Is my sound bike now scrap?

[TheJakeMan]

So this morning i dropped off my (perfect running) k6 650 at a Suzuki dealer for its 14k service. With it involving a valve check i was already expecting a pretty hefty bill and was pondering over whether to get it done as I'm looking to trade the bike in for something more upright.
A few hours later i got the call i was dreading; "have you had any problems with it running weird?" the mechanic asked in a curious tone, "no it's never had a problem except for a puncture or 2"...
A couple of calls later and much talk of cold starter solenoids and how they can't be bought without coming complete with throttle bodies (£700+) it seems the bike i was quoted £1400 on trade-in now needs £700 worth of parts plus labour to fit and after the £300+ service it all looks like the bike that rode like a dream this morning is now worth absolutely nothing!

Having fired it up and been treated to my once perfect runner idling at over 3000rpm with seemingly a good 10mm more free-play in the throttle i rode it away in disgust/embarrassment before causing a scene.

My current options as i see it are:
1. spend a huge amount of money and try to convince myself (and my wrecked neck) i may as well just keep the bike.
2. sell it for peanuts to someone with the mechanical abilities to repair it or strip it down and sell it in parts.

(p.s. other than ruining a lovely bike the service went fine :rolleyes:)

[andrewsmith]

EBay and used ones
The bodies don't go wrong very often

[Bibio]

i smell bull plop.

now let me get this right. the bike was running fine when you took it in, the mechanic has done some work and checked the valves and now its running like a pile of poo.

my guess is that the mechanic has disturbed something or broken it and is not wanting to own up for fear of being docked on his wages.

to me it sounds like the tickover adjuster has been trapped or dislodged and is causing the butterfly cam to stick.

such a pity you dont stay up this way...

[Jayneflakes]

You need a second opinion from a trusted garage by the sound of it and then maybe a chat with the manager at the first place over a naughty mechanic.

Having worked in a push bike shop I have heard many times the line "it was fine when I brought it in!", however sometimes knackered bits that are seized into place can break. This is why a second opinion can help, a better mechanic can point out easy and cheaper fixes.

[wideguy]

You need a second opinion from a trusted garage by the sound of it and then maybe a chat with the manager at the first place over a naughty mechanic.

Having worked in a push bike shop I have heard many times the line "it was fine when I brought it in!", however sometimes knackered bits that are seized into place can break. This is why a second opinion can help, a better mechanic can point out easy and cheaper fixes.
I became a mechanic because I got cheated too many times by various shops. I never had a bit of luck recovering any damages from them, even though all I wanted was what it cost to fix their mistakes.
As Jayne said, get another opinion. Ask around among people who ride, they will tell you about mechanics or shops. There are a few around me that do good work and charge honest prices. Find some around you.

If they mistimed your cams when they installed them, they may have bent your valves. Even if they didn't, mistimed cams will make the bike run like s..t. If you find one of these problems, it would be worth a complaint to the Magistrate.

[DJ123]

did they say what they have done to your bike? How did you pay them?
If it rode in fine, and come out running crap I'd have left it there and told them to sort it at their cost. it's quite clear they have broken something and are trying to shrug it off with you paying the bill.
Speak to the service manager and see what they say. If the answer is no good, start the complaints procedure and escalate it to the next level.

[nutzboutbikes]

This sort of thing really gets my goat!, the mechanic should receive a swift hard kick to the plumbs for his incompetence.

[NTECUK]

Take it back. And get them to fix what ever the mistake they made foc.
Sounds like you have a cause to complain to the dealers owners and if you get little joy to suzuki Head office.

[Kenzie]

I would have left it with them and made damn sure they put it right. If they get funny, a quick call to Trading Standards will soon put them right.

[figaro]

Ring them up, explain to them that you brought a perfect running bike to them and now it's fuc'd since their mechanic touched it. Tell them you want it put back to how it was at their expense. If they say no, tell them you'll be taking them to court. Let them know that you'll also be billing them for your travelling expenses too, seeing as the bike is your only transport.

If you can afford it, take it to another mechanic and explain what's happened, then get them to give you a written quote for the repairs needed to rectify the other guy's mistakes.

And do please chase the garage for the cost of the repair. They get let off far too easily, far too often. My mate got stung nearly a grand for new throttle bodies at a Triumph dealership in Northants. I'd already told him to try a new O2 sensor first but he stuck it in the garage. The bike came out just as bad but with him out of pocket to boot, I put a new O2 sensor in and it runs perfectly. He never chased the garage for that grand.

[aesmith]

A couple of calls later and much talk of cold starter solenoids

Having fired it up and been treated to my once perfect runner idling at over 3000rpm with seemingly a good 10mm more free-play in the throttle i rode it away in disgust/embarrassment before causing a scene.
If they can't even adjust the throttle cables properly, how can you believe anything else they say?

[yorkie_chris]

Get someone who knows what they're doing to look at it. I'm with Bibio on that score.

If it ran right before then it won't be the STV actuator unless they've done something really stupid.

[Red ones]

I spent almost a whole summer tracking down an STV related problem. It did my head in.

I sold the bike and the next owner spent 10 mins under the tank and fixed it. Crap electrical connection.

When I spoke to him and his mechanics (sorry forgot to mention he works at a Suzuki dealership) he said STV related failures are very rare. It's usually something far simpler.

I'd go and throw my toys out of pram at the garage that did the work.

[Kenzie]

Any news on this?

[TheJakeMan]

Thanks for all the replies folks :) The latest is that i took it back the next day and pointed out that the bike was working fine when i dropped it off for the service. Having been told numerous times that "this is only the second time we've seen one do this" it seems they're going with the 'just one of those things' approach. Having sourced a set of throttle bodies for £50 on eBay I'm HOPING to get them fitted foc but am debating whether i can even trust them with the bike again :,(

[Red Herring]

Having fired it up and been treated to my once perfect runner idling at over 3000rpm with seemingly a good 10mm more free-play in the throttle i rode it away in disgust/embarrassment before causing a scene.



I'd be tempted to check the throttle adjustments first, almost sounds as if it isn't returning properly......

[maviczap]

I'm HOPING to get them fitted foc but am debating whether i can even trust them with the bike again :,(

I wouldn't be going back & they should have sorted this out for you FOC

[Bibio]

the mechanics let a badly working bike that was running fine when it went in out their garage.

1. your bike has only got 14k on it and as such should not need any of the solenoids, TPS/STPS or idle valves needing replaced (unless its been a crash tastic bike)

2. if they 'think' its a solenoid then they obviously don't know what they are doing especially with it being a main dealer they 'should' know if that its that or not. they are supposed to be suzuki mechanics and as such should know the bikes they work on inside out. sounds like they got the trainee to do the work.

3. all they have done is a valve check and a service and if they are not capable of putting things back where they should be then i would not be going anywhere near them again and putting a complaint into suzuki uk.

4. i would certainly not be giving them cash for another set of TB's and them even considering buying a set of ebay in the hope that it fixes the bike just goes to show that they really are a bunch of cowboys. or that they have a guilty conscience about breaking something so trying to make you a 'sweet deal'.

[figaro]

Christ, I missed the 14k bit. If I were you I'd contact Suzuki GB and ask them what you should do. Explain to them that you think the mechanic has cocked something up and ask them how they think you should go about getting it sorted.

There's a feedback form here (https://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/ccr/customer-services-feedback-form/), but I would contact them direct. And I reckon you should name and shame here so that we can avoid them...

[nutzboutbikes]

I am with Bibio and Figaro your next port of call should be Suzuki GB.

[TheJakeMan]

Message left on feedback form (thanks Figaro for the link):

"Hello Suzuki UK. I recently took my SV650 to my local Suzuki dealer for a (valve clearance check) service and it was returned to me with a problem which it seems is going to cost a lot to rectify. I am uncertain as to whether i should be paying for the repairs and if i can trust them to the same dealer. More information here http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=216846"

Going to give them a call or 2 too as from the look of these throttle bodies (arrived today) it's going to cost quite a lot in labour to fit them wherever i go for that.

Huge thanks for all the replies and advice :)

[figaro]

If you hear nothing within a couple of days get on the phone to them.

[Bibio]

it takes 1/2-3/4hr to take TB out and put new ones in. add another 1/2hr to balance them. well i can do it in that time so them saying its going to cost a lot to do the job is bull poo.

[andrewsmith]

it takes 1/2-3/4hr to take TB out and put new ones in. add another 1/2hr to balance them. well i can do it in that time so them saying its going to cost a lot to do the job is bull poo.
This
Carbs Take that to change

[wideguy]

it takes 1/2-3/4hr to take TB out and put new ones in. add another 1/2hr to balance them. well i can do it in that time so them saying its going to cost a lot to do the job is bull poo.
Remove side panels, remove seat, tilt up fuel tank, remove air box, disconnect fuel line and throttle cables, disconnect TPS connector, loosen clamps and remove throttle bodies.
Install throttle bodies and re-connect/ re-install everything else. In 45 minutes?
You're good!

[Bibio]

yup never mind all the other bloody connectors on the airbox on the K7>. once you have done it a few times it makes it easier.

[maviczap]

Or just get rid it using some HRC/Tygon tubing instead

[yorkie_chris]

Throw it in a van, bring it up here, I'll sort it for you and if they've cocked it up we'll do an entertaining and highly abusive youtube video naming and shaming them...

[Philby.]

Any update?

[TheJakeMan]

Update.. New (used) throttle bodies bought from ebay for £50, dropped back off with them late on Monday and collected after work on Tuesday. Liberated of another £100 for work performed: "Removed old throttle bodies and replaced with S/H throttle bodies,cleaned, set up and synchronised. Also found corroded connectors so cleaned all connectors."

After a lot of cheeky 'you'll probably find it runs better than it ever has' type remarks i left with the bike and am now proceeding dealings with S.UK for reimbursement...

[7755matt]

I guess the problem is that, having given them a chance to fix any fault they created whilst fitting the throttle bodies you've removed the ability for Suzuki to do anything.

The shop will say that the TBs must have fixed it as your happy with the bike now that it has 'new' TBs on

[Bibio]

i like the found corroded connectors and cleaned them... ermmm i bet that was the fault in the first place.

did you get the old TB's?

[Red Herring]

I take it you've kept the bits they took off...?