32 replies to this topic

[Mrpeanut]

Fly like fine to the naked eye, nothing chewed off it and not obviously distorted. I have a spare fly anyways, the issue is whether I could risk putting a clutch and fly on that crank and limping by for this mini season.

[Cooperman]

The crank has 'had it' (sorry, but no point in mincing words).

The flywheel may be ok, but needs to be thoroughly inspected before re-fitting. It's a low cost item really so take no chances. The crank did 'fret' against the crankshaft after all.

To give you and idea, I recently sold an 'as new' 1275 A+ crank for £175, so that's what you can expect for a std/std crank which requires no grinding, polishing or other work.

Good luck with this. See how much the 'culprits' will help, as they should be funding this repair.

[Mrpeanut]

Cheers Peter, that's the kind of frank opinion I needed. I'll look out for a crank - so bloody annoying! My old lump is perfectly useable so I'll throw that back in with the best fly.

[Cooperman]

Perhaps you do need to 'lean' on those responsible. It is so bad when people take money, cash presumably, for doing a job and then won't honour their work when it goes bad. Personally I would go see them, be very pleasant and ask them what they would like to suggest for you to do. Be pleasant but firm and let it be clear that you do expect some sort of free help from them, if it is only paying for a replacement crankshaft, which is really the least they can do.

Presumably you don't want them to touch you engine or gearbox ever again, but some financial assistance is required.

Maybe that might work here. Pity you are not nearer or I could help you to re-build it yourself. It's not difficult, more a case of confidence plus a bit of mentoring from someone who has built Mini engines before.

[Mrpeanut]

Peter, that's very kind. You're correct that I don't want the idiot near the car again. I've spoken with him and he's in no doubt of his obligations. Problem is he's pot less and all he can offer is his "help". I may use him to pull this lump and refit the old,then refitting this later (albeit with clutch installed). I'll explore what more he can do. Cheers.

[Carlos W]

Peter, that's very kind. You're correct that I don't want the idiot near the car again. I've spoken with him and he's in no doubt of his obligations. Problem is he's pot less and all he can offer is his "help". I may use him to pull this lump and refit the old,then refitting this later (albeit with clutch installed). I'll explore what more he can do. Cheers.

 

Presumably you paid him to do the work on the engine?

 

I'd want that money to reappear! 

[Mrpeanut]

The fella is in my MOC. He built the box. The engine was built by the machine shop. I timed in the cam with a mate who's a mini specialist mechanic, he then fitted it all (properly) and its then that we realised that the box had issues. The box guy then had it back to fix the box issue. The money I paid for labour for the box build is a drop in the ocean - what I want back is the cost of new crank, bearings, labour, etc. What he can't give me is compo for loss of enjoying brands, l2b etc etc. Grrr!

[Cooperman]

The fella is in my MOC. He built the box. The engine was built by the machine shop. I timed in the cam with a mate who's a mini specialist mechanic, he then fitted it all (properly) and its then that we realised that the box had issues. The box guy then had it back to fix the box issue. The money I paid for labour for the box build is a drop in the ocean - what I want back is the cost of new crank, bearings, labour, etc. What he can't give me is compo for loss of enjoying brands, l2b etc etc. Grrr!

Absolutely right! You do seriously deserve com-pen-say-shun at a serious level of cash.

But, as always, be realistic and go for what you believe he can afford and will be willing to pay. After all, you can't get blood out of a stone, but you can get as much as the other party can afford.

It's a judgement call really. Tell him what it will be costing, ask him if he thinks you are being reasonable (always a good thing to throw in) then ask him what he proposes to do about it. If he says "I can't afford anything like that", ask him what he would expect if he had paid you to do a job and you had just cost him that amount through bad workmanship. Basically he has screwed up and he knows it, so put firm and robust pressure on without getting angry. That way you keep the moral high ground (been there, done that - many times in my working life). It is surprising what a good logical approach can achieve.

Good luck with it all.

[Mrpeanut]

Cheers Peter. What irks is the "everything was done perfectly" response despite the guy saying he didn't use loctite or a torque wrench! You couldn't make it up.

Sad thing is the engine was starting to go very well. Based on my 100 miles the Minispares evo1 is a great cam!

[Cooperman]

He can say what he likes, but the flywheel has come loose and destroyed the crankshaft, with all that entails. So he bears responsibility as the person who fitted the flywheel.

Have you got any sort of receipt for the money paid?

[Mrpeanut]

No receipt, it was an informal arrangement with a fella in the club. He won't dispute that he did the job. I'll get him over after l2b and I'll find out what he intends to do. Rest assured, I won't let it go.

[Cooperman]

I am not a lawyer, but I've been around in business for many years before retirement.

If he won't help in any realistic way, say that you'll take him to the small claims court as you have a witness to the contract you made for you to pay him a consideration in return for certain work.

This will worry him because HMRC will find out about it and one might bet he hasn't declared the cash paid to the Tax Man. Just tell him that there is no way you can or will fund the cost of his bad workmanship, but only do this as a last resort. Keep insisting that whilst you can't afford this loss, you want to reach an amicable settlement if at all possible. If you only got back £25 per month it would be better than nothing at all.

Before meeting with him have an accurate list of what it has and will be costing you. I would put £175 for the crank in 'ready to install' condition, plus bearings at £50, gasket set at £30. labour at, say, £500 to remove,strip, re-assemble and re-install. But tell him you will not allow him to touch it again ever.

There is no need to get angry with him, even if he is awkward. Just keep calm and continue to point out that he has caused the issue, not you and that all you want is to be put in the position you should be in had he not caused the damage and subsequent rectification costs. He has no defence at all.

Edited by Cooperman, 16 May 2014 - 11:52 PM.

[Captain Mainwaring]

Hmmmm,,, the irony of cheap jobs, and the irony of thinking you'll get money out of someone who doesn't have it. 

 

Well, if you want a bodge, there is one available which comes from issues faced by early automatics that used to loosen their torque converters.

 

The trick was to paint the crank nose with shellac, and carefully wrap this with a turn or two of tissue paper and recoat with shellac. Allow to dry off a bit the refit the flywheel.

It's horrible, but it can work if dough is short.

[Carlos W]

Here's a similar topic

 

http://www.theminifo...it-for-the-bin/

[Mrpeanut]

Cheers guys, Peter, those figures are helpful.

The law is not an issue (I am a lawyer). The issue is the depth of his pockets and how much I'll need to turn him upside down to get money out of them. Armed with those figures I'll chat to him.

On the captains point, the job wasn't cheap. The box had all new parts and the guy came well recommended. Apparently he builds boxes all day every day.

Thanks all.