bike in garage, who should pay?

[craigH]

So dropped the bike in for an mot, failed on fork seals so garage took on the job. Get a phone call to say that when they reassembled the forks the left hand lower fork split when the pinch bolt was done up. The guy on the phone suggested I should look on ebay for a replacement and he wouldn't charge for the extra Labour but I'm of the opinion that as they broke it the garage should pay for the replacement fork and it's fitting. Anyone had this happen or know where I stand if I demand that they fix what they broke, or are they right to ask me to get a new fork?

[KDub]

Get them to pay for the replacement part, and then take the whole lot to another garage that isn't staffed by monkeys. If they don't want to play then call up Trading Standards.

[Ingah]

And it's for this reason that any work that gets done by someone i don't implicitly trust, gets done under my watchful eye. Not that this is going to help you much, although i would always suggest for the future that you to go to a garage that's happy to let you watch. Assuming you're not doing it yourself.

It's a tough one in my head as it may be that it was on its way out and they've actually done you a favour by breaking it before you started to ride, but then again it's more likely that monkey overtightened the nut and caused the problem themselves.

Legally though, i think they are well and truly on the hook, as the very fact it broke implies reasonable care was not taken, and they'd be hard pressed to disprove that in a civil court. Hence i echo the trading standards / advice route.
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[jjdugen]

You will need to see the actual damage.
You cant 'break' a fork leg by tightenig pinchbolts, the pinch bolt would snap first.
If they have broken the spindle area, then they have not put spacers / assembled the front wheel properly. In this case they are wholely responsible, if the fork tube has collapsed, then they have probably saved you neck.
Is it, by any chance, a cheaper Chinese machine........?
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[Redoko]

[sidewinder]

Have you had a look at the the fork leg? does it look like a clean break eg shiny metal white marks around the edges like the metals been overtightend .or does it look dull or corroded like a older fracture

When you decide that i would then decide on what to do.As said above it could have been there a while maybe done by your self or a previous owner.have seen it before but more likely the bolt would of sheered or strip the thread before the metal it self gave way.just my though
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[craigH]

Thanks for the replies, it's a gsx 600f 1995. Think I'll go down tomorrow and take a look and ask them to replace it. Might phone trading standards first and keep that in my back pocket in case they disagree

[G]

Maybe also worth asking what torque it's supposed to be done up to and the last last time they had their torque wrench calibrated.

Certainly shouldn't need to use a torque wrench for that sort of thing; but I bet it was done up way too tight who doesn't really know what they're doing.

You don't need that high a torque for a pinch bolt - it's not taking stress it's self in that plain.

[Walloper]

It need a Failure Analysis on the fracture.
If you know what you are looking at/for you will be able to determine if wear and tear fatigue.
Or poor workmanship.

A tricky one.

You could try to argue.
They may fold.
They may dig their heels in.
Is it worth it to you to fight them?

Tricky.
Motorcycles are devious cunts.
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[DrDonnyBrago]

If there is a chance that the fork was damaged/weakened beforehand it might be worth taking them up on their offer to put it right without charging you labour.

How much is a replacement fork bottom?


If they have done up the otherside already - have a look at the other fork leg, see how much gap there is at the bottom between the two fork bits halves - i.e. the gap that gets pulled together by the pinch bolts.

If there is a tiny gap/the halves are touching it would rather suggest they overdid it.

[Skudd]

Was the damage the cause for the seals to leak?
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[craigH]

cheers, I'll take a look tomorrow and see where to go from. There was no leaking from the fork seals that I noticed before the MOT, just got failed on the fork seals. they offered to do the seals and replace the oil so i said to do it over the phone for the ease of getting it done quickly!

[Vincent]

They've overtightened it...........did it myself a while back although it's the one and only time, honest. They should pay for it - without a doubt, and most places would do just that but, sadly, some would try and worm out of it. It wouldn't cost them much to put right with a good condition used replacement leg, a new one would be pricey which might be why they've declined liability.
If they do split while the bikes in motion, which I doubt, it wouldn't be catastrophic, ie; the wheel wouldn't fall off so don't let them say - "it's a good job we found it!". Try and get a good photo, you need one of the inside of the break.
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[map]

As above post. In your back pocket it might be worth having a complaint to VOSA. Sounds like this company may hike up the work for MOT. It sounds a little suspect.

If you Google MOT Complaint and in to the direct gov site the complaint info is there.
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