i think im getting ripped off BIG TIME! - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

ZR580EFI · 10-20-2007, 08:35 AM

well when i bought my sled it had the motor mounts ripped out so it needed new ones. ok so i took my sled to a local shop called hummers. when i got there i bought a new belt a new battery and some powermadd handguards. so that was around $190 or so. so all i needed was new exhaust springs, the motor mounts welded in and my clutch put back together. and also he put on my surefoot grips and put on a skid plate/ bellypan protector. ok so i call up a few days after they are done and i say could you tell shane(the mechanic) to check out my shocks to see if they need rebuilding. she goes "o i dont think you wanna do that, he already has a lot of hours put into this thing" so first of all i was mad because she called my sled a "thing" and i was wondering how many hours could it be?

so i was like "ummm ok, how many hours?" she said 8 hours of labor! i was thinking Holy crap thats too many!

so i said, "eight hours?!" she said "yea! he had 1 hour into welding alone and he had to take the motor out twice" what?! what the heck? where did the other 7 hours go?. so now they want me to pay over $660.o and now he is saying my fuel pump is stuck? i really dont have that kind of cash just laying around. so i told her that i could come up with the money in a few weeks, she said they couldnt hold the sled. i know they are trying to rip me off. what do you think? what can i do? i only have about $500 and thats ALL my money. i think they know im a young guy and they are just tryin to make some cash off of me.what do i tell them? this sucks i feel like a total retard especially putting this much money into a 1996 sled.

**RJ Gleason** · 10-20-2007, 08:57 AM

As long as you are paying some on it, they can not do anything but hold it.
Take it as a lesson learned and check around for a better repair shop, or learn to do it yourself. The best investment that you can make is to get a service manual and do most of the wrenching yourself.
Here is a link to an online microfiche that shows all the parts and the numbers. You can either use it as a reference for repairs or as a starting point to diagnosing problems and for speaking to the mechanic.

Brown's Leisure World - Home Page

ZR580EFI · 10-20-2007, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ Gleason

As long as you are paying some on it, they can not do anything but hold it.
Take it as a lesson learned and check around for a better repair shop, or learn to do it yourself. The best investment that you can make is to get a service manual and do most of the wrenching yourself.
Here is a link to an online microfiche that shows all the parts and the numbers. You can either use it as a reference for repairs or as a starting point to diagnosing problems and for speaking to the mechanic.

Brown's Leisure World - Home Page

yea man, i really want to start doing this stuff myself.

ZR580EFI · 10-20-2007, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ Gleason

As long as you are paying some on it, they can not do anything but hold it.
Take it as a lesson learned and check around for a better repair shop, or learn to do it yourself. The best investment that you can make is to get a service manual and do most of the wrenching yourself.
Here is a link to an online microfiche that shows all the parts and the numbers. You can either use it as a reference for repairs or as a starting point to diagnosing problems and for speaking to the mechanic.

Brown's Leisure World - Home Page

yea but do you really think that would take 8 hours?

**RJ Gleason** · 10-20-2007, 10:10 AM

you should find out if they charge flat or partial hrs.
If they charge flat, you pay for an hour if it only take 5 min.

clodev · 10-20-2007, 10:18 AM

It might have, with the stuff you laid out. Most of us wrench ourselves because mechanics are their to keep the shop in business not save the customer money. Here's what I'm seeing welding 1 hr, cluch at least 1 hr, belly pan 1-2 hrs Thats 4 and it doesn't include his breaks/phone calls and any other prep issues. Try lesrning this leason with an attorney that was expensive cost 3 grand more because i thaught he was just being friendly. Never saw the bill till the end. Ask them for a break they might they might not just don't start yelling or be to aggressive cause tthen hey wont budge.

**RJ Gleason** · 10-20-2007, 10:34 AM

When he welded the motor mounts, he'd have to place the engine back in and check for "true" and then take it out to finish or readjust one or more mounts.

jimmyv13 · 10-20-2007, 10:49 AM

I don't think the time spent is unreasonable, it's high, but not unreasonable. When you go in to pay some of the debt, ask for an itemized receipt that shows materials and labor hours.

ZR580EFI · 10-20-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyv13

I don't think the time spent is unreasonable, it's high, but not unreasonable. When you go in to pay some of the debt, ask for an itemized receipt that shows materials and labor hours.

ok ill do that. thanks

ZR580EFI · 10-20-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clodev

It might have, with the stuff you laid out. Most of us wrench ourselves because mechanics are their to keep the shop in business not save the customer money. Here's what I'm seeing welding 1 hr, cluch at least 1 hr, belly pan 1-2 hrs Thats 4 and it doesn't include his breaks/phone calls and any other prep issues. Try lesrning this leason with an attorney that was expensive cost 3 grand more because i thaught he was just being friendly. Never saw the bill till the end. Ask them for a break they might they might not just don't start yelling or be to aggressive cause tthen hey wont budge.

why what happened to you?

ZR580EFI · 10-20-2007, 01:30 PM

ok i just called the shop and he said the fuel pump works, but he says the fuel lines are all messed up like there was some sort of chemical in the gas?

he says it starts but wont idle right, you cant even touch the throttle.

kccats · 10-20-2007, 10:32 PM

Ask them if the trued the motor and have the center to center right? All I did was adjust one and the clutch and it took me 4 hours! And don't have them put on aftermarket odds and ends,and don't buy a belt and that stuff from a dealer. A cat 020 belt will cost you 65-75 bucks alone! And a belly pan maybe more? And you can get them for half that and spend some time of your own putting them on, most aftermarket stuff come with instructions!

clodev · 10-20-2007, 10:57 PM

I had a business deal that i was setting up and changing another over to a s corp. Attorney would call on question or two then we would chat i didn't realize that the chat was at 350.00 an hr and he billed for the lenth of the call

It was a get the bill at the end deal so that all parties where paid at one time.

ingin689 · 10-21-2007, 12:21 AM

that amount of work would easily take 8 hours

ZR580EFI · 10-21-2007, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZR580EFI

ok i just called the shop and he said the fuel pump works, but he says the fuel lines are all messed up like there was some sort of chemical in the gas?

he says it starts but wont idle right, you cant even touch the throttle.

so can i just drain the gas out and put new in? or do i have to get new fuel lines?

jimmyv13 · 10-21-2007, 09:44 AM

Fuel line is probably the cheapest fix that you have talked about so far. Take a piece of the old line off and go match it up with new stuff...get new clamps and have at it. Take pictures BEFORE you start so you know where the lines are routed.

JheLrey · 10-21-2007, 11:41 AM

Speaking of taking pictures... I have a story to tell you. I just bought this new sled. As always with my newer sleds, new lines, cleaned fuel pump, prime oil pump, etc. Well, I disconnected all of the fuel lines. Hooked everything back up and I could not get it to run at all. Sled was dirty from sitting for a few years in storage. Well, couldn't figure out why the sled was not getting gas.

Yep, hooked the fuel pump up backwards. Who ever had it out put it in backwards so the arrow faced the tank, vs. the engine. Let's just say I kicked myself in the ____ and turned the fuel pump around. Sled ran great! Live and Learn!

ZR580EFI · 10-21-2007, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyv13

Fuel line is probably the cheapest fix that you have talked about so far. Take a piece of the old line off and go match it up with new stuff...get new clamps and have at it. Take pictures BEFORE you start so you know where the lines are routed.

ok thanks for the advice

ZR580EFI · 10-21-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JheLrey

Speaking of taking pictures... I have a story to tell you. I just bought this new sled. As always with my newer sleds, new lines, cleaned fuel pump, prime oil pump, etc. Well, I disconnected all of the fuel lines. Hooked everything back up and I could not get it to run at all. Sled was dirty from sitting for a few years in storage. Well, couldn't figure out why the sled was not getting gas.

Yep, hooked the fuel pump up backwards. Who ever had it out put it in backwards so the arrow faced the tank, vs. the engine. Let's just say I kicked myself in the ____ and turned the fuel pump around. Sled ran great! Live and Learn!

haha yea now i gotta get new lines, ill probably screw something up too