Originally Posted by
BRGRSP
Had this years ago when my new 750 Zephyr was due it's 1st year service.
I bought the bike from Motorcycle City in Farnborough and rang to book it in, during the booking procedure I specifically requested the valve clearances were checked.
They said fine and I agreed a provisional price subject to shim's used etc.
Before taking the bike in I marked the cam cover bolts with a spot of paint, yes call me cynical but I never really trusted them, due to another story with a mates bike that went in there for work!
Upshot being, bike went in, double checked it was down for valve clearance check and left the bike, service guy said they'd have to let it get cool before checking them.
I returned late afternoon, bike was outside, so i had a quick peek at said cam cover bolts, not one had been touched.
Went into reception and asked if it was ready, a young lad replied yes I think so, but I'll double check and get the guy that worked on it.
Out he came, yes sir it's already, so I asked him, what were the valve clearances like, were any adjustment needed ? he looked very sheepish and mumbled something i didn't quite catch.
I asked him if we could take a look at the bike outside, so we walked out and I asked him again, he replied, yes they were all within tolerance.
So the cam cover was removed and they were all checked then I asked?
He then turned to me and said why is there a problem then? I then pointed out the paint on the cam cover bolts and asked how could they have been physically checked if the cam cover bolts hadn't been removed?
He replied. look sir I just do as I'm told, the service manager said the valve clearances are find, they don't need checking, so i said how did he check them, with his hand cupped over his ear from 10 paces or words to that effect, he went very red and said yeah something like that.
I returned to the reception and asked for my bill and there in black and white was the charge for the extra hours involved, plus a new cam cover gasket and seals, also for 2 new shims, all totally fabricated.
Said service manager was summoned and a rather uncomfortable conversation took place as you can imagine.
This resulted in not only the cost of the fictitious work being deleted from my bill, but also the cost of the 12 month service they had carried out.
They don't call them Stealers for nothing.
Brian.