just over at v4hondabbs.com and found an unbelievable thread talking about the horrors of dealing with this guy...

I wish I would have seen that first!

I guess I may have to turn it over to my Credit Card company as that is how it was paid for.... Someone else had to do that and the CC company got right on it I guess... Don't know what the final result was though...

My biggest concern is that I want to get my engine back, BUT done "right" at the same time and to NOT have a washer or something down in the crankcase when I go to start it up........! Know what I mean?

 

5x5, very much a bummer.

Totally agree here. You don't want an engine builder to rush the job but I certainly understand your frustration, esp. as the engine was promised by a certain date and then not delivered.

Keep us posted and again I hope this works out for you.

 

Sounds like theft of services to me. Contact the police and see if you can move forward with it.

 

$4,100 so for for a motorcycle engine rebuild WOW!!!!!!!!!!!


Something is VERY wrong.

I ran into this same problem a couple years back.
Very poor communication and I had to pay in cash in advance, on a seat.
Like $480 something. Then months went by and nothing . Then I kept making phone calls and finally I got a person on the phone that promised me again that I would get the seat and I said," Do you realize you have told me 4 times so far that i would get the seat and I still do not have it." And all I got was more evasive talk.
I finally got the seat and it was done right, but I was so hop'n mad i would NEVER do business with them again. Too mush anxiety never knowing what was going on.

 

I hear what you are saying Matt, but I think all would agree it is a sad day when you request the State Troopers pay a visit to Dave Dodge.

I hope this works out for Salvo as this was one of my favorite builds until he ran into this major snafu.

 

Hey Guys...

I found this thread over at a different site... thought you might want to read it.

I want to cry!

Let me know if it doesn't come thru for you...

Login

Let you know more when I hear it...

 

Wow... I'm really surprised to hear you've had such bad luck dealing with Dave Dodge. He built an engine for me a few years back (750 Gen 1), delivered on schedule and a brilliant piece of work. He was back east then. I gather he's moved somewhere in AZ since; but still... Sorry for the troubles lad.