A Dark Day for My A7 Barn-Find Build

[RichardL]

Gents,

I have had my crankcase, crankshaft, rods, bearings and timing-side bush at the machine shop 25 minutes from my home since late-October. About 4 weeks ago I called the guy to get a status and he said "end of next week." Uhh didn't happen. Called again last week. No answer. Called again today. No answer. I got really worried and drove over there. He was there, so I asked him what was going on. First thing he said was, "I'll get your parts and you can take them with you if you think you can find someone to do it faster."  This is not the direction I wanted this to go, but I've been worried that he would go out of business, or he or I would die before he got around to it.

The whole thing is sad and unfortunate. He fit and reamed my A10 timing-side bush several years ago and it has been great ever since.  It really is a good shop, but overworked, undermanned, non-communicative and, from looking at it, very disorganized. His main work, I think, is diesel truck engines. I guess my little antique motorcycle project was just a nuisance, or maybe it was me.

Now, instead of in the neighborhood, I will probably need to go a long way (60 miles) to the next likely shop (Coater will recognize "Morrie's Place") who will farm it out to their trusted crank grinder.

Console me, please. 

Richard L.

[KiwiGF]

Gents,

I have had my crankcase, crankshaft, rods, bearings and timing-side bush at the machine shop 25 minutes from my home since late-October. About 4 weeks ago I called the guy to get a status and he said "end of next week." Uhh didn't happen. Called again last week. No answer. Called again today. No answer. I got really worried and drove over there. He was there, so I asked him what was going on. First think he did was to say "I'll get your parts and you can take them with you if you think you can find someone to do it faster."  This is not the direction I wanted this to go, but I've been worried that he would go out of business, or he or I would die before he got around to it.

The whole thing is sad and unfortunate. He fit and reamed my A10 timing-sdie bush several years ago and it has been great ever since.  It really is a good shop, but overworked, undermanned, non-communicative and, from looking at it, very disorganized. His main work, I think, is diesel truck engines. I guess my little antique motorcycle project was just a nuisance, or maybe it was me.

Now, instead of in the neighborhood, I will probably need to go a long way (60 miles) to the next likely shop (Coater will recognize "Morrie's Place") who will farm it out to their trusted crank grinder.

Console me, please. 

Richard L.

You did the right thing, Oct to now is long enough, and it might NEVER get to top of the list if they don’t attach any significance to how old the job is........

[a10 gf]

Patience & determination! And be happy all the parts were saved from the clutches of an untrustworthy person.
You'll find a better shop, worthy of your money and confiance

[Black Sheep]

You did better than me. I left parts with a trusted friend and eventually discovered he had sold them...

[RichardL]

You did the right thing, Oct to now is long enough, and it might NEVER get to top of the list if they don’t attach any significance to how old the job is........

That's what I thought. I mean, show me the list where I'm actually in the queue. Good luck, me. 

Richard L.

[RichardL]

You did better than me. I left parts with a trusted friend and eventually discovered he had sold them...

About 30 years ago, I left the cylinder head for a BMW Bavaria with one shop (In Los Angeles) for a valve job. The owner tragically died in a car wreck while the head was in the shop and everything goT tied up in the estate and ultimately lost to history. I had to scrap out what was left of the car.

Richard L.

[Seabee]

Well Richard, at least you have options within an hour. Down here in deep southern Illinois, we have to have our sunlight brought in by train! I'm lucky though, in that I have a good friend who has a machine shop for crank work. Unfortunately, he's not set up to ream the main bush in the spare SR engine I'm building. I'll probably have to find someone in St Louis (100 miles)..................

[Butch (cb)]

Hey - you've still got all your bits, when I started reading you first post I had a real sinking feeling.

[Greybeard]

Hey - you've still got all your bits, when I started reading you first post I had a real sinking feeling.

Ditto

[Topdad]

Hi Richard, no not you in an way ,quiet long enough to wait , unfortuneatly  the world is populated with a more than healty amount of arseholes , very glad you got your parts  back !

[jachenbach]

I'm surprised there are not numerous possibilities in a major metro area like Chicago. Then again, it may be easy to find a machine shop, not so easy to find one you can trust.

[Colsbeeza]

Good that you got the bits back GB. I recently lost a very rare crankpin & conrod for my Lilac MF39. The guy closed up shop and as yet I haven't been able to find him. Presumably the bits went into the bin.
Colin

[RDfella]

It's always frustrating when things drag on and you can't get replies - am having the same issue with a German gun dealer. And it's worrying when the parts are virtually irreplaceable. That said, if this guy's workshop is that busy, his work must be good.

[RichardL]

Gents,

Apologies for the slow reply. Thanks all, for the supporting comments that helped me stop agonizing over not having the services of this shop. Of course, it they're not doing the work, I don't have the services, now do I.  I can now focus on getting the tasks done one-by-one. It's been 12 years since completing my A10 build, and this current build is reminding me of how many tasks are challenges and to stay patient. I am far from the likes of some of you who can go from basket-case-to-beauty in a year or less, not to mention, though 71, I have a job.

RD, yes, this shop does very good work, at least what he'd done for me. Considering all the diesel engine heads I've seen laying around there, his main income must come from truck fleet service shops. When choosing who to please, choosing them came first. Can't say I blame him, except for leading me on that my work would actually get done.

Anyway, that's it. Moving on. I've dragged this story on too long. I just wanted to say thanks for your comments and telling your own stories.

Richard L.