Garage bill for scooter - where do I stand?

[no1special]

Hopefully this is the correct forum.
I bought a 2007 vespa px125 and on the second day of ownership the clutch started playing up, I.e there was a lot of drag. I was with a friend at the time and he suggested taking it to his friends garage who specialises in bikes and scooters. He adjusted the clutch cable, said "there you go" wouldn't take any money for it. I went to ride off and the drag was still there. He asked me to leave the scooter with him. Thy was two weeks ago. In that time he has striped the clutch twice, bought and fitted new clutch plates, had the clutch basket machined out (1mm), put it all back together again, and still the problem is there. He admits it has him
baffled and again asked me to leave it with him so he can ask another friend in the business.
So, when I finally get the scooter back, will I be charged for the parts ( and labour) that I didn't actually need, as they never fixed the problem?
Ok, so he shouldn't be out of pocket, but at the same time, I shouldn't pay for parts that I don't need?
Anyone know how this might go?
Thanks all

[C8PPO]

Private or dealer purchase?

[freecar]

In theory, a proper garage should be able to order parts sale or return, so if they are not required they get their money back. Machining work and the others, not so sure.

[no1special]

C8PPO said:

Private or dealer purchase?

private, sold as seen.
To be fair to the previous owner, I contacted him to ask if he had any problems in the past and he sounded genuinley surprised about the problem. Even asked me to keep him informed.

[no1special]

C8PPO said:

Private or dealer purchase?

private, sold as seen.
To be fair to the previous owner, I contacted him to ask if he had any problems in the past and he sounded genuinley surprised about the problem. Even asked me to keep him informed.

[GarryA]

Hi, I am very experienced in all things Vespa, I have 3 at the minute including a PX I have for work, I will drop you a PM if thats ok?

[no1special]

C8PPO said:

Private or dealer purchase?

private, sold as seen.
To be fair to the previous owner, I contacted him to ask if he had any problems in the past and he sounded genuinley surprised about the problem. Even asked me to keep him informed.

[no1special]

GarryA said:

Hi, I am very experienced in all things Vespa, I have 3 at the minute including a PX I have for work, I will drop you a PM if thats ok?

Hi Garry, yes please!
Thanks

[NDA]

no1special said:

Hopefully this is the correct forum.
I bought a 2007 vespa px125 and on the second day of ownership the clutch started playing up, I.e there was a lot of drag. I was with a friend at the time and he suggested taking it to his friends garage who specialises in bikes and scooters. He adjusted the clutch cable, said "there you go" wouldn't take any money for it. I went to ride off and the drag was still there. He asked me to leave the scooter with him. Thy was two weeks ago. In that time he has striped the clutch twice, bought and fitted new clutch plates, had the clutch basket machined out (1mm), put it all back together again, and still the problem is there. He admits it has him
baffled and again asked me to leave it with him so he can ask another friend in the business.
So, when I finally get the scooter back, will I be charged for the parts ( and labour) that I didn't actually need, as they never fixed the problem?
Ok, so he shouldn't be out of pocket, but at the same time, I shouldn't pay for parts that I don't need?
Anyone know how this might go?
Thanks all

Are you saying he hasn't charged you (yet)?

The friendly garage has undertaken work without your authority, legally (assuming the bike is in your possession) you don't really own him anything. However, the nice thing to do is to make some kind of contribution I would have thought.

[GarryA]

Pm'ing not working, hey ho.

First thing to check would be the clutch return arm to see if it is seizing,

You will need to remove the rear wheel, then, if you stick your head in the there you will see the clutch cover and the arm (6 o'clock position) as it is situated next to the wheel it usually gets covered in crap and then fails to operate correctly.

Pull the arm round using an adjustable spanner to check its operation and whist doing that disconnect the clutch cable, check that is not seized too, it must be very free, if you can, degrease the whole area and clean it up while you're in there.

Next step would be to take off the clutch cover (drain oil or lay bike on side) and have a look at the brass plunger inside the cover.

Remember they are very very simple bikes designed to go on forever, the PX is the only scooter to complete the Paris Dakar Rally.


Pic added,

Clutch cover showing arm and return spring.

Edited by GarryA on Monday 27th September 16:03

Edited by GarryA on Monday 27th September 16:08

[no1special]

NDA said:

no1special said:

Hopefully this is the correct forum.
I bought a 2007 vespa px125 and on the second day of ownership the clutch started playing up, I.e there was a lot of drag. I was with a friend at the time and he suggested taking it to his friends garage who specialises in bikes and scooters. He adjusted the clutch cable, said "there you go" wouldn't take any money for it. I went to ride off and the drag was still there. He asked me to leave the scooter with him. Thy was two weeks ago. In that time he has striped the clutch twice, bought and fitted new clutch plates, had the clutch basket machined out (1mm), put it all back together again, and still the problem is there. He admits it has him
baffled and again asked me to leave it with him so he can ask another friend in the business.
So, when I finally get the scooter back, will I be charged for the parts ( and labour) that I didn't actually need, as they never fixed the problem?
Ok, so he shouldn't be out of pocket, but at the same time, I shouldn't pay for parts that I don't need?
Anyone know how this might go?
Thanks all

Are you saying he hasn't charged you (yet)?

The friendly garage has undertaken work without your authority, legally (assuming the bike is in your possession) you don't really own him anything. However, the nice thing to do is to make some kind of contribution I would have thought.

he hasn't charged me yet, but he still
has the scooter because it's still not working properly.
I may be jumping the gun here and his bill might only reflect the parts and labour that I actually need.
Just wanted to get the PH opinion on where I would stand if I'm hit with a hefty bill.
Thanks all for your replies so far.

[GarryA]

Oh, and when you fit a new clutch you need to change the steel plates as well as after problems they usually warp, you must soak the new corks in oil for 24hrs too as they do not get much oil on them once on the engine and it won't work properly.

[NDA]

no1special said:

NDA said:

no1special said:

Hopefully this is the correct forum.
I bought a 2007 vespa px125 and on the second day of ownership the clutch started playing up, I.e there was a lot of drag. I was with a friend at the time and he suggested taking it to his friends garage who specialises in bikes and scooters. He adjusted the clutch cable, said "there you go" wouldn't take any money for it. I went to ride off and the drag was still there. He asked me to leave the scooter with him. Thy was two weeks ago. In that time he has striped the clutch twice, bought and fitted new clutch plates, had the clutch basket machined out (1mm), put it all back together again, and still the problem is there. He admits it has him
baffled and again asked me to leave it with him so he can ask another friend in the business.
So, when I finally get the scooter back, will I be charged for the parts ( and labour) that I didn't actually need, as they never fixed the problem?
Ok, so he shouldn't be out of pocket, but at the same time, I shouldn't pay for parts that I don't need?
Anyone know how this might go?
Thanks all

Are you saying he hasn't charged you (yet)?

The friendly garage has undertaken work without your authority, legally (assuming the bike is in your possession) you don't really own him anything. However, the nice thing to do is to make some kind of contribution I would have thought.

he hasn't charged me yet, but he still
has the scooter because it's still not working properly.
I may be jumping the gun here and his bill might only reflect the parts and labour that I actually need.
Just wanted to get the PH opinion on where I would stand if I'm hit with a hefty bill.
Thanks all for your replies so far.

I'd say you're in a tricky position. The routes open would appear to be:

1. "Thanks for having a go at fixing my bike, can I collect it now?" - say nothing about a bill and see what he does.
2. "What do I owe you?" - hefty bill presented
3. "I assume I don't owe you anything" - see what he says. He might hang on to the bike until you've paid up.

He's rather surreptitiously picked up work without actually asking properly. I'd be tempted to pick up the bike before he's fixed it to avoid some monster labour charge...