mechanics are making my life miserable

[boo]

I have had two instances with my Kymco that gave me major head aches. Neither was my fault. Both bad instances were caused by other mechanics.
First, when my scooter was new, it had an oil leak behind the variator, "crank case seal".
It was fixed under warranty.
After 10,000+ miles, I decided to replace my drive belt and add sliders. I discovered I could not get the variator nut loose. Apparently the shop that did the repair used Red Loctite on the nut. I had a hell of a time trying to get that 1/2 nut loose. After trying many different approaches, I finally had to use a Dremel tool with a cut off wheel and cut the nut. Thank goodness, after cutting 3/4 the way through, the nut snapped and came loose. No damage to the threads on my crank. Got everything fixed and back together.

Second episode, today 8/28/16 I decided I would remove my front wheel so I could take it and have a new tire mounted and balanced. Low and behold, I discovered that one of my pinch bolts had the head stripped out. This was from the factory. First tire replacement and the wheel has never been off the scoot. I spent the better part of three hours getting that stripped bolt out. I tried everything. Grinding allen wrenches, grinding and tapping easy outs to no avail. As a last resort I decided to drill the center of the bolt so maybe an easy out would take hold. It finally broke loose. I barely got it out because the bolt came out almost rung in half. The bolt came out broke.
If that bolt head had been good, the job should have taken no more than 15-20 minutes.
I have come to the realization these so called mechanics that charge $80. an hour are a bunch of idiots.

[Tromper]

I wouldn't go that far.
I'd say they're human and they vary.
There are some out there worth their salt, some that are no better than you, but will do an OK job and save you the hassle for $$, & as noted some that shouldn't be allowed near wet matches.
Add in a normally good tech who messes up then covers up instead of 'fessing up and I suspect that pretty much runs the gamut.

[CROSSBOLT]

This is re a sore point with me! Tromper is a reasonable person while I have become quite unreasonable when it comes to dealers and their techs. This attitude is based on performance. This forum is rife with stories of mule-headed dealers and incompetent "mechanics" at storefronts that are ONLY interested in selling something. What to do is: Do it yourself or find someone with a good reputation and pay him what he asks. You may have spent all your money on your scoot or motorcycle so you are left with doing it yourself. This and other forums are ready to help with info learned the hard way. Warranty issues are somewhat trickier but solvable when Kymco USA are involved early. You have already proved yourself by performing a couple of really tough tasks. I therefore predict you will be able to do anything else that may emerge! You don't know the system? No problem! Someone on here knows and will be ready to help!

Karl

[mclark999]

BTW, next time something is stick on with red locktite, heat it up a bit with a torch. It should come right off

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[jeeves]

Using red loctite on a nut that has to be taken off from time to time is something only a idiot would do, let alone a "tech" at a repair shop.
I also hate when nuts are over torqued. It is that hard to check the torque specs and use a torque wrench?!
I tend to do most stuff on the scoot myself, lots of info and pictures on the net and you tube. Just need some proper tools, common sense and never rush or take short cuts.

[Stig / Major Tom]

One snowy day I sat down with some wrenches and some anti seize paste and silicone lube and broke loose and lubed brake pins...anti seized pinch bolts, exhaust bolts, etc., etc. all over my new scooter.  Removed the big cvt nuts & retorqued, etc.
So that come a later day I will not have big issues with fasteners that can seize up.
Stig

[boo]

BTW, next time something is stick on with red locktite, heat it up a bit with a torch. It should come right off

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I did that. I went to the Loctite website and they said to remove a nut installed with RED, use a propane torch. I did to no avail. For years I worked as a tech/mechanic/trouble shooter. I have never, and I mean never seen a small nut that tight. Cutting it off was my only option.
I dodged two bullets. Both times I managed to work it out.
The point is, other people have caused me some major headaches. I got lucky both times.

[CROSSBOLT]

Can you say, "impact wrench?"

Karl

[Forbes1964]

Can you say, "impact wrench?"

Karl

That's what I was thinking. Yes, the red locktite was overkill. But I've noticed that with an impact wrench a small nut like the one used on the variator will usually come loose.
Granted, it shouldn't have been used in the first place. But I'll bet that the mechanism has had a variator nut come loose on him before and was determined to NEVER let it happen again. I've seen the same thing happen with newbies and oil filters. One loosens up on them, and the next one is so tight, they have to chiseled off.

[boo]

Can you say, "impact wrench?"

Karl

Tried that. I have a compressor, impact wrench, and an electric impact wrench. No go.

[boo]

Put the wheel with new tire on a few minutes ago. Cleaned rotor and rechecked everything. Getting ready to take it for a spin and scuff the new tire in.
Whew!

[Forbes1964]

Tried that. I have a compressor, impact wrench, and an electric impact wrench. No go.

Sounds like they almost stripped it. Or they used some ultra red stuff. I've run across those who've over tightened lug nuts like that. And when they bring them to us, we have to heat, breaker bar, or cut them off. I don't know what these folks are thinking.

[CROSSBOLT]

What I meant was the "mechanic" used an impact to put it on! Like Forbes said, he dint want that thing to ever come off! Had real issues with mech-techs when I was one with this very thing. Lack of judgement and tech schools like MMI, votech and A& P  come to mind cranking out know-it-alls with no experience in the real world. PITA's.

Karl

[Stig / Major Tom]

Had a left front flat on my fairly new county pick-up.
The 2 mechanics at the county garage put on the spare.
1 hr later, I'm on a 60mph very busy two-lane country highway with a full load in the bed...when the front end starts to rumble big time!
I found a safe shoulder to pull off and did a walk around....finally thought maybe I'd run over the center-line  reflectors. Tires looked good, grabbed them and found no movement....then I noticed the lug nuts on the new tire.
I touched one and it fell off after 1/2 a turn. They were all out on the end of the wheel lugs, and the wheel was hard up against them....that's why I hadn't noticed anything wrong.

Fortunately my truck had been stolen a few weeks before - and came back with all the hub caps gone - otherwise I'd never have spotted the lug nuts coming off.

You lose the left front wheel on that road at 60 - if you're lucky you'll be flipping a few times in the corn field to your left - if not, you'll be collecting a semi head on.

I phoned the mechanic - he came out and chuckled when he saw the wheel and what his brother had done.
If that had been the Sheriff's car - they'd have had a few days off without pay.

I have worked with some professionals - 29 years ago at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Stig

 

[Forbes1964]

As an auto mechanic , I have done some boneheaded things including leaving lug nuts loose on one wheel because I let a service writer distract me and disturb my "flow". Fortunately, they weren't even Hand tight and the wheel came off in the parking lot. That was embarrassing for me and unnerving. I'm sure the customers were scared too. But that was a lesson for me to NEVER let someone distract me when I'm doing something important. My goal as a mechanic is to NEVER do any harm to a vehicle.