Re: To sue or not to sue!
WillyB, nothing personal, but I'd like to address some of your comments....<br /><br />First, everyone should know that you are a marine service tech too. So when you work on an outboard, it's generally not yours...or your own money. I can see how it would be hard for you to relate. <br /><br />
Let's kill this guy's first born as long as we're at it...
I own my own business. If I had an employee that missed something so simple as a kinked fuel line, and then treated a customer with disrespect, I would fire him immediately. Incompetence is one thing, but incompetence with attitude, and without admission or compromise, is another.<br /><br />Employees make mistakes. Fine. But the object is to make it right. Admit mistake. Retain the customer. Compromise. Treat customers like human beings. Keep a good reputation.<br /><br />Kenimpzoom is correct, that without consequence this will just happen again. At this point marine techs have just learned that their shop can make $500 by doing sloppy work, and it's ok to treat outboard owners like scum.<br /><br />
"I TAKE OFFENSE!!! And so I'm sure does every other marine professional that read it.
A marine professional that condones Shop #1's work and work ethic, would fit in perfect at Shop #1. And IMO, that's not saying much.<br /><br />BTW, what exactly did Shop #1 do correctly (for $500)?<br /><br />
This whole thread has become nothing more than a few consumers stroking each other's apparent need for revenge on those that choose to work on the thing they enjoy for a pretty marginal living.
Revenge? Marginal living? Wow. Should we just overlook what went on at Shop #1? Should we ignore this blunder cost the owner $5000?<br /><br />You make it sound like you would rather have this thread be a bunch of service techs stroking each other with admiration for what Shop #1 did.<br /><br />
Okay, mechanic #1 didn't solve your problem for you.
...and as a result, the $engine blew$. Not to mention not solving the problem still cost the owner $500.<br /><br />
The fact is that you bought a lemon and you won't admit it.
Lemon? How do you figure? The fact the engine wasn't running correctly, and the fact it could be repaired by simply fixing the fuel lines, does not automatically make it a lemon.<br /><br />
Most every mechanic I've seen here has posted that the main bearing failure was not caused by what you're so set is the obvious cause.
Armchair mechanics.<br /><br />Shop #2 determined what the cause was. They have the engine in front of them, and they tore it down. Cause...kinked fuel lines. You are unwilling to accept that. "Add more oil"?? Come on!<br /><br />BTW, it doesn't matter what the real cause was. Shop #1
missed it and as a result the outboard blew up.<br /><br />
A piston would stick first! Period!
Ok. So a lean condition causes a piston to seize. But what happened to the rest of the engine during that time...as the piston was seizing. And what effect did the seizure have on the rest of the engine? He did say WOT, didn't he? Did metal particals from the damaged piston/rings/cyliner, or heat, or a bent rod destroy the bearing? <br /><br />BTW, if the crank bearing went bad, how would that cause the piston to seize?<br /><br />And BTW, Shop #1 never mentioned or suggested a problem with the crank bearing. If (on a reach) that was the problem, they were responsible for telling the owner.<br /><br />
Seahorse's points about a very pertinent recall and how the top bearing gets it's lubrication have been totally ignored.
Only ignored by Shop #1. Shop #2, who tore the engine down, did not find a problem with lubrication. Besides, if there was a recall, Shop #1 had a responsibilty to inform the owner, prior to the engine blowing.<br /><br />
He tried to get your motor running better and he was unsuccessful.
The object was to properly diagnose the problem and repair it. And you are correct...he was unsuccessful.<br /><br />
He was unaware that the powerhead had serious internal problems.
Then he was an incompetent mechanic. After all, even the armchair mechanics
here have supposidly diagnosed the "real" cause...right? And they don't even have the outboard in front of them.<br /><br />
But you're looking for somebody to pay for your misfortune and you're picking the easiest target, not the correct one.
Mr. Will simply wants an apology. He has said on more than one occassion that money was not the issue. It's the principle. You must've missed that part.<br /><br />
In Small Claims...It is absolutely NOT the judge's job to ask the questions.
Huh? Have you ever been to small claims? The Judge can ask any question, at any time. In fact, they usually do.<br /><br />Evidence for the case is submitted
prior to the hearing. The Judge is studied on that information
prior to the case.<br /><br />One of the reasons for the hearing is for the Judge to ask questions, so he/she can make a fair and complete decision.<br /><br />
Kenimpzoom... <br />You owe the marine professionals...a profound apology!
Not hardly. <br /><br />Consumers are sick and tired of getting $$screwed over by incompetent marine techs. Will's scenario is all too common. If you're a good marine tech, then you don't need to worry.<br /><br />BTW, what the heck is wrong with Shop #2's diagnosis? Why are some here disregarding this in favor of "add more oil". ??
