What to do??? The frustration finally sets in

[Pennies Earned]

So I've had my '75 xs650b in the shop for almost 6 months now. Not really sure what to do at this point. I've kept good contact with the mechanic, who was referred to me by a friend who had his sr500 fixed by him, and the shop is also the oldest yamaha dealer in the state. Well realizing that my bike has been in the shop for about 6 months now, and that the entire riding season is coming to an end has got me a little frustrated to say the least. The mechanic told me that the reason it is taking so long is because its an older bike so he only works on it here and there to keep cost down. Well that answer had me satisfied until now. I've randomly stopped in to see how it was going, I've called numerous times, and now not really sure what to do. I don't see my bike being finished anytime soon. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

A pic of me and the bike in question, the only good pic I have to remember it by.

 

[Stone]

what exactly is wrong with your bike/why is it in the shop?

 

[5twins]

Yes, most of the things that go wrong with these are pretty simple and can be fixed by the home mechanic. I'd get it back and attempt to fix it myself. The worse that could happen is it would need to go back to the shop but that wouldn't be a bad thing if it spent the winter there.

 

[Pennies Earned]

It went into the shop because the left cylinder backfires and I was unable to fix it on my own. I replaced the points and condenser prior to taking it in but didn't have the knowledge to time it correctly. Since it has been in the shop he has replaced the seals in the carbs and timed it. It runs better now but still has the backfire. The next thing to be checked is the valves according to him.

 

[5twins]

It doesn't appear your mechanic knows his way around a 650 very well. You're supposed to check and set cam chain and valves before you do timing or carbs. I would get the bike out of there and find a better mechanic or fix it yourself. Backfiring can be a common problem on these and the fix is usually simple. The answers you need are probably here on the site.

New bike mechanics usually can't deal with an older machine like the 650. They're used to electronic ignitions, fuel injection, hydraulic valves, etc. I answered an ad on Craigslist recently from someone looking for somebody to tune up his 650. This kid had gone to one of those motorcycle training institutes and worked in a Harley shop for a while. He still didn't know how to set points, timing, or valves, though. The bike didn't run very well and some other guy who answered his ad was already working on it. He got it back and had me come work on it. Now it didn't run at all, lol. That other guy had the points gaps too big, the timing off, and half the valves too tight. I set everything to spec and the bike fired right up with a kick or 2. The kid says it's the best it's ever run.

 

[Pennies Earned]

I don't suppose you are anywhere near Idaho

 

[TeeCat]

Try three years and still plugging away, while periodically having a good cry on the shoulder of anyone here who is (still! ) willing to listen. I have learned the hard way that having a classic bike in your life is expensive, time consuming, and often frustrating. But if you're willing to get your hands dirty (once again), then you stand a chance of getting a payoff... until the next aged component goes south...

There are people here on this forum who can damn near walk you through neurosurgery with nothing at their disposal but written English and a few pics. Bring your bike home, make some friends here, and start from square one. It will just take time, and if you have some of that, working on the bike yourself may be a better option than letting someone you don't know toss wrenches at it.

There are a lot of things that I will not attempt on my bike, largely because of time constraints, but there is more than enough communal knowledge on this forum to get your bike hitting on both jugs.

TC

 

[nj1639]

Get that bike outta there before they give you a bill too big to pay and still no better...seen it before.
I don't know much about a lot of bikes but I've taken the panties off mine and consider myself a specialist to my bike! You too can become a specialist to your bike with some tools, a manual, the help of this forum and a bit of patience. Hell, human beings put them together in the first place and if you're a human being you should be able to repair it. You ARE a human being, ain't ya? HA!

 

[TeeCat]

... but I've taken the panties off mine...

I'm sorry... but that just made the damndest fusion of snot and Lipton iced tea come out my nose... what an effing mess I have to clean up here... That was simply flipping priceless... OMG!

So true, though! I'm still learning that every day I own this bike... but so very true.

Thanks for that special moment!

TC

 

[Pennies Earned]

Good stuff indeed. I have a manual and am definitely a human being. I tried my hand at it first and decided to pay a few hundred just to get it done right. I called the mechanic just now and he said that it needs a new condenser and that he already ordered one. Strange thing is that I replaced the condenser before taking it into the shop, it did come in the small parts bag when I purchased the bike so I guess it could have been faulty or maybe I fried it somehow. Either way I'm giving him this last chance but if the new condenser doesn't solve it I'm going to pick it up. Oh and I'm not sure I've taken the panties off of her but I've definitely made it to 3rd base.

 

[5twins]

The top end is as far as I've gotten with mine so I guess I've only had the bra off, lol.

 

[twinsarehot]

Pennies, get the back home and show some love!

Do this,

1. Get it back to a comfy place where you can work on it any time you want.
2. Post ITT, everything you can tell us about your 650, which means everything you've tried, every symptom or sound. Pictures and videos will help what can't be explained in text.

The guys/gals here will listen and help, there is no need to give up hope.

 

[Teebs]

The guys/gals here will listen and help, there is no need to give up hope.

See, this is not so much a knowledge-sharing forum as it is an addiction support group...

 

[Stone]

HAHAHA this thread is hilarious, I too just lost it while reading...in the middle of class too.

I just bought mine a week ago and dove right in to her, ripped all of the wiring out, the carbs and then some. Now I she goes down the road just fine...don't get me wrong there is plenty more to do but with enough time you can do it easily.

Disclaimer: if you don't swear now...you will.

 

[stuntdouble]

why does your mechanic claim that "he works on it here and there to keep the cost down"?! it seems to me that if hes keeping his time added up correctly, he would have the same amount of time into it working on it for 5 hours as he would working on it for 30 mins. a day for 10 days. i think this guy is blowing smoke and i agree with NJ, youll be lucky to get it outta there without this guy trying to charge you hundreds of dollars in work that wasnt done and storage fees. bring it home, post pics and we'll see if we cant help you out!

 

[650Skull]

Yea get it back, soon you will owe so much he will keep the bike for himself to pay the debit.......Maybe that is his thought

 

[nj1639]

Yeah skull, that's what I've seen. Thousand bucks for a charging issue.

 

[gentlemanjim]

I think you are getting screwed and not even a kiss. Pull the plug - we can fix it from here.

 

[yamasarus]

Does this qualify as "taking the panties off"?

 

[650sf]

Well that's a skeleton soooo...

Pennies, your dealer is lying their ass off about working on it here and there to save you money.

They'll make the same money whether they work on it "here and there" or all at once.

They're just putting it off because they don't want your old bike tying up a lift while they could be doing gravy work like brake jobs and tires on V-stars.

Go get it back now before they waste anymore of your time.

Trust me, I worked at a Yamaha shop and they did this all the time.