Bike Servicing, why so long

[David Marshall]

Major, minor and "standard" servicing died with cup and cone bearings.  Do you charge the same to "service" a sealed bearing BB or wheel that is smooth as you would a cup and cone one that is also smooth but most of the grease has migrated out of the housing?  If the left shifter cable is sticky do you replace the right as well? I only do what is needed.  Time wise the problem is the wide range of parts needed, especially on todays MTB's.  I can turn around a Fox or Rock Shox shock, air sleeve and full damper service, in an hour. Another brand could take over two weeks - to find the current agent, get the kit, to supplement the seals that are for the previous/next model and download the specs. To illustrate I have ordered a single pawl for a hub.  Cost R47-50.  I don't need anything else from that agent at the moment.  Delivery R150-00.  Customer "Whaaat?" - so I'll wait till next weeks order.  Special spokes - we won't go there except to say if you buy wheels with spokes that are not standard J bend or straight pull you are going to wait.  I can't even help with my very expensive Kowa cutting/threading machine!

Usually I have a weeks work in by Tuesday, mostly all out by Friday.  So if you arrive later in the week (without a booking) you will be lucky to get your bike back by Friday. Just the way it goes.

[rouxtjie]

Major, minor and "standard" servicing died with cup and cone bearings.  Do you charge the same to "service" a sealed bearing BB or wheel that is smooth as you would a cup and cone one that is also smooth but most of the grease has migrated out of the housing?  If the left shifter cable is sticky do you replace the right as well? I only do what is needed.  Time wise the problem is the wide range of parts needed, especially on todays MTB's.  I can turn around a Fox or Rock Shox shock, air sleeve and full damper service, in an hour. Another brand could take over two weeks - to find the current agent, get the kit, to supplement the seals that are for the previous/next model and download the specs. To illustrate I have ordered a single pawl for a hub.  Cost R47-50.  I don't need anything else from that agent at the moment.  Delivery R150-00.  Customer "Whaaat?" - so I'll wait till next weeks order.  Special spokes - we won't go there except to say if you buy wheels with spokes that are not standard J bend or straight pull you are going to wait.  I can't even help with my very expensive Kowa cutting/threading machine!

Usually I have a weeks work in by Tuesday, mostly all out by Friday.  So if you arrive later in the week (without a booking) you will be lucky to get your bike back by Friday. Just the way it goes.

Good post....I cringe when I read major / minor service on a thread. People want to put a bike in a car box....

 

Bikes are almost always a mixed bag of "stuff" Frame from X, suspension from Y, Groupset from A or B or C or a combination....nevermind all the standards and sizes for bearings / BB's / hubs / spokes.

 

Its almost like taking a VW x Toyota x Mitsubishi x Subaru x Isuzu x Ferrari x Porche to a mechanic and expecting a turnaround time of a day.

 

For this very reason I try and choose components that are very "serviceable" eventhough they might not be at the cutting edge of tech or weight. By servicable I mean:

 

Replacement / servicing parts are easily accessible, don't cost and arm and a leg and can be done without needing special tools or procedures.

[droo]

Like Skinnyone said - book it in and you'll be fine. If there are complications, spares etc it'll take a day or two to get the right stuff in.

 

We do a two day turnaround as standard with a booking. If you just walk in you go to the back of the queue, but you'll be informed that it'll take a while - no surprises.

 

If there's a major event on and you bring the bike in two days before, don't expect miracles. 

 

(Unless you're prepared to pay for them, then I'll gladly put in overtime...)

[V12man]

we do a front wheel drive clutch overall in four hours, trust me its 20x the work, and we pump out between 10-30 a day,

but we do have a saying when people push for things quicker than we can deliver

 

do you want it right or do you want a rush job?

 

but that lbs must be realllllly badly organised

Fixed it for you.....

[Vangar]

Major, minor and "standard" servicing died with cup and cone bearings.  Do you charge the same to "service" a sealed bearing BB or wheel that is smooth as you would a cup and cone one that is also smooth but most of the grease has migrated out of the housing?  If the left shifter cable is sticky do you replace the right as well? I only do what is needed.  Time wise the problem is the wide range of parts needed, especially on todays MTB's.  I can turn around a Fox or Rock Shox shock, air sleeve and full damper service, in an hour. Another brand could take over two weeks - to find the current agent, get the kit, to supplement the seals that are for the previous/next model and download the specs. To illustrate I have ordered a single pawl for a hub.  Cost R47-50.  I don't need anything else from that agent at the moment.  Delivery R150-00.  Customer "Whaaat?" - so I'll wait till next weeks order.  Special spokes - we won't go there except to say if you buy wheels with spokes that are not standard J bend or straight pull you are going to wait.  I can't even help with my very expensive Kowa cutting/threading machine!

Usually I have a weeks work in by Tuesday, mostly all out by Friday.  So if you arrive later in the week (without a booking) you will be lucky to get your bike back by Friday. Just the way it goes.

 

Thanks for the explanation, puts it into perspective.

[Hackster]

Thanks for the insight about parts availability, that was something I hadn't considered.

 

But then again, if I ride a stock bike with common parts, that reasoning shouldn't fly.

 

I reckon there has to be a big gap for a pure workshop down here in slaapies, one that's really jacked.

 

I do my own basic maintenance, and when I do take the bike in, I always make a booking.

 

But I'm still dissapointed with the service (in some way) three times out of five. And that's from a good LBS.

 

There's got to be a better way.

[jcza]

Many bike shops in Jozi staffed and owned by patronising arrogant tossers looking down on their customers.

[Bobbo_SA]

we do a front wheel drive clutch overall in four hours, trust me its 20x the work, and we pump out between 10-30 a day,

but we do have a saying when people push for things quicker than we can deliver

 

do you want it right or do you want a rush job?

 

but that lbs must be realllllly busy

 

Do you do French?

[arendoog]

Many bike shops in Jozi staffed and owned by patronising arrogant tossers looking down on their customers.

We are lucky in PTA . I can recommend several  

[Wyatt Earp]

Many bike shops in Jozi staffed and owned by patronising arrogant tossers looking down on their customers.

Care to mention any names or is it just people you don't like ?

[eddy]

Many bike shops in Jozi staffed and owned by patronising arrogant tossers looking down on their customers.

A few bike shops in Jozi staffed and owned by guys their customers look up to.......

[Slowone]

Booked it a day before.

 

I fully understand if they are busy, but it just seems like all shops are the same. I am yet to come across a shop that can have you bike back to you within 2 days.

 

My LBS get my bike back to me in 2 days ... if i dont book before hand.

Closer to Argus Cape Town Cycle Tour  .... takes about a week to get a booking ... or you just leave it there for the week.

 

I also use a personal mechanic..... he works after hours and weekends.... I dont book ... takes about 3 - 5 days ... i book... Get it back the next day. (unless something is broken and he must get a part )

[Slowone]

Many bike shops in Jozi staffed and owned by patronising arrogant tossers looking down on their customers.

 

My LBS (Cape Town) is staffed by the owners..... Just the mechanic and the guys that wash the bikes is not family....

[Pure Savage]

I drop my bike off at Crown cycles in the morning, with no warning. (I dont know when I am going to break stuff or try fix something myself the night before.) I have always collected it the same day.

 

Normally they do the following, replace/regrease BB, re do headset bearings, new cables, putting the chain the correct way round after I put it on backwards, a wash, straighten my rear wheel and setting the gears again.

 

Also when I get it back from them the gears work and there are no noises. Unlike certain laboratories of cycling who could not get the FD to even change up. (It was working before they adjusted it)  

 

Also they are really nice guys and ask about Team Pure Savage

[Brian Fantana]

 stock bike with common parts

 

 

That is the problem, many local importers import complete bikes, but the aforementioned importer/agent is not the agent for the parts that the bike come with.  There are other importers who are the agents for the different brands of components on the bike.  These importers select which parts they will keep in stock locally and if the parts on your "stock bike" does not form part of that list, you are in for a 6 week lead time.

 

Many local importers are not big businesses, so they are not able to keep each and every part in a big manufacturers line-up in stock.  

 

This is why I personally prefer to build up my bikes myself with parts that I know I will get spares for locally should the need arise.

[Brickleberry]

Dropped bike at eagle canyon cycles for service and new bar tape. Told to collect tomorrow. Great turn around considering 94.7 is so close. Really like the new owners.