What's that old saying? Work on it once and you own it? -Kyle
On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 12:31 AM, Dennis Hammerl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > The transportation industry is a hot bed of lawsuits. When you get an > obvious POS in for some work it automatically becomes your responsibility. > We make recommendations for repair and if declined, the work order is > amended and signed off. A signed, dated RO that outlines needed repairs that > were declined by the owner keeps us out of court. I don't argue with > customers, just make them accept responsibility. Our paper trail dates back > MANY years. Use it everyday. Guy comes in and says it was in for a tune-up > back in spring... yeah, 2003. End of dispute. Now, what can we do for you? > While we haven't been sued, it's not like they don't try. Lawyer calls and > tells you his client fell off a bike we serviced a short while ago... I > produce the RO stating the bike needed tires and the customer signed off on > not replacing them. Again, end of story. I don't get paid to produce work, I > make things work out. I expedite repairs, avoid liabilty, and maintain > integrity. Most of the people that come in and bust on us have no clue what > an operation like ours entails. > In case you're interested, I can provide you with MSRP markup % rates. (and > don't forget the "S: in MSRP) > No. I didn't fire him. > > --- On *Tue, 9/30/08, Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: > > From: Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Coils? > To: [email protected] > Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 1:07 AM > > > I wish it was because of fear of lawsuits. The store mgr kept one guy on > because she thought he was poor because all he ate for lunch every day was a > half dozen boiled eggs. He wasn't any poorer than anyone else, that was just > some stupid diet he had found on the internet. Since I don't drink tho, I > probably would have fired someone hungover. > > -Kyle > > On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 12:01 AM, Dennis Hammerl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > >> It does work when it's done carefully. I tell new people to never screw >> up and try to hide it from me. Just come to me when you do it and we'll work >> it out. Hide it and I find it, you're gone. When I come back from a test and >> bring it in the garage and go for tools, the tech wants to know why. That's >> a good time to turn it into a low-key education in the details that I want. >> I always tell them when I like something and why I do. No hurt feelings, >> always progress. I did the same in Fla. Nobody likes an outsider coming in >> to run a place and I got more than a hint of animosity from the techs there. >> (# Honda keeps a data base of field techs and management people that is >> evaluated and updated. That's how I got the job) After a few weeks, a tech >> came in hungover and I sent him home. Before he left I asked for his work >> orders. He thought I was going to fire him. I just said Be here tomorrow. I >> took his orders and finished his jobs during that day and nobody ever >> questioned me again. The rule is "I was doing this before you were born. >> Don't f%k with the old guy" >> And. yes, not everything is golden. I have thief and a lazy SOB with us >> now. Takes time to deal with both of them. You said it, really hard to fire >> somebody with today's laws. The easiest reason is "incurring possible >> liability issues". >> FYI: we have never been sued. Now that takes work. >> >> --- On *Tue, 9/30/08, Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: >> >> From: Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Coils? >> To: [email protected] >> Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 12:28 AM >> >> >> Wish I had had that kind of ctrl. I could fire someone, but all they had >> to do was whine to the store mgr, who would go soft and keep them on. Kind >> of hard to enforce anything when you've got a worker that now knows they >> don't have to listen to a damn thing you say. After a while I gave up >> trying. Thats the main reason I moved on. >> >> The main reason i quit letting Toyota do my oil changes is the loose drain >> plugs. The 2nd one dumped all my engine oil 50+ miles away from home. I >> turned it off in time, but figured I was just being lazy and could leave the >> damn drain plug loose myself and safe a few $$. They could have used your >> system. >> >> -Kyle >> >> On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 11:14 PM, Dennis Hammerl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: >> >>> The whole shop. I run a tight ship as they say. We make money on >>> warranty as well. That's something almost unheard of. To have survived since >>> 1965 takes more than a little work. I sort of micro-manage things. Learned >>> that from the boss's father who hired me from a Suzuki dealership. Honda had >>> just come out with the CR line and he wanted a veteran two stroke wrench. >>> His son took over years later and left me on my own to oversee the shop. The >>> elder had been a mechanic for a Ford agency in the 30's on till 1959. A >>> great guy, passed on in 1996. I never knew anybody with his people skills. >>> All finished work must pass through my hands for approval. At first it looks >>> a little authoritarian but in the end the guys learn that it's me who takes >>> the hit if things don't go right. Additionally, they don't have to deal with >>> customers. I'm always between them and the owner and the customer. Hey, it >>> works. >>> Oh yeah, you get used to the wailing of the damned here in hell. I was >>> wondering if we should get red work uniforms ? >>> >>> --- On *Mon, 9/29/08, Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: >>> >>> From: Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Coils? >>> To: [email protected] >>> Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 1:02 AM >>> >>> >>> Is that *your* return rate less than 1% or your whole shops? At the >>> computer store I was able to keep my personal rate below 1%, but never could >>> convince the other knuckleheads that its easier just to take the time to fix >>> it right hte first time. >>> >>> -Kyle >>> >>> On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 11:28 PM, Dennis Hammerl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: >>> >>>> No, I don't. The parts manager does. I have worked in the field since >>>> 1967 (Suzuki,Yamaha first) and have been service manager at our dealership- >>>> (or should I say pits of hell ?) since 1972. (three years out to live in >>>> Fla) I won't go into the finances of operating a dealership because at >>>> least >>>> 95% of the forum hates our guts. Sometimes it amuses me to read all the >>>> back >>>> alley fixes and shortcuts. I do give free advice. As if anybody cares. >>>> Sure, I'm a big OEM person. I have to keep the return rate below 3% ( I >>>> do, less than one) I really don't care what people use for replacement >>>> parts, it's their bike (and their butt). >>>> When I stumbled on to this forum I thought more riders would be >>>> interested in "improving the breed" instead of sustaining it on life >>>> support. Guess again. We have spoke about IT work (to others grumbling) and >>>> I do dabble in IT. I am first an engine builder and tuner. For the most >>>> part >>>> I man a desk now. At 64 I look forward to retirement. >>>> >>>> --- On *Mon, 9/29/08, Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: >>>> >>>> From: Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Coils? >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 12:03 AM >>>> >>>> >>>> Oh don't tell me you do the needless markups? You know, there's a reason >>>> my '03 taco is still ticking after 240K miles, because I use genuine toyota >>>> parts. But I hate the fact that I can get the parts for 30 to 25% of what i >>>> was originally quoted after pitting the two dealerships against eachother. >>>> I >>>> suspect the same is true for this Honda, and I've had success lowering >>>> parts >>>> by 60% already. Its possible, but its a hassle. I buy the best parts I can, >>>> I feel cheated by the rediculous markups at the parts counter. I know you >>>> gotta make a buck, but there's a guy at the toyota dealership that gives me >>>> a really decent price each time, I ask for him by name now, he gets all my >>>> commissions, more dealerships should get that message. >>>> >>>> -Kyle >>>> >>>> On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 10:56 PM, Dennis Hammerl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: >>>> >>>>> Do you think anybody will notice my horns if I wear a baseball cap ? >>>>> >>>>> --- On *Sun, 9/28/08, Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: >>>>> >>>>> From: Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Coils? >>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>> Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 11:51 PM >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I knew you had feelings for me, but geez! I'm flattered :) >>>>> >>>>> -Kyle >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 10:26 PM, Dennis Hammerl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> I love you too.. >>>>>> >>>>>> --- On *Sun, 9/28/08, Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> From: Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>>> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Coils? >>>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>>> Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 1:37 AM >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Don't worry, my contempt for satan, err, the dealership is directed >>>>>> mostly towards the 300% markup parts counter guys. The fact that they >>>>>> will >>>>>> come down drastically in price so easily when pitted against eachother >>>>>> shows >>>>>> that they're ridiculously marked up. Yeah, we had the tester hooked up to >>>>>> both leads. They ran fine at first, but after running for a while they >>>>>> started to fail. At different intervals ofcourse as one was in worse >>>>>> shape >>>>>> than the other. I too am hesistant to replace parts without making sure >>>>>> that's the part that is bad, I'm also hesitant to break down on a houston >>>>>> freeway during rushhour again. And then there's the ants... >>>>>> >>>>>> -Kyle >>>>>> -Ormiga! >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 12:20 AM, Dennis Hammerl <[EMAIL >>>>>> PROTECTED]>wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> yeah, I have one of those testers. Did you check the plug cap >>>>>>> resistance? They should be 5~10 meg each. If you examined the schematic >>>>>>> for >>>>>>> the bike you will see that the output side of the coils is actually a >>>>>>> loop. >>>>>>> In effect, one plug fires from the center electrode and the other from >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> ground strap. Both at the same time. One fires on an exhaust stroke >>>>>>> while >>>>>>> the other is on a compression stroke. With this in mind, if one plug >>>>>>> wire is >>>>>>> off, both cease to function since the loop is broken. Now when the >>>>>>> tester is >>>>>>> used by an amateur, it can show a bad component. I don't agree with the >>>>>>> jump >>>>>>> start theory but anything is possible. I don't recall ever replacing a >>>>>>> coil >>>>>>> set on one of those. The failure rate is below .3%. I have replaced >>>>>>> pulse >>>>>>> coils on a fair number of those bikes. Failure is due to heat. Check >>>>>>> resistance of those cold and hot. All I'm trying to do is completely >>>>>>> confirm >>>>>>> failed component. If you are satisfied with the results as it stands >>>>>>> now, >>>>>>> replace with OEM. One of my guys has a CB650sc with over 38k on it and >>>>>>> all >>>>>>> original electrics. >>>>>>> Now I'll duck while all you dealer haters respond. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> --- On *Sat, 9/27/08, Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From: Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>>>> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Coils? >>>>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>>>> Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008, 1:32 AM >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> One was just out of specs, the other one had infinite resistance. I >>>>>>> then took it to the local cycle shop that had a fancy ignition coil >>>>>>> tester. >>>>>>> Nifty adapter on the end kind of like a dummy sparkplug you could screw >>>>>>> in >>>>>>> and out to adjust the gap on the fly. One coil could just barely make a >>>>>>> spark at less than 1/4 inch, the other could spark almost twice that. >>>>>>> Both >>>>>>> petered out after a few minutes, after they warmed up. I know the odds >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> both going bad are twice as unlikely, but one was definitely worse than >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> other. That explains why it felt like my bike was only running on 2 cyls >>>>>>> before it crapped out completely the other day when it was hot. And >>>>>>> after a >>>>>>> few minutes cooling off it would run, but again like it was on half its >>>>>>> cyls. Then after I let it set for 30 mins it cranked up and ran on all >>>>>>> cyls, >>>>>>> even if it was still missing occasionally. One of the only situations I >>>>>>> can >>>>>>> think of that would cause both coils to fail around the same time would >>>>>>> be >>>>>>> jump starting off of a running car. I'm afraid that if the previous >>>>>>> owner >>>>>>> tried that I may have more than just coil problems. This bike has had >>>>>>> ever >>>>>>> single electrical system knackered in some form or another. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -Kyle >>>>>>> -picked up "knackered" from watching TopGear ;) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 11:04 PM, Dennis Hammerl <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>>>> > wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> How did you determine that ? Do you know what the odds of both going >>>>>>>> bad at the same are ? Fall back and regroup. Fill me in. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> --- On *Fri, 9/26/08, Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> From: Kyle Munz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>>>>> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Coils? >>>>>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>>>>> Date: Friday, September 26, 2008, 3:06 PM >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I finally got a chance to take a break from himmicane cleanup to >>>>>>>> look at my bike today. Turns out the coils are dead, or we don't know >>>>>>>> how to >>>>>>>> work a multimeter. I'm fairly confident in my multimeter skills so I'm >>>>>>>> going >>>>>>>> to go with dead coils. Anyone have any recommendations on aftermarkets >>>>>>>> or >>>>>>>> stick with OEM? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -Kyle >>>>>>>> -83CB650SC >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
