Goldwing

[jefft]

Just found this video on youtube called "Steve Saunders Goldwing engine removal". Good video. This guy is showing all the steps to engine removal on a GL 1200 Goldwing, which is required to replace a stator. Man what an ordeal removing one of those engines. If I had a Goldwing I would hope the stator wouldn't go south because that would be a chore getting that engine out or probably very costly having someone else do it.
jefft

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Yeah, had to pull a couple GL-1000s long ago. Not for the faint of heart...

 

[jefft]

Did you ever get it all back together and running? I like the older goldwings and I see some pretty nice low mile pampered ones once in a while. I would be a little scared of getting one on the verge of needing a stator replaced. Seems like they would have engineered that a little better.
jefft

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Yeah, I was a Honda mechanic in the `70s, south central Texas, brutal summers, abusive owners, warranty jobs on crank and clutch. Did a few carb mods on those, opened-up pilot jets to improve off-idle performance. Wonder how many of those early models are still around and stumbling...

 

[aaronrkelly]

I had a 84 GL1200....buddy has an 86 GL1200. My stator never gave me any trouble....but his did last year.

Local mechanic charged $700 total (parts and labor) for new stator and regulator.....said the parts were about $350.....the labor about $350.

He charges $40 an hour.....so works out to be about 8 or 9 hours labor to pull the motor, swap the shit and put her back together.

Not the end of the world.......

Same mechanic charged me 3 hrs ($120) to pull the motor on my XS, swap 5th gear and put it back together....I thought that was VERY reasonable.

 

[jefft]

Yes, I would have thought the gold wing engine pull would have cost a lot more than that.
jefft

 

[aaronrkelly]

Well I believe (and tell him all the time) he is grossly undervaluing his labor.....everyone around here charges $80 to $100 an hour.....hes charging $40.

He finally did raise his rates beginning this month to $45 an hour......and he was apologizing that he had to do it.....lol.

Its hard to find a good mechanic that works for a reasonable amount....I dont think Ive ever seen him with an empty work bench.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

I used to have a sign in the office:

Labor rates: $8.00 per hour
If you watch: $15.00 per hour
If you help: $25.00 per hour

Prices sure have changed since then....

 

[ridgerunner1965]

at 45$ if he dont have much overhead he may still be makin 20$ per hour.thats not a bad wage unless your in california.what folks dont realize is a 3 hr job sumtimes takes 6 hrs and a 6 hr job sumtimes takes 3 hrs.yu have to price to account for the ones with the broke off bolts and and the times yu have to go thru the carbs twice.im surprised he charging so little.