Z650 - metal bits in the oil & filter & butchered engine!

[Buckle]

Okay, due to popular demand I'll let you guys have the details from the invoice.

Repairs were done on 29/03/2006 (invoice date).

Exact text on invoice below.

"Labour & Parts

Picked bike up
Fit new cam chain supplied
Reset all valve gaps
Strip down carbs and clean out
Stripped down starter motor
Fitted new battery, start up
Balance and adjust carbs
various work for MOT.
Etc £456.20
MOT £ 23.80
Total £480.00"

Clue here is the MOT test. Mileage at time of MOT was 50915 and issue date 29/03/2006. (the current MOT cert issue date is July 31 2007, mileage 51108). Current displayed mileage is 51113. So it would appear all this damage has happened in the last 200 miles.

Several things lead me to assume the motor was stripped to fit the cam chain;

1. cam chain that is fitted is endless - no evidence of a rivet / split link
2. the amount of incorrectly fitted / missing parts
3. the labour figure in the invoice

So I can be reasonably certain the bodgery was performed at the time of the invoice.

If you live in Bristol I would avoid taking your bike to Bikecare - I certainly won't be recommending them to anyone.......

[mikey]

Guy who bought my ZZR 1100 took it there the other day for a mot they failed it on the rear pads and rear wheel bearings just stuck new pads in took the wheel off bearings seemed fine took it back with just the new pads in and it passed

[RALPHARAMA]

I've just used Yell.com to highlight the offending business. They are, literally, a backstreet operation. Many moons ago they did an MOT on my old Z1000A2 - seemed friendly enough.

What they did to your engine is outrageous. I think you should let them see the evidence in photographic form together with all the other stuff - allow them the opportunity to pay for any require parts engineering etc. If the second word in their reply is 'off' then warn them that you are a member of this club, which has lots of members in Bristol with big mouths , and that you will take the evidence to trading standards. I'm sure that there is someone on here who could right a report in an official capacity.

Don't take it lying down mate.

If you don't come to Bristol at all, I'll happily visit the business for you if you send me copies of the evidence. I'll talk to CB about the legal side of it. Am I right in thinking you've just bought the bike from someone else who who had the repairs done?

[Dark Skies]

A stumbling block here is the break in the chain of contract. If the previous owner who paid for the work to be done took the bike back to the workshop and complained regarding the piss-poor job they'd done he or she would have a very valid case. It could be followed up by the Office of Fair Trading or a civil action through the small claims court. The previous owner had a contract (verbal / implied) that the work done would be performed to a professional standard. Unfortunately a subsequent owner had no such contract - they've merely purchased a bike that has turned out to be shite.

You might possibly have grounds for chucking the bike back to the person who sold you it and getting your money back - depending on what information you relied upon when making the agreement to purchase the bike.

You might have more joy in getting the previous owner to complain about the work he paid for and subsequently was carried out to a poor standard. Probably best if he didn't mention he's sold the bike on though - for reasons given above.

[Buckle]

A stumbling block here is the break in the chain of contract.

I think you have quite possibly hit the nail on the head here. I am unsure how far the liability goes and have approached Trading Standards for advice. I'll let you know what they say. I guess the only thing they may uphold is the clause regarding competent and professional work.

Just to complicate things even more I bought the bike from Mr. Pigford!! (And didn't even get a biscuit thrown in to sweeten the deal - although I'm not really surprised about that given his previous biscuit history! )

So just to clear the air and make sure it is understood - I do not in anyway hold Mr. Pigford responsible for what has transpired. He made an honest sale and described the bike accurately. I walked into the sale with both eyes open and knew there was an engine fault.

The bit I do have the problem with is the level of incompetence displayed by the t**t who assembled the engine!

I was totally prepared to replace parts due to wear and tear. Any road up it gives me more time to sort out the wiring loom.

Anyone reading this must think the bike is right lemon! But it isn't - honest - at some point someone spent loads of money on powder coated frame, paint, trick bits and polishing. So it is definitely worth saving - hopefully Anyway here's a picture before I took it all apart!



Looks like I,m stuck on the Z550 this year!

[RALPHARAMA]

As our very own biscuit munching bag of fun was duped in the first place I'm sure we should be in a position to get this sorted. I would be very happy to visit the aforementioned spanner monkey on Marks behalf, with any evidence given me eg photos, copies of invoices, MOTs etc.

This cnut must pay for this classic bike vandalism, and if this means that we need to close ranks a bit to get real justice, so be it. If the small print of the law suggests that because this bike has been sold da de da then the perp of this outrage gets off scot free to wrecks some more bikes and get paid for the privilege, then from a moral perspective I am willing to do what ever it takes (except violence - I'm no good at it ) to even the score.

I reckon that given some thought and the right approach that this engine will be running like a good 'un or be replaced with one that does, with no cost to you, Mark or me save a bit o time, planning and play acting [/i]

[Buckle]

VDUK, copies of all the relevant docs and photos are no problem. I am hoping to come down to the first (hopefully of many) Z1OC SW meeting on the 13th July . I will bring copies with me and we can discuss more there.

Many thanks for the offer.

No reply from trading standards yet - maybe that means they are busy

[Buckle]

It is exactly as predicted. I have the reply from trading standards , as the law stands because the work was contracted by a previous owner I have no recompense with said bike shop . So, to qoute VDUK, they get off scot free.

I will be writing to the bike shop however, supplying copies of invoice, MOTs and photographs, mentioning I have contacted Trading Standards (though possibly not their reply ). I suspect I know the answer already though.

I am resigned that it will be an engineering challenge.....we shall overcome, we shall overcome etc etc

[PJones]

:( It is exactly as predicted. I have the reply from trading standards , as the law stands because the work was contracted by a previous owner I have no recompense with said bike shop . So, to qoute VDUK, they get off scot free.

I will be writing to the bike shop however, supplying copies of invoice, MOTs and photographs, mentioning I have contacted Trading Standards (though possibly not their reply ). I suspect I know the answer already though.

I am resigned that it will be an engineering challenge.....we shall overcome, we shall overcome etc etc

Hi Buckle who had the work done on the engine, if you or pigford know, can'y you ask them to contact the bike shop?

cheers

pj

[Buckle]

I asked Trading Standards the very same thing. Any contract between owner prior to Pigford and the bike shop lapsed when the bike was sold as he no longer holds title over it. Legal jargon

Upshot is I can only approach the bike shop for a goodwill payment. Unlikely but if you don't ask, you don't get

[Rich]

The bottom wheel on the cam-chain system is just for spacing. I would expect that if you have the barrels welded for the damage the rubber cushioning block will put the half shaft below the damage so it doesn't matter. Replace cam chain, all rollers / tensioner and while you are at it check the starter clutch/chain cos if the chain wears it takes the crank out as well. Thoroughly clean all the crap out and slap it back together.
Jeff at Z1 for the bits, don't waste your time or effort going to the dealer you'll only wind yourself up. I believe your dispute should be with the previous owner , was it sold as "for spares or repair" or as "fit for use" if fit for use and the chain snapped then the results could have been disastrous for both you and the bike. If for spares and repair then buyer beware.

[RALPHARAMA]

I think that a single person taking a bike engine back in bits, and thereby showing that he is never going to be a customers, cos he clearly knows enough to strip an engine, is not going to hold much weight.

If how ever the local club rep comes round and asks the fellow to do the decent thing then it might hold more weight as if he does something to help the situation he won't get black listed by a largish number of potential punters, especially if he is able, with some conviction, to convince us that he was let down my some monkey he was employing at the time - which may be the truth I would seem odd for someone who has enough nous to run his own business not to be able to rebuild a pretty simple engine without making a balls.

Which ever way you play it you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Hopefully we can talk it through on Sunday [/i]

[Buckle]

Hopefully we can talk it through on Sunday [/i]

Looking forward to it - just hope the weather improves

[RALPHARAMA]

Me too - the forecast isn't for rain at the moment (fingers crossed it stays that way), but I bought myself another one piece suit from Hein Gericke, as the piece of Weise shite I bought in Fowlups of Bristol leaked like a firkin sieve the first time I wore it - coming back from the Yorks rally.

Incidentally I was given a useful tip form an ex-dispatch rider (one of the few who retired alive) - When you're putting yer wets on put some carrier bags over yer boots. I tried it when I tried me new suit on in Hein Gericke. Works a bleeding treat. I've been riding the lion's share of thirty years and hadn't twigged that one, so maybe it'll be a great tip for some of you guys

[Steve Cooke]

I'd rather get wet than ride around with a couple of Tesco bags on me feet.