i hate mechanics!

[bluewool]

Ok let me start by saying your problem is taking your bike to a "mechanic" when you should have taken your bike to a technician.


source: myself, formally educated auto technician

semantics. They were once called mechanics(like when our bikes were made) Now they're technicians because it sounds way cooler.

 

[yotaman423]

Check out the petcock, it may have some lint around the pickup tube in the tank. I've had that happen before, happens a lot in early spring, fall, cold weather in general. Comes from gloves usually. Also, make sure your gas cap is venting properly, there's a vent hole in the lip on the tank that has to be open.
Of course, another possibility is the diaphragm in the petcock is disintegrating and clogging the screens in the carbs.

well i did as you said drained the tank and sure enough there was some trash around the filter on the petcock. also i had put an in line fuel filter on as a precaution so i took it off too. went for a ride and all is well. there is a huge hill by my house a good 1/4 mile long so i pulled the hill pretty hard thinkin if it was a fuel flow ploblem it would run short near the top. anyway overall the bike ran great so we might have found the problem. thanks for the suggestion guys and for the record i "dislike" mechanics/technician sometimes.

 

[DanTheMan]

I would say that was a lucky guess on my part, except I was pretty sure that would be the problem. I forgot to mention an in-line filter, but usually somebody does. I've seen a lot of stupid fuel problems over the years and the hardest one to find is the clogged pickup tube/sock/filter in the gas tank. I had all the same symptoms on my '73 Fiat 124 wagon on a long winter trip, removed the gauge sending unit and pickup tube and there was a ball of lint clogging it.
I'm glad I could help out, congrats!

 

[bluewool]

'73 Fiat 124 wagon on a long winter trip,

that just sounds like a bad idea from the start

 

[DanTheMan]

that just sounds like a bad idea from the start

Actually, it was a great trip, 13,000 miles with a new '78 13' Scamp trailer on behind. I was on 67 days of leave + travel time when I re-enlisted, nearly every state from CA to MO east, all the way around the perimeter of TX, stayed in Big Bend Nat. Park for a few days, visited friends in Brownsville, went north to my mother-in-law's house (Christmas) here where I live now in MN, then west on Hwy 2 to see friends in WY, MT, through the ID panhandle tp WA state, then all the way down the coast hwy 101 & 1 back to CA, stopped at my parent's house in Chino Hills, put new ball joints on (88k miles); down to San Diego for Instructor Training School, then back east on I-70 to IL where my next duty station was, in Great Lakes. My son was 18 months old, born in HI, never had a hat or a coat on in his life, he was a little miserable at first.
We were in HI for 3 years and my wife was tired of driving in circles.

 

[RedBaron]

You shouldn't judge all mechanics/technicians for the failures of some. All the dealers I have worked at over the years have a cutoff date for the units they will service, mainly because most folks don't care for their old bikes as good as the folks here in the forum, an old bike is worth much less to sell if a customer ditches his bike and bill, and in 20 or 30 years it's pretty well guaranteed that some idiot has been into a bike.

I've never in my life had an "I already cleaned it" carburetor pass when tore down for cleaning, but it can be difficult to do it correctly if you don't do alot of them. Not saying it isn't possible and not saying ya'll boys can't clean carbs (renobruce you make me jealous). As a mechanic you pretty well have to count on everything the customer has touched being screwed up as a football bat, because... well that's just how things work. I'd imagine that 40% of my work comes from backyard mechanics and "real" dumb*** official mechanics, with an additional 40% being carb cleans, and 20% attributed to everything else.

I will admit that about 80% of dealership employees shouldn't be allowed to clean chewing gum off the underside of tables, but there are a few that have an honest to goodness love for their job and take pride in what they do. Nowadays most business owners seem to care nothing for the motorcycles any more than any other widgit and are only in it for the money, and the customer suffers.

Tuning a motorcycle by ear and seat of the pants seems to be going the way of the dinosaurs, I honestly don't know why some "technicians" cant seem to learn, you can beat it into them and beat it into them and throw tire irons at them and they just keep on being stupid. Honestly the same guys that can't tune your carb, can't diagnose fuel injection issues either, stupid runs from one end of them to the other - and most mechanics that care enough to service your carburetors properly, take an interest to learning all the modern technologies they don't have experience with.

When I could I would sneak in older bikes for service, at management's dispair, I would lose money over the services and tire changes I could be doing, but the customers joy when they see their GL or GK or CB or KZ running at the service gate makes it worthwhile. I love it when people love their bikes.

Find a service department or independent mechanic you can trust, I know it's unfortunate that they can be hard to find (honestly it's a rare find), but if you find the right ones they will love your bike just as much as you, and have the experience to make it all that much better. Best of luck to ya folks. Sorry for your misfortune. Hope all gets better for ya.

 

[Mr.Blue]

semantics. They were once called mechanics(like when our bikes were made) Now they're technicians because it sounds way cooler.

ill agree that they were mechanics when our bikes were made but now with all the electronics and different systems (unlike turning a screw on a cab that anyone or anything with 2 fingers can accomplish or changing springs for ign advance)now calling a technician a mechanic is like calling a electrical engineer a apprentice electrician

 

[bluewool]

calling a technician a mechanic is like calling a electrical engineer a apprentice electrician

Poor analogy. Electrical engineers have a degree and are considered Professionals.
An Electrician is an apprenticeship based trade.

"Motorcycle Technician" and a "Motorcycle Mechanic" are both apprenticeship based trades. They are the same job the technology an title may have changed throughout the years they are the same trade.

Call yourself what ever you like.
No title makes up for dedication and experience. (that is not directed at you personally, and I hope you don't take it as such)

I think the Red Baron understands what I am saying.

welcome.

 

[Ranger]

It is rare to find a tradesman today with principles other than, "xx/hr two 15minute coffees, and 1/2 hour lunch" when expressions like "Looks good from my house" are handed down as inspiration from foremen.

Theres a guy local around my moms place that doesnt charge and hourly rate. He checks it out, then gives a quote and sticks to it. $15 to vac synch carbs

Downfall is, slow turn over rate since he's a one man shop but I guess you pay for the quality and service and not the speed.

 

[Steve]

... but I guess you pay for the quality and service and not the speed.

There are variations on the quote, but it goes something like this:

"You want speed, quality or price? I can give you any two of the three."

.

 

[Ranger]

There are variations on the quote, but it goes something like this:

"You want speed, quality or price? I can give you any two of the three."

.

I think price is with everything. "Good tattoos arent cheap, and cheap tattoos aren't good!"

If it took 1 week longer to get something done on my bike though at less than 1/2 the price and knowing it was done right so I don't have to return, well easy choice.

 

[bluewool]

Theres a guy local around my moms place that doesnt charge and hourly rate. He checks it out, then gives a quote and sticks to it. $15 to vac synch carbs

Downfall is, slow turn over rate since he's a one man shop but I guess you pay for the quality and service and not the speed.

That a deal I will never know.
I have a friend like that he's running out of his double garage(he's zoned commercial) He's not super cheap but he's skilled and diligent and has a waiting list for new clients.
In the city though, there's no place to take them.
One place, the owner knows his sh** but none of his techs do. The term "Ham Fisted" comes to mind.

The trades are really suffering in general though. I go through at least 15 apprentices to find a keeper.

 

[Graham]

It?s all a matter of finding a shop with standards that will stand behind their work. Like mine. But what a lot of people don?t understand is that a motorcycle is a toy and toys cost. You have to pay to play. It is not good business sense to sell a 5-hour job for 3, parts at cost or even to tell someone how to repair their motorcycle their self for free. I work on motorcycle for a living first and love second.

BTW; a mechanic will repair you motorcycle and save you money.
And a technician will change parts until he repairs your motorcycle.

 

[max parsons]

As soon as a customer tells us the problem isn't in the carby because he checked it we go their first.You'd be amazed how often they've managed to lose a part.If a customer tells us he hasn't touched the carb we go there first.You'd be amazed how often there is a part missing.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

...
BTW; a mechanic will repair you motorcycle and save you money.
And a technician will change parts until he repairs your motorcycle.

Heh, heh... cute.
I've called myself both. My diploma says I have an "Associates Degree in Automotive and Diesel Technology", therefore the professional term used is "Technician". I have also used the term "Mechanic" to describe what I did for a living before getting into Industrial Maintenance.
Now I tell people "Maintenance Supervisor" and some think "Head Janitor" even though my crew repairs and maintains $1,000,000's in equipment at the Factory I am now at.

 

[haztoys]

You shouldn't judge all mechanics/technicians for the failures of some. All the dealers I have worked at over the years have a cutoff date for the units they will service, mainly because most folks don't care for their old bikes as good as the folks here in the forum, an old bike is worth much less to sell if a customer ditches his bike and bill, and in 20 or 30 years it's pretty well guaranteed that some idiot has been into a bike.

I've never in my life had an "I already cleaned it" carburetor pass when tore down for cleaning, but it can be difficult to do it correctly if you don't do alot of them. Not saying it isn't possible and not saying ya'll boys can't clean carbs (renobruce you make me jealous). As a mechanic you pretty well have to count on everything the customer has touched being screwed up as a football bat, because... well that's just how things work. I'd imagine that 40% of my work comes from backyard mechanics and "real" dumb*** official mechanics, with an additional 40% being carb cleans, and 20% attributed to everything else.

I will admit that about 80% of dealership employees shouldn't be allowed to clean chewing gum off the underside of tables, but there are a few that have an honest to goodness love for their job and take pride in what they do. Nowadays most business owners seem to care nothing for the motorcycles any more than any other widgit and are only in it for the money, and the customer suffers.

Tuning a motorcycle by ear and seat of the pants seems to be going the way of the dinosaurs, I honestly don't know why some "technicians" cant seem to learn, you can beat it into them and beat it into them and throw tire irons at them and they just keep on being stupid. Honestly the same guys that can't tune your carb, can't diagnose fuel injection issues either, stupid runs from one end of them to the other - and most mechanics that care enough to service your carburetors properly, take an interest to learning all the modern technologies they don't have experience with.

When I could I would sneak in older bikes for service, at management's dispair, I would lose money over the services and tire changes I could be doing, but the customers joy when they see their GL or GK or CB or KZ running at the service gate makes it worthwhile. I love it when people love their bikes.

Find a service department or independent mechanic you can trust, I know it's unfortunate that they can be hard to find (honestly it's a rare find), but if you find the right ones they will love your bike just as much as you, and have the experience to make it all that much better. Best of luck to ya folks. Sorry for your misfortune. Hope all gets better for ya.

Very true on all points .. Customers are liars ....Just shocking the BS I went through as a mechanic ...LOL...Thank God I'm know longer doing mechanic work for Joe Public....Love to make things run really hated Joe Publics expectation's...

One thing about old bikes and dealers not working on them ...In most cases it cost the same to work on a old bike as a new one and people just will not spend the money ...As a mechanic "I" feel that new bikes are easier to fix and tune then a old bike ....

David

Hazardous Toys inc

 

[Skateguy50]

Exactly, and anyone here that does their own work knows once you start something it is easy to find more issues along the way or for things to break along the way, snapped stud bolt perhaps?

It is not worth them taking on that risk and eating the costs when they could do the same job on a newer bike with less unknows. The more risk you take on the more reasonable the price.

For example my local dealer would not want to touch my engine but when I brought in just the head and had them hone it for me the price was reasonable cause they had no risk of unknowns. Same goes for tire changes, taking the rear wheel off my bike per the manual calls for pulling the exhaust (I never do that) but if they did and broke 1 or 2 studs they simply dont want to deal with either fixing it on their dime or explaining to you it was not their fault. However if you do that work and just roll the wheel it they can give you are reasonable price cause you took the risk.

 

[obsidianghost]

@Skateguy I agree with your post, risk management is key in business. Every business does this in one way or another.

I will say that 10 years ago when I was still new to working on bikes I would take my 67 Honda scrambler to my local Yamaha shop to have work done occasionally. The only reason they were willing to work on it was that they had a mechanic that was in his 70s. He had been a motorcycle mechanic his whole life and loved working on those old bikes. He just refused to retire . He was the only person other than myself that ever touched that bike in the years I had it. I wouldn't have trusted anyone else and I doubt that anyone else would have been willing to do the work.

 

[makenzie71]

I've seen countless threads here where some newbie "cleaned" his carbs, when in reality the only thing they did was a half way job. If I were a paid mechanic I wouldn't believe people saying they performed this work either. If the person was properly capable of cleaning their carbs they wouldn't be looking for a mechanic to wrench for them anyway.

I got my Kat setup from a mechanic who rebuilt the carburetors. All but one of the needles were on top of the keepers and just bouncing around up inside the slide.

I don't even believe mechanics when they say they did something.

 

[jhillier449]

Very interesting discussion here. My first bike and love of my life, is my 1980 GS1000G. Started off as a piece of junk, but a good motor. I have had moments where I wanted to burn the thing, all because of a lack of knowledge of what I was doing.

My point is, if you want these bikes to run well, ya gotta put the time into learning how these things work. It takes time and patience and help from the great people on this site. If you are looking just to ride, buy yourself a new bike, and prepare to pay when something goes wrong.