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chris r
Forum Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 8th, 2008 08:48 am |
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Popped into a bike workshop this morning as I need to replace my fork seals & I’m not sure if I trust myself to do it properly, it can’t be that hard...surely?, tha man in my Haynes manual looks to be having a fun time when he does his.
Anyhoo, the geezer there started going on about “ooh, your forks may need replacing completely, we can replace the seals as long as you accept they may end being worse”
Eh!?!? Did I miss a meeting or something? I thought replacing fork seals was a pretty standard part of bike up keep, not a choice of gambling with new seals or buying totally new forks. WTF is he on about? It’s just a leaky seal!!
Also, if I decide to do it myself, what the best way of support the front of the bike? Strap the bike to a wooden beam in the garage or a block/jack combo under the headers?
Typical, this, in one week I have to replace fork seals & rear wheel bearings, 2 jobs I've never done before, grr.
Last edited on Fri Aug 8th, 2008 08:51 am by chris r
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Kein
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Posted: Fri Aug 8th, 2008 07:49 pm |
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| I'd get a second opinion: did they explain why your forsk would need to be replaced? The forks on my old 125 were slightly rusty, which was killing the seals. My (independent) dealer polished them off and repaired the seals...
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nickwiz
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Posted: Sat Aug 9th, 2008 12:54 am |
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I'm amazed at the attempts to rip people off these guys try.
Unless your forks are bent, or so badly pitted that they are ireprable, what the guy told you chris, is bollox. Knackered fork seals do not mean new forks. I think you should publicise what a rip off wanker this guy is to everyone you know or meet with a bike. The guy is a fuggin toad.
I've always used a jack though its a bit wobbly. Might be best to invest in a set of front and rear paddock stands.
Last edited on Sat Aug 9th, 2008 12:56 am by nickwiz
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chris r
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Posted: Sat Aug 9th, 2008 07:04 am |
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Well, I just walked away after that. I'm not worlds biggest bike expert, but I know when someone is normally talking crap. Especially as he had never even seen the forks, as I was on foot at the time.
He just made that sort of "you may get away with just replacing the seals, but I may end up ripping you off" face, you know what I mean?
I had read on another forum that they are dead grumpy in that place anyway. Shame though as they are 2 minutes from where I work.
It was spotted when I was getting my suspension all set up. The fork damping etc is fine but the settings were way too soft for me. Anyway, he spotted that there was too much oil on the fork.
I'm taking them to a workshop next week just to have the once over & the seals replaced.....the guy at this workshop has actually seen my bike & I know he is pretty quick at servicing the forks.
To be honest, I'm getting a bit tired of bike shops/mechanics patronising & rip off attitude. The list of places I no longer visit cos of the staff is getting quite long 
Last edited on Sat Aug 9th, 2008 07:13 am by chris r
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I found that if you have a goal, you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed. And I gotta tell ya... it feels phenomenal.
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nickwiz
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Posted: Sat Aug 9th, 2008 08:49 am |
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| How about telling them flat you know they are ripping you off! it pisses me off too that these places are like this. Thats why I learned to do most things myself!
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It takes a better rider to make an old bike go fast than a modern bike go slow.
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chris r
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Posted: Sat Aug 9th, 2008 04:19 pm |
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nickwiz wrote: How about telling them flat you know they are ripping you off! it pisses me off too that these places are like this. Thats why I learned to do most things myself!
Could do that, but I always seem to have that annoying voice in the back of my head saying "he may be right", whilst the 99% of me is saying "get bent you twat, don't patronise me".
I'm learning as I go with teaching myself bike upkeep, but as this bike is my only means of transport & we are off to France in a couple of weeks, I didn't want to take the risk of mucking it up myself.
I need a another old nail to tinker with I think. Time to hit flea-bay
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I found that if you have a goal, you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed. And I gotta tell ya... it feels phenomenal.
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EricOcean
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Posted: Mon Aug 11th, 2008 07:47 am |
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Who are we talkng about then?
On a related note, meybe a seperate thread / subject (like pics, bike mag) for bike service places?
Members reguarly seek advice on good /bad shops in their area. (Hhhmmm... a subject with then a thread for each area?)
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chris r
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Posted: Mon Aug 11th, 2008 10:14 am |
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EricOcean wrote: Who are we talkng about then?
On a related note, meybe a seperate thread / subject (like pics, bike mag) for bike service places?
Members reguarly seek advice on good /bad shops in their area. (Hhhmmm... a subject with then a thread for each area?)
Are we allowed to name & shame? Well, without naming names there are about 5 minutes from the Tate Modern.
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I found that if you have a goal, you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed. And I gotta tell ya... it feels phenomenal.
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sceats
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Posted: Thu Aug 14th, 2008 04:15 pm |
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chris r wrote: EricOcean wrote: Who are we talkng about then?
On a related note, meybe a seperate thread / subject (like pics, bike mag) for bike service places?
Members reguarly seek advice on good /bad shops in their area. (Hhhmmm... a subject with then a thread for each area?)
Are we allowed to name & shame? Well, without naming names there are about 5 minutes from the Tate Modern.
Just by Southwark Crown Court?
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Frederico
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Posted: Thu Aug 14th, 2008 10:22 pm |
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Heard the same kind of rip off shite from various sources when I had to service the forks on my grey import 400. Funny attitude some dealers have to 'grey' bikes when they have no comparable bikes to sell in their own showroom.
Learnt how to strip forks from a web site; bought seals from 'Bat Motorcycles', bought a long hex socket to go in the fork base and made up a tool to unscrew damping rod from a large nut and bolt+a socket+set extension bars wrapped in insulating tape to protect the inside of the alloy stantions. Easy job with a bit of logic! 
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paul63
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Posted: Thu Aug 14th, 2008 10:58 pm |
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chris r wrote: Are we allowed to name & shame? Well, without naming names there are about 5 minutes from the Tate Modern.
AH Ha.
I know exactly who you mean - well it could only be one dealer as there's only one near there - I'll phone their workshop tomorrow and claim my fork seals are leaking and if I get the same response it's a slam dunk and I'll name them.
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chris r
Forum Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 08:23 am |
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paul63 wrote: chris r wrote: Are we allowed to name & shame? Well, without naming names there are about 5 minutes from the Tate Modern.
AH Ha.
I know exactly who you mean - well it could only be one dealer as there's only one near there - I'll phone their workshop tomorrow and claim my fork seals are leaking and if I get the same response it's a slam dunk and I'll name them.
Oops, missed some replies here.
No idea where Southwark Crown court is...yet , but seeing as I picked up that fine from the council for dropping my cig on the floor I may end up there at some point .
They are just round the corner from the Union Jack pub.
Paul63, let us know what reply you got. You should go in person so you get the full "grouchy faced, it's not the parts it's the labour, we are doing you a favour" experience. 
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I found that if you have a goal, you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed. And I gotta tell ya... it feels phenomenal.
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chris r
Forum Member
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Posted: Tue Aug 26th, 2008 06:48 am |
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| Yikes!! Open up the new issue of Bike Mag this month & who do I see? The very same chap who gave me the fantastic original fork advice Is this some sort of Karma or something?
____________________
I found that if you have a goal, you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed. And I gotta tell ya... it feels phenomenal.
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