Honda dealer shop gouged my frame

[QUINTtastic_imp]

Hi all. While taking my engine out, a Honda dealer gouged up my frame big time.

I’d like to make them fix it right, such as sending the frame out. But I don’t want to lose my bike all summer. It’s my baby and the only modern bike I enjoy. Plus I don’t really trust them to reassemble it and torque everything properly.

As much as it sucks, they want to just prep and paint the affected areas. I’m thinking if it’s not to my satisfaction afterwards that I will take it to small claims court. What are your thoughts?

[max]

Tend to agree with your last suggestion, taking it out of the frame seems like a repeat of the first "job".

There may be an option to do this out of season and cover the area's with some protection in the mean time, wax or black electrical tape, if it was me i would quietly check all the bolts they have worked on to see if they are not loose just to be sure, nobody is perfect but two people independently checking the same job can get pretty close.
Also on pic no5 the wiring is routed behind the swingarm shaft on my bike, not in between the engine and the swingarm and ends up behind the rh sidepanel's cover, i can make a picture if you wish.

[Cormanus]

QUINTtastic, I'd have thought you might want to be a bit careful about allowing them to do one thing and then trying to force them to do another. Unless you are really clear at the outset that, if they do it and you're not satisfied, you'll want it redone properly. If the frame is sufficiently damaged, I'd have thought they ought to replace it. If the damage is merely cosmetic, maybe prep and painting is sufficient. However, to do that properly they will likely need to take the engine out again. However, they should do it forthwith and lend you a bike while yours is being fixed.

As for checking the torquing of the bolts, max is on the money: if you don't trust them, you'll just have to check them.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Tend to agree with your last suggestion, taking it out of the frame seems like a repeat of the first "job".

There may be an option to do this out of season and cover the area's with some protection in the mean time, wax or black electrical tape, if it was me i would quietly check all the bolts they have worked on to see if they are not loose just to be sure, nobody is perfect but two people independently checking the same job can get pretty close.
Also on pic no5 the wiring is routed behind the swingarm shaft on my bike, not in between the engine and the swingarm and ends up behind the rh sidepanel's cover, i can make a picture if you wish.

Good find Max. That cable looks precarious in that position - almost looks like asking to be pinched in some manner.

[Frulk_imp]

I’m curious why the motor had to be removed.

[peterbaron]

Can we have some final feedback about your engine problems??, please.

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=13287

[2017EX_imp]

Kudos to Max for the good catch, noticing the improperly routed wiring. I have included a picture below of my bike showing correct routing. It looks to me like your current incorrect routing is a wire chafing problem just waiting to happen. Along with others, I am also curios to know why your engine was pulled.

Back in the day, with a lot less knowledge and tools than a supposedly professional motorcycle shop mechanic, with the help of my Father, I pulled the engine on my 1974 CB750 Four to replace the valve cover with a chrome version. Using care, and duct taping vulnerable areas on the frame, I had no cosmetic damage when the job was complete. I agree that what they did to your frame, although cosmetic, is unacceptable.

If the damage has gone through the paint to bare metal, you definitely dont want those places to rust, so if proper repairs wont be done until after riding season, those areas should be cleaned and sealed. If the shop you used did that kind of damage, I dont think I would trust them to do the restoration. In order to do it right, the engine will need to be pulled and re-installed again. So, if it was me, I would thoroughly document everything as it is now. Next I would take it to a professional custom motorcycle shop or a shop that specializes in motorcycle restorations, and get a repair estimate. Present the estimate to the shop that damaged your bike, and see if they will pay it. If they say no, I would pay to have the repair done right myself with another shop, then take the shop that damaged your bike to small claims court.

[QUINTtastic_imp]

Tend to agree with your last suggestion, taking it out of the frame seems like a repeat of the first "job".

There may be an option to do this out of season and cover the area's with some protection in the mean time, wax or black electrical tape, if it was me i would quietly check all the bolts they have worked on to see if they are not loose just to be sure, nobody is perfect but two people independently checking the same job can get pretty close.
Also on pic no5 the wiring is routed behind the swingarm shaft on my bike, not in between the engine and the swingarm and ends up behind the rh sidepanel's cover, i can make a picture if you wish.

Hey man thanks! A photo would help. There were a couple wiring issues I had them fix the first time. Over the course of the rebuild they kept having me come in to test ride and take home but I kept having to say hey, no, this this is still vibrating insanely. It was ridiculous.


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QUINTtastic, I'd have thought you might want to be a bit careful about allowing them to do one thing and then trying to force them to do another. Unless you are really clear at the outset that, if they do it and you're not satisfied, you'll want it redone properly. If the frame is sufficiently damaged, I'd have thought they ought to replace it. If the damage is merely cosmetic, maybe prep and painting is sufficient. However, to do that properly they will likely need to take the engine out again. However, they should do it forthwith and lend you a bike while yours is being fixed.

As for checking the torquing of the bolts, max is on the money: if you don't trust them, you'll just have to check them.

Very true. An out of season job would be ideal. I just don’t trust them. Of course it’s gonna cost them a ton and of course it’s gonna take a lot of time and be a huge pain, but they should think of that before they fail to protect a frame while an engine goes in and out..

The thing is I’m planning on moving from NY to Oregon by the years end so.. we shall see. I spoke with Honda USA again today and got someone who cared and took it seriously. So waiting for their case manager to contact me.

I told the shop hold off on the repair until I hear from Honda.


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I’m curious why the motor had to be removed.

Ugh.. I was the lucky guy who despite doing all regular preventative maintenance and caring a great deal for my bike.. at 11k miles I had MASSIVE vibration issues. Hairs standing on end.. uncomfortable to ride.. Turns out massive carbon buildup on pistons causes a valve to hit and bend which also messed up other things. They replaced pistons, honed cylinder walls, replaced valves, bearings, and other things. And the other day a fuel relay went.. I must have bought the bike made on a Friday at the Honda factory.


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Can we have some final feedback about your engine problems??, please.

http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=13287

Yes sorry! So I brought my bike in last August and couldn’t take it home in the winter, but regardless it wasn’t finished until a few weeks ago. Numerous times they had me go in to test ride it with hopes I’d pay and take it. Each time, things weren’t right. Bike still vibed so much the key ring was bouncing around, or there was a squealing sound so loud you couldn’t hear anything else. I told them about that, they gave some bull crap explanation and said it’ll go away, and a month later they hadn’t fixed it.. so I made them figure that out. Honda did pay for parts. And I paid for labor. I paid 1500. I think they only made me pay 1500 because there’s some guilt they won’t speak of. My MPG was 34 when I brought the bike in. Down from the normal 45-47. So now the rings have been getting worn in now and I’m up to 40.. but I doubt it’ll go much past that ever. I was doing my first big detail, toothbrush and all, and that’s when I noticed they gouged up my frame. They’re calling it just superficial scratches... so I’m extremely angry and trying to figure out a good recourse so I don’t get screwed. I love this bike more than any other bike and know that as time goes on, finding one will be more and more difficult. Sorry for the long winded message...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Kudos to Max for the good catch, noticing the improperly routed wiring. I have included a picture below of my bike showing correct routing. It looks to me like your current incorrect routing is a wire chafing problem just waiting to happen. Along with others, I am also curios to know why your engine was pulled.

Back in the day, with a lot less knowledge and tools than a supposedly professional motorcycle shop mechanic, with the help of my Father, I pulled the engine on my 1974 CB750 Four to replace the valve cover with a chrome version. Using care, and duct taping vulnerable areas on the frame, I had no cosmetic damage when the job was complete. I agree that what they did to your frame, although cosmetic, is unacceptable.

If the damage has gone through the paint to bare metal, you definitely dont want those places to rust, so if proper repairs wont be done until after riding season, those areas should be cleaned and sealed. If the shop you used did that kind of damage, I dont think I would trust them to do the restoration. In order to do it right, the engine will need to be pulled and re-installed again. So, if it was me, I would thoroughly document everything as it is now. Next I would take it to a professional custom motorcycle shop or a shop that specializes in motorcycle restorations, and get a repair estimate. Present the estimate to the shop that damaged your bike, and see if they will pay it. If they say no, I would pay to have the repair done right myself with another shop, then take the shop that damaged your bike to small claims court.

Thank you. That is a very fair and level headed response. Dealing with damage to something you love so much is a very strange place to be in. Never been here before so.. the input is valued, thanks!


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[peterbaron]

Thank you for your explanation.
It looks like you've had bad luck with this beautiful bike from the very beginning...
Do not know how far away from your place is any other Honda dealer, but looking at your situation, I would not take this bike back to the same dealer again (if you have this option?)

My opinion: I know it hurts, but since these scratches look more cosmetic, I would use very fine sand paper, water it + frame, sand it down and repaint the frame by using semi gloss or gloss TREMCLAD Rust Paint, C$10.
ix your other things first, route electrical harness properly and then paint. I would not take the engine out to do the painting.
Small Claim Court would be too much of a headache, I guess ????
Canadian link for illustration purpose:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/tremcla...1000406007

Home Depot USA, similar paint:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-S.../202315069

Wish you good luck, get over it and have safe, trouble free riding.

[dave]

I would be very upset also. I pulled the engine out of my 1976 CB750F and reinstalled it twice, both times by myself, and did less damage than that.

I took my VW Golf to the dealer to have the window repaired under warranty and the mechanic scratched the interior, painted surface of the door using a screwdriver to pry the door panel off. It wasn't even noticeable with the door closed, but it upset me because my car was only a few weeks old. I talked to the service manager about it and they agreed to pay the bill for me to take it to a shop to have it repaired (it was around $200.00). I had to be quite stern with the service manager, but I was persistent and got the results I expected.

Was the dealer you took your bike to the one in Spencerport? I grew up in Rochester, and bought my 1974 Honda XL250 and 1976 CB 750F from Hennen Honda, but they're both closed now.