EdMat
Well-known member
We always hear about "the bad" service situations. How about one with some outstanding service, from a powersports dealer who does not have any interest in Can-AM products, in a very small town, just because they felt it was the right thing to do? How about a town full of the nicest, most caring people you would ever want to meet?
It all began on the outskirts of Woodworth, LA as I was headed north on Hwy 165. I ran over something U shaped in the road, not paying enough attention, and somehow it fit between the rim and the sprocket cutting the valve stem. Have no idea what it was, it just flew out the back. Got my first indication that there was a problem when my phone started vibrating like crazy and got the alarm signal thru my Cardo. Pulled into a service station parking lot with about 4 PSI in rear tire. Even a Quatrac does not like 4 PSI.
No tire shops in town. "Maybe" a few places that could plug one. I aired it up using my trusty Dynaplug compressor, or at least as full as I could get it, 20 PSI, and felt around for the leak. Couldn’t find it. Figured I needed to get it somewhere so it could be jacked up and then use some soap to locate the leak.
Didn’t know at this time it was the valve stem. Went inside to cool off and get some water. Did I mention it’s hot in South Louisianna this time of year? Got to asking about tire places and the choices were a couple of towns back or onward to Alexandria. A nice lady mentioned the CO-OP and I asked for directions and distance. Several miles, but she said would lead me there, no problem.
I used the coin operated air pump at station to put in 35 PSI. We started to take off but got mired down in traffic and a red light. Time was not on my side. Slow traffic so I only made it a mile out of town before the alarms started going off. Pulled over and dragged out the trusty compressor again. Burning down. Postal carrier pulled over to check on us and let us know CO-OP no longer fixed flats. Nice lady, guardian angel, got on the phone and the guys back at the service station rounded up what was needed to plug a tire, mainly a jack and a spray bottle to find the leak.
Knowing I had to move fast as 20 PSI was all I could get into it, I made a higher speed run back towards the service station. Had to pull in at the fire station and get the compressor back out. The Fire Chief had an air tank on the truck, but the boys had the truck and were out testing fire hydrants. He was concerned about how hot I was but told him I was fine. Made it back to the service station and pulled around back in the shade. Quickly discovered the leak was at the valve stem and not a puncture. This was bad, this was real, real bad!
The fire truck showed up as the Chief wanted the boys to check on me and make sure I was not overheating. Someone mentioned the golf cart place. A quick phone call and the news that if we could get it there, they would look at it. Compressor time again.
It was a case of, "follow me, I’ll trigger the red light and then you follow the pickup down to the golf cart place". Got it there and they had an open stall waiting on me. They sent me to their break room with cold water and instructions to chill for a bit. I must not have been looking too good. Later, after a quick look over and a description of what was needed and how to do it from me, they put their heads together.
This place was a lot more than 'the golf cart place'. They did side by sides, movers, generators, and Stihl lawn and garden equipment. More on that later.
The owner came to me and said if we could locate a place that worked on Can-Am and if I would feel better about it, he would gladly load the bike up on a trailer and haul it to someplace in Alexandria for free. He said he realized I was in a bit of a pickle. If they did the work there, I could supervise from the side lines, but couldn’t do any actual work due to insurance limitations. From the description I gave him, we both thought it could be done in an hour. He put two young but knowledgeable mechanics who were eager to learn something new onto it. Plus, he had to get involved himself. It went well and we would have been done in under an hour, except someone stepped on the brake pedal a couple times when the caliper was off. Needless to say, the pads had to be popped out and the piston turned in with some needle nose pliers. Would have given a $100 for one of Rons piston tools about then. That young man struggled getting the piston screwed back in.
When I went to pay the bill, it was just $113. One hour labor, one valve stem, and tax. I tried to get him to increase it because he had 2 techs plus himself working for over an hour. He said it was a good learning experience for everyone.
The sweet lady from the beginning of this saga, when I told her I thought she was my guardian angel for the day, let me know after a big laff that she was indeed a minister of a small local church. She prayed for me.
The service station sent someone down to collect me and carry me to lunch but we were just finishing up on the tire so I couldn’t.
Small town America is still alive and well.
If you are ever in need of something they handle or just happen to be in the area, check them out.
Patriot Golf Carts and Powersports, Woodworth, LA 318-955-1611 - patriotcarts.com
They have one heck of an inventory and was told they do business all across the Gulf Coast.
But if you ever pass thru, the folks are friendly, but they told me the police sure do like to write traffic tickets, so be careful. Tell 'em you heard about the place from a broken-down old fart who rides an orange Spyder!
It all began on the outskirts of Woodworth, LA as I was headed north on Hwy 165. I ran over something U shaped in the road, not paying enough attention, and somehow it fit between the rim and the sprocket cutting the valve stem. Have no idea what it was, it just flew out the back. Got my first indication that there was a problem when my phone started vibrating like crazy and got the alarm signal thru my Cardo. Pulled into a service station parking lot with about 4 PSI in rear tire. Even a Quatrac does not like 4 PSI.
No tire shops in town. "Maybe" a few places that could plug one. I aired it up using my trusty Dynaplug compressor, or at least as full as I could get it, 20 PSI, and felt around for the leak. Couldn’t find it. Figured I needed to get it somewhere so it could be jacked up and then use some soap to locate the leak.
Didn’t know at this time it was the valve stem. Went inside to cool off and get some water. Did I mention it’s hot in South Louisianna this time of year? Got to asking about tire places and the choices were a couple of towns back or onward to Alexandria. A nice lady mentioned the CO-OP and I asked for directions and distance. Several miles, but she said would lead me there, no problem.
I used the coin operated air pump at station to put in 35 PSI. We started to take off but got mired down in traffic and a red light. Time was not on my side. Slow traffic so I only made it a mile out of town before the alarms started going off. Pulled over and dragged out the trusty compressor again. Burning down. Postal carrier pulled over to check on us and let us know CO-OP no longer fixed flats. Nice lady, guardian angel, got on the phone and the guys back at the service station rounded up what was needed to plug a tire, mainly a jack and a spray bottle to find the leak.
Knowing I had to move fast as 20 PSI was all I could get into it, I made a higher speed run back towards the service station. Had to pull in at the fire station and get the compressor back out. The Fire Chief had an air tank on the truck, but the boys had the truck and were out testing fire hydrants. He was concerned about how hot I was but told him I was fine. Made it back to the service station and pulled around back in the shade. Quickly discovered the leak was at the valve stem and not a puncture. This was bad, this was real, real bad!
The fire truck showed up as the Chief wanted the boys to check on me and make sure I was not overheating. Someone mentioned the golf cart place. A quick phone call and the news that if we could get it there, they would look at it. Compressor time again.
It was a case of, "follow me, I’ll trigger the red light and then you follow the pickup down to the golf cart place". Got it there and they had an open stall waiting on me. They sent me to their break room with cold water and instructions to chill for a bit. I must not have been looking too good. Later, after a quick look over and a description of what was needed and how to do it from me, they put their heads together.
This place was a lot more than 'the golf cart place'. They did side by sides, movers, generators, and Stihl lawn and garden equipment. More on that later.
The owner came to me and said if we could locate a place that worked on Can-Am and if I would feel better about it, he would gladly load the bike up on a trailer and haul it to someplace in Alexandria for free. He said he realized I was in a bit of a pickle. If they did the work there, I could supervise from the side lines, but couldn’t do any actual work due to insurance limitations. From the description I gave him, we both thought it could be done in an hour. He put two young but knowledgeable mechanics who were eager to learn something new onto it. Plus, he had to get involved himself. It went well and we would have been done in under an hour, except someone stepped on the brake pedal a couple times when the caliper was off. Needless to say, the pads had to be popped out and the piston turned in with some needle nose pliers. Would have given a $100 for one of Rons piston tools about then. That young man struggled getting the piston screwed back in.
When I went to pay the bill, it was just $113. One hour labor, one valve stem, and tax. I tried to get him to increase it because he had 2 techs plus himself working for over an hour. He said it was a good learning experience for everyone.
The sweet lady from the beginning of this saga, when I told her I thought she was my guardian angel for the day, let me know after a big laff that she was indeed a minister of a small local church. She prayed for me.
The service station sent someone down to collect me and carry me to lunch but we were just finishing up on the tire so I couldn’t.
Small town America is still alive and well.
If you are ever in need of something they handle or just happen to be in the area, check them out.
Patriot Golf Carts and Powersports, Woodworth, LA 318-955-1611 - patriotcarts.com
They have one heck of an inventory and was told they do business all across the Gulf Coast.
But if you ever pass thru, the folks are friendly, but they told me the police sure do like to write traffic tickets, so be careful. Tell 'em you heard about the place from a broken-down old fart who rides an orange Spyder!
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