Sdrxb12s
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What do you mean your in hvac and dont make alot of money......
You must be an apprentice
You must be an apprentice
2 consecutive bearing failures. I need help bad
- Thread starter young scooter
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He's saying don't blame the Buell. It's not the bikes fault the bearings failed. Your wheel is probably fine. Buy bearings, buy a bearing spacer, RTFM, and you could do the job yourself.
It sounds like you have a good relationship with your mechanic and thats great. He made a mistake by not researching an easy fix. Understand no one is perfect, and it's up to you if you want to beat him up about it or let it ride. A relationship with a mechanic is exactly that. Give and take. He should have been better the that, and he will absolutely know he was in the wrong when presented with the Service Manual.
You have an opportunity to politely have him correct the problem and keep a good relationship with a valuable asset. Unless you want to start all over with someone new. I hear 34:19 is single:love_heart:
It sounds like you have a good relationship with your mechanic and thats great. He made a mistake by not researching an easy fix. Understand no one is perfect, and it's up to you if you want to beat him up about it or let it ride. A relationship with a mechanic is exactly that. Give and take. He should have been better the that, and he will absolutely know he was in the wrong when presented with the Service Manual.
You have an opportunity to politely have him correct the problem and keep a good relationship with a valuable asset. Unless you want to start all over with someone new. I hear 34:19 is single:love_heart:
young scooter
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I just graduated with my associates degree a few weeks ago. Ive been working since march. I am not an apprentice. Ive got a few upcoming pay raises over the next few months but for now I am trying to focus on financial strength and my IRA/being debt free. This bike is like a money vacuum cleaner as of late. Like i said, living well enough but not enough to afford so many trips to the shop in 1 month
young scooter
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Thanks partner. He did me right last year with the multiple visits for the new clutch, spent weeks troubleshooting and didnt charge anything. I feel he will do me right again but only the future will tell
I have said it before and will say it again. The only person you should have working on your Buell is someone who is enthusiastic about the brand. A real Harley mechanic often doesn’t give a rat ass about a Buell, and often only views them as a great donor bike for that chopper project.
This bearing replacement is nothing specific to a Buell or Harley. Most somewhat modern performance motorcycles use same bearing/spacer setup in their wheels as well, so this should be nothing new to your mechanic. The belt/tensioner pulley setup is somewhat unique to a Buell or XR1200 (we miss you lunatic fringe you grumpy f*cker!), so that should have been his first cue to look this up. Especially before cranking up the torque wrench to 11, and going to town. Like Cooter said above, people do make mistakes, but to me this screams out “rookie” or “I don’t give a crap”.
As an HVAC tech, I’m sure you look up specs when working with HVAC equipment, especially when you are unfamiliar with it. What would your boss do if he found out you messed up a customers system because you couldn’t be bothered to look up spec and overfilled a system with refrigerant and damaged the compressor? I’m not saying you would do that or that I know anything about HVAC, but I’m sure you get the point.
Lastly, parts for Buells are cheap compared to equivalent motorcycles in their class. If this is getting too expensive, you’re probably better off not playing. It’s a 15-ish year old motorcycle, and like a 15 year old AC system that is giving problems, it’s going to be a cakewalk for you to deal with, where I will be out of my league to fix and everyone is going to recommend replacing with a new unit. A 15 year old unique motorcycle may not be what you are cut out for. The new Harley Bronx is coming next year and you may want to start saving you pennies now, as they look like what a 2020 Buell probably would have become.
Maybe your mechanic learned to replace wheel bearings from Cooters thread where he used a claw hammer, pipe wrench, butter knife and a rock?
This bearing replacement is nothing specific to a Buell or Harley. Most somewhat modern performance motorcycles use same bearing/spacer setup in their wheels as well, so this should be nothing new to your mechanic. The belt/tensioner pulley setup is somewhat unique to a Buell or XR1200 (we miss you lunatic fringe you grumpy f*cker!), so that should have been his first cue to look this up. Especially before cranking up the torque wrench to 11, and going to town. Like Cooter said above, people do make mistakes, but to me this screams out “rookie” or “I don’t give a crap”.
As an HVAC tech, I’m sure you look up specs when working with HVAC equipment, especially when you are unfamiliar with it. What would your boss do if he found out you messed up a customers system because you couldn’t be bothered to look up spec and overfilled a system with refrigerant and damaged the compressor? I’m not saying you would do that or that I know anything about HVAC, but I’m sure you get the point.
Lastly, parts for Buells are cheap compared to equivalent motorcycles in their class. If this is getting too expensive, you’re probably better off not playing. It’s a 15-ish year old motorcycle, and like a 15 year old AC system that is giving problems, it’s going to be a cakewalk for you to deal with, where I will be out of my league to fix and everyone is going to recommend replacing with a new unit. A 15 year old unique motorcycle may not be what you are cut out for. The new Harley Bronx is coming next year and you may want to start saving you pennies now, as they look like what a 2020 Buell probably would have become.
Maybe your mechanic learned to replace wheel bearings from Cooters thread where he used a claw hammer, pipe wrench, butter knife and a rock?
Tonight I am planning on rebuilding the forks on my S1. I have rebuilt a LOT of forks in the past and while this one is a brand I have never worked on before, I’m going to take a few minutes to RTFM beforehand and make sure there are no surprises. They pretty much all come apart and go back together the same, within reason, but this one may be different.
I’m not a professional mechanic, but I do care about doing the job right. It’s not my paycheck at stake, it could be my life.
I’m not a professional mechanic, but I do care about doing the job right. It’s not my paycheck at stake, it could be my life.
young scooter
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so if we put in new bearings and a new spacer, and torque the axle according to the manual, it doesnt matter if the lip inside the wheel is chipped up or damaged?
young scooter
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What is stud and bearing mount?
Dude, RTFM. Even if you don't ever touch a tool, you can be informed and make decisions accordingly.
I think outthere means the correct bearing installation tool, instead of the hammer your 'mechanic' is surely using to install and remove them. The picture and part number are in the Freaking Free Service Manual.
Another sign of weak mechanic is repeated visits for the same problem on a simple (and fairly universal) part like a clutch.
Sorry to say, he's probably a very nice and helpful guy, but your repeated issues aren't coming from the bike.
Wanna fix this issue forever? Buy a NEW, COMPLETE, rear wheel. I have a new one complete with new bearings and spacers to sell you, or find them all over e-bay. Install by using the simple steps IN THE MANUAL.
If thats too rich for your blood, and you still want to go to this guy...
Watch him take the wheel off and remove the bearings. Stop him right there. Take close up pictures of both sides. Post them here and detail HOW he did it.
I think outthere means the correct bearing installation tool, instead of the hammer your 'mechanic' is surely using to install and remove them. The picture and part number are in the Freaking Free Service Manual.
The only way I can imagine that the wheel hub is scratched (where the bearing outer race rides, is if someone uses a claw hammer, sticks, and rocks to change a bearing. NOT the sign of a professional, I should know:upset:
Another sign of weak mechanic is repeated visits for the same problem on a simple (and fairly universal) part like a clutch.
Sorry to say, he's probably a very nice and helpful guy, but your repeated issues aren't coming from the bike.
Wanna fix this issue forever? Buy a NEW, COMPLETE, rear wheel. I have a new one complete with new bearings and spacers to sell you, or find them all over e-bay. Install by using the simple steps IN THE MANUAL.
If thats too rich for your blood, and you still want to go to this guy...
Watch him take the wheel off and remove the bearings. Stop him right there. Take close up pictures of both sides. Post them here and detail HOW he did it.
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young scooter
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Thanks so much, i am not trying to be dense or defend my mechanic IF he was at fault. Im sure you can understand why maintaining relationships is important, having a mechanic for your car or bike or boat that youre on first name basis with is always great.
I think youre right. Put the child gloves on and buy a new wheel for him. I think this is what my proposition should be to the mechanic.
"I believe that theres no way to determine how to assign fault to these parts prematurely failing. However, considering we determined you overtorqued the rear end massively we should both take an L here instead of just me. I propose i purchase a complete new wheel, and you install it free of charge. This gives me peace of mind, and it will be easy and simple for you, practically the same effort as a tire change."
I know i still lose money but it seems, for lack of better words, fair? Agree or disagree?
young scooter
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The point i am making is there is a difference between him messing up a bearing as preventative maintenance, and him messing up a bearing after catastrophic failure. With the PM it can be undoubtedly proven the bike was fully functional before they touched it. In this case, there was a disastrous failure of the old bearing which COULD HAVE damaged something in the process, making the next bearing fail as well.
At this point it probably is worth a new wheel just to have my trust back. No more hours sweating in illinois sunshine on the side of the road, no more fear of a crash. I can live with 180 more bucks if thats the end of this. Thanks for suggesting ebay, i checked st paul HD and they wanted 400+ for a wheel
At this point it probably is worth a new wheel just to have my trust back. No more hours sweating in illinois sunshine on the side of the road, no more fear of a crash. I can live with 180 more bucks if thats the end of this. Thanks for suggesting ebay, i checked st paul HD and they wanted 400+ for a wheel
S4AAOSwOHBeTrOv
Ya someone is selling lots of new ones for 45% off right now. Time to stock up on all the colors! Haha.
Buying a new wheel might be overkill, but you mentioned getting your trust back. For the bike and for the mechanic. Might be worth the cost. The install should be free, it's a 5 min job. RTFM yourself, and watch him do it. A good relationship with a mechanic you trust and give and take. Unless of course, he's a terrible mechanic. I'm not saying this guy is... Just keep your eyes open and see if he is costing you more than he's saving you.
To be perfectly honest Scooter, some people are just new-bike-with-a-warranty people. Nothing to be ashamed of, but if you are this distraught over such a simple easy to fix problem, maybe look at a cheap but new bike? I drank the Buell-Aid a long time ago, but I can understand how a 10-20 year old motorcycle of any brand isn't for everyone.
Buying a new wheel might be overkill, but you mentioned getting your trust back. For the bike and for the mechanic. Might be worth the cost. The install should be free, it's a 5 min job. RTFM yourself, and watch him do it. A good relationship with a mechanic you trust and give and take. Unless of course, he's a terrible mechanic. I'm not saying this guy is... Just keep your eyes open and see if he is costing you more than he's saving you.
To be perfectly honest Scooter, some people are just new-bike-with-a-warranty people. Nothing to be ashamed of, but if you are this distraught over such a simple easy to fix problem, maybe look at a cheap but new bike? I drank the Buell-Aid a long time ago, but I can understand how a 10-20 year old motorcycle of any brand isn't for everyone.
young scooter
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Theres nobody i know thats more in love with buell than me. It was a home run the moment i first saw one. I am a diy guy, i service my bike and truck at home BUT.... anything involving wheels coming off i cant do. I dont have a stand or somethjng to hold the bike up. Im not a new-with-warranty type. My truck is 27 years old but reliable and costs me damn near nothing to operate -- like i said earlier, financial independence and all that.
A wheel may be overkill but if that inner lip is damaged, and the mechanic has a history of boogering up wheel jobs, maybe spoonfeeding him (no offense) a new wheel with bearings is the best idea.
Also, the clutch job i can actually vouch for him. We put in a kevlar clutch after the OEM failed at 13k miles. I wanted something stronger. Well after a few weeks it was dragging again. I took it in and it took him a couple weeks but what he ended up discovering is the little lip on the trans case where you fill the trans fluid through had broken, allowing the mechanism (forget what its called) that actuates the clutch to actually sit cockeyed when you pulled the clutch. This made it drag badly, and i had to order a new trans cover (300 bucks). He didnt charge me any labor for this repair. Fair or not, i left feeling satisfied with that compromise.
In the end i think that because buells are so rare, most mechanics dont get enough experience with them, or they rely too heavily on a generic harley sportster FSM. most of my ownership has been mostly trouble free. Not quite "japanese" trouble free, but close enough to keep the bike for a good long while
Nothing. Good luck
young scooter
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the clutch has been fine ever since. This was last year.
Like I said, mostly trouble free experience. I do any sort of electrical work if it needs it, do the tune ups at home. Most of my visits to the shop have been for new tires, and that one visit for the clutch. My hands are tied here, no one else in the county has a shop with the tools necessary to remove the buell wheels, or they straight up tell me they dont service buells.
Like I said, mostly trouble free experience. I do any sort of electrical work if it needs it, do the tune ups at home. Most of my visits to the shop have been for new tires, and that one visit for the clutch. My hands are tied here, no one else in the county has a shop with the tools necessary to remove the buell wheels, or they straight up tell me they dont service buells.
