Cheated by dealer yet again.

[Dochands]

Took my bike in to have the Elkas installed.

Service manager came to talk to me while I was in the showroom about installing the shields and said it would be another hour labor to do that. Convinced me it required major disassembly of the shock.

Charged me $122 to install them. :yikes:

John at Elka just told me he can install the shields in 5 minutes. It is so expensive to be technically challenged.

Sorry for all of you who must be serviced in Tulsa.

 

[pitbull]

Took my bike in to have the Elkas installed.

Service manager came to talk to me while I was in the showroom about installing the shields and said it would be another hour labor to do that. Convinced me it required major disassembly of the shock.

Charged me $122 to install them. :yikes:

John at Elka just told me he can install the shields in 5 minutes. It is so expensive to be technically challenged.

Sorry for all of you who must be serviced in Tulsa.

THAT IS A JOKE! yes John is 100% correct....not knowing what your doing, it should still take less than 30 minutes to do the whole instal, including the shock guards! You only need a few tools...two 15mm wrenchs, a good jack, and the 2 tools elka sends with the shocks....my advice get a quote from your dealer to any one who is going to use there dealer to instal for them.......Sorry Doc you got treated like that....makes you really question anything they have to say now

 

[fastfraser]

Think we need to start a list of Spyderlovers that could help other Spyderlovers install there Mods. I for one love to wrench and install mods on my Spyders and would be more then willing to help someone . I know we have Spyders to the Rescue.

 

[Y Rider]

Took my bike in to have the Elkas installed.

Service manager came to talk to me while I was in the showroom about installing the shields and said it would be another hour labor to do that. Convinced me it required major disassembly of the shock.

Charged me $122 to install them. :yikes:

John at Elka just told me he can install the shields in 5 minutes. It is so expensive to be technically challenged.

Sorry for all of you who must be serviced in Tulsa.

John at Elka probably has a spring compressor to make quick work of loosening the spring retaining ring. Without it it's a PITA. Took me about an hour to put the covers on and a little less than an hour to do the install. If they only charged you $122 then I don't believe you got taken to the cleaners. One thing for sure. You will definitely like the Elkas. Made a huge improvement in cornering and handling cross winds. :2thumbs:

One more thing. If you or someone else puts on the covers make sure you measure the distance from the end of the threading to the spring retaining ring. John took information from me that determined the proper pre-load setting. You want to make sure to get the retaining ring back to the same location. So far this setting has been perfect. No additional adjustments have been needed. :thumbup:

 

[freebob]

:doorag:

Took my bike in to have the Elkas installed.

Service manager came to talk to me while I was in the showroom about installing the shields and said it would be another hour labor to do that. Convinced me it required major disassembly of the shock.

Charged me $122 to install them. :yikes:

John at Elka just told me he can install the shields in 5 minutes. It is so expensive to be technically challenged.

Sorry for all of you who must be serviced in Tulsa.

Not meaning to offend thee, I know some posters here are easily offended, Just using play on words But that is so wrong of Dealer.
"Worst than stealing candy from a child"...


Freebob...:doorag:

 

[docdoru]

I send my Elka's to Impact Solutions in Parkersburg, WV for full servicing: rebuild, oil change, refurbishing and install the covers.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=283141&posted=1#post283141

 

[Papa]

Took my bike in to have the Elkas installed.

Service manager came to talk to me while I was in the showroom about installing the shields and said it would be another hour labor to do that. Convinced me it required major disassembly of the shock.

Charged me $122 to install them. :yikes:

John at Elka just told me he can install the shields in 5 minutes. It is so expensive to be technically challenged.

Sorry for all of you who must be serviced in Tulsa.

Doc,

My bill last week was $120.85 and I got the same reason as you. my question remains whether all they did changed the settings John had set at the factory.

 

[Dragonrider]

Shields?? What are they?? Pics?

The install for my Works shocks was a snap - I had shock covers on my stockers, and those are on my new Works shocks.... You don't need a spring compressor to make any adjustments on my shocks????

 

[Lamonster]

John at Elka probably has a spring compressor to make quick work of loosening the spring retaining ring. Without it it's a PITA. Took me about an hour to put the covers on and a little less than an hour to do the install. If they only charged you $122 then I don't believe you got taken to the cleaners. One thing for sure. You will definitely like the Elkas. Made a huge improvement in cornering and handling cross winds. :2thumbs:

One more thing. If you or someone else puts on the covers make sure you measure the distance from the end of the threading to the spring retaining ring. John took information from me that determined the proper pre-load setting. You want to make sure to get the retaining ring back to the same location. So far this setting has been perfect. No additional adjustments have been needed. :thumbup:

Sounds like the shock was being installed so they were off to start with so it would be just a matter of swapping the rings. :dontknow:

 

[Bob Denman]

Think we need to start a list of Spyderlovers that could help other Spyderlovers install there Mods. I for one love to wrench and install mods on my Spyders and would be more then willing to help someone . QUOTE]
Are you willing to relocate??? Putting the top trunk liner in last night was about my mechanical limit... :shocked:
Actually it wouldn't be a bad idea to put folks in need of mehcnanical help in touch with generous people who have wrenches... and know how to use them! :thumbup:

 

[Trooper]

John at Elka probably has a spring compressor to make quick work of loosening the spring retaining ring. Without it it's a PITA. Took me about an hour to put the covers on and a little less than an hour to do the install.

No spring compressor is needed. I have installed the shock guards on a customers Spyder in the parking lot of the shop and it took me 10 minutes to assemble the shock guards, and install them on the customers vehicle with the shocks still on the Spyder.

I stuck a jack under the front of the vehicle to extend the shocks...not even necessary to get the entire front end off the ground. I removed the preload from the spring using the tools provided, lifted the loose spring, removed the spring clip, replaced it with the new one with the shock guard, re-preloaded the spring to the same spot ( marked the body with a sharpie as a guide to where the preload coller needs to be), dropped the vehicle and voila.....done deal.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION for the dealer to be charging more than 30 minutes work for this....and it will take 30 minutes if the dealer is taking his time. Len and I installed shocks on an RT in his garage in 15 minutes flat...adding shock guards may have addeed an extra 5 tops!!!

 

[arntufun]

My dealer has a minimum labor rate that is one hour. So if you bring it in to have them wipe off your seat because it's dirty, it's a one hour labor charge. Even that being said, the labor rate at my dealer is $68.00 an hour. Whats your dealers labor rate ???

 

[freebob]

John at Elka probably has a spring compressor to make quick work of loosening the spring retaining ring. Without it it's a PITA. Took me about an hour to put the covers on and a little less than an hour to do the install. If they only charged you $122 then I don't believe you got taken to the cleaners. One thing for sure. You will definitely like the Elkas. Made a huge improvement in cornering and handling cross winds. :2thumbs:

One more thing. If you or someone else puts on the covers make sure you measure the distance from the end of the threading to the spring retaining ring. John took information from me that determined the proper pre-load setting. You want to make sure to get the retaining ring back to the same location. So far this setting has been perfect. No additional adjustments have been needed. :thumbup:

Good point, I was thinking that was charge for covers install only and not shocks also...Either way I guess that is in the Ballpark...Considering what Elka's cost that is a small percentage of overall cost...


Freebob...:doorag:

 

[Mr. White]

Think we need to start a list of Spyderlovers that could help other Spyderlovers install there Mods. I for one love to wrench and install mods on my Spyders and would be more then willing to help someone . I know we have Spyders to the Rescue.

I have heard "Spyders to the Rescue" mentioned before. What is it and where do I sign up. I am a wrench nerd, but will help anyone I can if they are in trouble. I also may need assistance.

:spyder2:

 

[Dochands]

They quoted me half an hour to start which was a pleasant surprise.

Then the service manager cornered me in the showroom. Fortunately the GM was standing right there chatting with me so he witnessed it. I called him and am waiting to hear.

Of course, my dealership had a hostage kidnapping and murder in front of it yesterday. You might have seen that if it made anything but local news. Maybe they charge extra for that.

Have a complaint ready to send to BRP depending on their response but even so my trust is just about gone. We all try hard to believe and my belief is just about gone.

 

[Bob Denman]

Dinner AND a floor show... I'm sorry... :shemademe_smilie::sour:
Good luck, and don't give up the battle! :thumbup:nojoke

 

[Spyder Cat]

My dealer has a minimum labor rate that is one hour. So if you bring it in to have them wipe off your seat because it's dirty, it's a one hour labor charge. Even that being said, the labor rate at my dealer is $68.00 an hour. Whats your dealers labor rate ???

That's not a bad rate for hourly labor at a dealership. Our dealer charges the same as the other dealers we've talked with, $90/hr. But we don't fear our dealer.
Being customer oriented, he's built a :firstplace: reputation. Otherwise, we'd 'vote' with our credit card and take our business somewhere else, even if we had to drive 200 miles to one of the other dealers.

Dochands, have you thought about taking a copy of Len and Trooper's emails in to your dealer to see what type of response you get? Might be worth a try.:dontknow:

 

[sealfloorboards]

Some of us have pretty good mechanical skills but are physically challenged and could really use a hand. A support group willing to do wrench or wiring is a great idea.

John
Seal FloorBoards

 

[Trooper]

If I can stick myself in a box and deliver myself to your doors with the shocks to do the install, I would.

Stories like this really piss me off. :cus:

 

[Y Rider]

No spring compressor is needed. I have installed the shock guards on a customers Spyder in the parking lot of the shop and it took me 10 minutes to assemble the shock guards, and install them on the customers vehicle with the shocks still on the Spyder.

I stuck a jack under the front of the vehicle to extend the shocks...not even necessary to get the entire front end off the ground. I removed the preload from the spring using the tools provided, lifted the loose spring, removed the spring clip, replaced it with the new one with the shock guard, re-preloaded the spring to the same spot ( marked the body with a sharpie as a guide to where the preload coller needs to be), dropped the vehicle and voila.....done deal.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO JUSTIFICATION for the dealer to be charging more than 30 minutes work for this....and it will take 30 minutes if the dealer is taking his time. Len and I installed shocks on an RT in his garage in 15 minutes flat...adding shock guards may have addeed an extra 5 tops!!!

John, for someone that has done the cover and shock install before I can believe it can be done in half an hour or less. But for someone that hasn't done it then a hour or so isn't unreasonable. I'm a measure twice and cut once guy so it took me a little longer than normal.

Now that I have done the install I could do it all in less than a hour. My mistake was trying to put the covers on before installing the shocks. I had to rig up a vice to hold the shock so I could uncompress the spring. Your method of installing the covers after the shock is installed is obviously much better. :thumbup: