Bad advice from some guy

I just had an annoying phone call today. I only mention it because it's kind of a common theme, trying to do business with somebody and having them try to talk me out of it. Maybe it's just an Oregon thing, but people here don't seem to know how to just say "yep, here ya go"

Here's the deal, I found this guy on craigslist that advertises that he has some kind of shop with tons of parts and that he works on bikes. I'm rebuilding my brake calipers and was hoping to find somebody who had a rebuild kit locally, so I didn't have to wait for one. Ha, right.

Anyway, once guy realizes what I'm talking about he says, "oh, you know that's a *real* hard job right?" I was like, "well, maybe, but..." Then he says "It's hard getting the old ones clean. I'd just replace them, maybe get a junkyard part and inspect it and paint it up and stuff"

Right, dummy, and have the same problem, a thirty year old part that I can't trust. I said, "Yeah, I think I'm gonna just re-build mine." Guess what he says: "bad idea" ! Like rebuilding a brake caliper is the craziest thing he ever heard of.

 

People just get set in their ways, and develop strong opinions. What you should have done to break the illusion was ask him if he had ever rebuilt one--then, when he said no, asked how he could know if it was hard if he had never done it?

 

Oh, he claimed he had. Also reminds me of putting dual exhaust on my Thunderbird. (5.0 V8) First shop says, "oh, you can't do that" place literally across the street "$300" done This was in Hawaii, a place I would strongly advise people not to let a mechanic work on your car, or anything else (my experience)

 

Haha...just pull out the manual, turn to the regular maintenance section and POINT.

Jeez...and real hard...just pop out the piston, remove the seals, clean up the bore and seal landing and install new seals and piston. How can anyone think that's hard?

For kicks you should call him back and ask him if he cleans/rebuilds carbs 8O

 

"For kicks you should call him back and ask him if he cleans/rebuilds carbs"

That's too funny.......go ahead, he'd prob say tossing them and getting some old gummy bears would be better!!

Kind of like kicking babies.....it's too easy and really won't make you feel good.

jeff

 

Ouch! I know you're just kidding around, but now I almost feel ashamed for posting

I was thinking more along the lines of him saying it's easy (compared to brake calipers)...just dunk 'em in carb cleaner and they come out all sparkly like new!

 

the line from Monty Python's 'The Holy Grail' comes to mind.... "Run away!, Run away!".

Dave F