shop tryin to rip me off !!86 500

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by thermostate, Aug 26, 2009.

  1. thermostate

    thermostate New Member

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    Ok so here is me deal took my bike to the local shop about a month and a half ago to have it fixed. They called me and told me that the carbs need to be over hauled before they could fix the clutch, cost 450 dollars so I said yeah go ahead, two weeks later they called me and said the clutch plates need to be replaced . I asked him to get the total for the carbs and clutch ,so they called me back and said he could get it done for around 850 (So it could cost me about $1000 total with tax.) I said ok. two weeks later (last Friday) they called and told me they the petcock was leaking and the fuel line need to be replace(petcock = 40$ and the fuel lines 6$)I said fine, So I called monday and they were still waiting on the parts to get it done. So I asked what the total currently was and he came back with 900$ before the fuel lines and petcock where installed. I was fine with that.So I get a call today at noon ( your bike is done put air in the tires did the carbs, the clutch was rebuilt,and the petcock and fuel lines were replace.) the total 1389$! My questions how does that price go from 900$ to $1383 in one day just installing a few fuel lines and a petcock. ! I think i am getting ripped here. I know the owner of the shop personally and I dont want to talk to him about this unless it comes to my last resort. I just want your guys opinion on this about if this is a fair price for the work or not . I mean we agreed on 850 for the carbs and clutch so I guess the petcock and fuel lines where alittle extra but not $500. What do yeah think!
     
  2. volks6000

    volks6000 New Member

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    sounds like you got bent over without lube. petcock should be around 160-250 new, the hose should have been maybe 10 bucks.....not sure what Ill. state tax is shouldn't be that bad. I'm assuming the 850 was with labor. there's oil and filter but not 250 for it. I'd really do some asking to see what the EXTRA charge is from. I know the economy is bad but not that bad. Good Luck
     
  3. VT Viffer

    VT Viffer New Member

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    Sounds like the shop saw you pull in on that 23 year old bike, and thought "Ka-CHING!".
     
  4. 300shooter

    300shooter New Member

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    Sounds like they charged for the K-Y too...
     
  5. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    You know the owner of the shop "personally" and don't want to talk to him? WTF is that all about? I'd be talking to that dude at about 3AM a week ago.

    Legally you will of course want to ask to see all the invoices, per hour labor charge, all your old parts ect., including the cost for the large economy size KY Jelly.

    Maybe the extra bucks were for airing up the tires. You need to ask about this as well.


    :eek:
     
  6. deepdish

    deepdish Banned

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    its the new bike bailout program... you paid for it.........bonds for bikes...lol
     
  7. volks6000

    volks6000 New Member

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    +1 ..........CASH for Clunkers.............:eek:
     
  8. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    the.ONLY.way.to.own.a.bike.that.old.economically.is.to.do.ALL.your.own.work.......
     
  9. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

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    Took the words right out of my mouth.
     
  10. GreyVF750F

    GreyVF750F Member

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    Plus you don't know at this stage of the game if they even did those jobs right! I hope they did. That's a few bucks there.
     
  11. matt1986vf500f

    matt1986vf500f New Member

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    1383!! :eek: does that come with a free blow job.
     
  12. Jakobi

    Jakobi New Member

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    Screw BJs. That should come with a free visit to the Mustang Ranch.
     
  13. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Sounds like the owner is getting a phone call. Yes you're getting SCREWED>>
     
  14. xtravbx

    xtravbx New Member

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    Holy jeez.. That's more than I paid for my 86 500....
     
  15. jporter12

    jporter12 New Member

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    I'd like to see an itemized bill on this one! I understand that parts are getting hard to come by, and therefore can be expensive, but that sounds a bit over the top!
     
  16. thermostate

    thermostate New Member

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    work order!!!

    item qty price

    gasket set , 4 , 162.04
    Element,Air cleaner , 1 , 24.98
    Plate,clutch , 8 , 82.00
    Disk,Cl Friction , 8 , 103.44
    Disk,Cl Friction , 1 , 12.96
    Gasket,R. cover , 1 , 11.81
    cover set, petcock , 1 , 39.93
    washer DRN plg 12mm , 1 , .50
    K&L Float Needle , 4 , 77.56
    gasket set , 4 , 166.12
    engine coolant , 3 , 15.75
    Labor , 10 hours , 600.00
    Resolution,
    CLEAN CARBS ,
    GOT RUNNING ,
    CHECKED BATTERY ,
    ADJUSTED CARBS,
    RE-BUILT CLUTCH ,
    BLED CLUTCH ,
    REPLACED FUEL LINES ,
    REPLACE PETCOCK ,
    TEST RODE-OK ,
    JOB SUBTOTAL , $1323.29

    PARTS LABOR SUBLET OTHER
    BREAK DOWN , 719.29 , 600.00 ,, 4.00


    TOTAL OF ALL JOBS ,$1323.29
    SALES TAX , 50.63
    REPAIR ORDER TOTAL , 1373.92
     
  17. powderrecon

    powderrecon New Member

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    Why do you have two different line items for gasket sets? 1 set which is a 4 pack of o-rings is all you need for your carbs.
     
  18. xtravbx

    xtravbx New Member

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    ^^^^^^^^

    I was thinking the same thing.

    Plus for the cost of that clutch kit, I sure hope its a Barnett or something.. 200 bucks?? Jeez...
     
  19. Maggot

    Maggot New Member

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    Thermostate, Des Plaines Honda by me charges about $84.00 an hour so I like your labor rate and your are less than 100 miles from me. I know cost of living is probably higher in Chicago area but I would sit down with the owner and have him explain the bill.

    Also go to Service Honda / Bike bandit and check some of those parts prices. Remember the dealer also makes profit on the parts.

    I just priced a right mirror for my 2007 RWB. $93.00 from the dealer. $83.00 from Service Honda and $76.00 from Bike bandit. In reality this mirror should be about 40 bucks!
     
  20. Dusthawk

    Dusthawk New Member

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    You are getting taken, seems to me. I did some adding of my own:

    Total parts price, 697.09, added three times just to be sure. $20 less than quoted.

    As far as labor, well, let's add it up(I'll be a little generous on the estimated times):

    Check battery, 5 minutes
    bleed clutch, 10 minutes
    Install fuel lines, 5 minutes
    Install petcock, 10 minutes
    Clean carbs, 1 hour
    adjust carbs, 15 minutes
    rebuilt clutch, 2 hours

    So far that is 3 hours and 45 minutes. They should have a computerized battery tester, takes 5 minutes tops. I bled my clutch just last week, and even by myself I flushed and bled in 7 minutes. I replaced all my fuel lines with new, took me 5 minutes including measuring and cutting. I have replaced petcocks of many tanks, most never took more than 5 minutes, a couple took more, but never more than 10 minutes. I removed the carbs from my bike, took 7 minutes including removal of tank and breather box. It took me about an hour to clean my carbs top to bottom to the point of removing the floats and needles and cleaning them, and removing the jets and wiping a pipe cleaner through everything. I have also synched several sets of carbs, and since I got my mercury balance gauge it is much faster. It never takes me more than 15 minutes including attaching the gauge. Now, I have never replaced a clutch on a VF, but I have replaced one on a CB. It took me just about 1 hour and 30 minutes to remove the clutch cover, remove the clutch basket, replace all the plates, reinstall the basket, and reinstall the side cover, with a new gasket. Now, I admit, I am not a certified motorcycle mechanic, but I can't see a certified mechanic taking longer than I would for most jobs.

    Which brings me to the final 2 items. Was the bike running when you brought it in? What was entailed in the description "Got running"? That could mean anything. Such an obscure description is a red flag to me to add lots of unsubstantiated time. And the last, "Test ride". Where did he go on the test ride? A test ride to me would consist of maybe 15 to 20 minutes of riding, running it through its paces. Adding the 20 minutes for the test ride, I come up with 4 hours and 5 minutes.

    Did it take 5 hours and 55 minutes to "Get it running"?

    If I am taking undue liberties with times here that anyone feels in error, let me know.
     
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