wow...just WOW
I dont' mean to be away from the forum as much as I've been, but with my 17jr old high school junior Mary Beth taking college credit plus a tough honor physics class, plus playing varsity softball with games every other day, I've been busy. My 19.5 yr old Emily, just graduating votech college, is looking for a job, or at least a volunteer opportunity to get her feet wet and keep her govment benefits.
Pls know I appreciate all the comments and keep 'em coming...but as I see it, what to expect per my experience with Aaron...
now a brief update and
he's a one man show...it's spring with all the idiots who didn't prep their bike over winter...so really big jobs like mine get a couple hours a day attention after required parts come in. The engine swap in 2009 included replacement wheel and stem bearings, tires, shock, fork springs and took 6 weeks start to finish with Thanksgiving week in the middle. The valve replacement in 2011 was 4 weeks, but there a lot more work and parts to rebuild a head plus removing and replacing the engine back in the frame. Both required him to work at least a day or two after hours like 6-10pm to finish it up. He doesn't get paid by the hour.
So, since I didn't get to check on the engine delivery Friday, I called him today on his cell phone (for only the 2nd time ever). I only asked him if he received the engine and he said he had around 4pm (Central) on Friday. It's in his shop on a pallet. It looks really good and his first impression was quite favorable. I don't like calling him after hours even though he treats me as his friend.
Rountinely I call him once a week usually on Fridays. He has only called me if he found something really unusual or the job is finished and I can come pick up the bike. His habit and he knows I'm good with it, is to treat the job like the bike was his or his brother's, and he mostly uses his own judgement without checking with an owner. I have no problem with that.
so what I'm saying is there won't be a day by day informative post, but I promise to inform what I know when I know it.
I will check with him Tuesday that the Ron Ayers parts came in if his order of the rear wheel bearings is in. I'll ask him at some point for an estimate of when it will be ready for pickup. I've never gotten any answer on estimated cost for a big job. But it's always been less than expected. My experience with Aaron is "no news is good news" until the call that's it's ready for pickup.
I've never gone to his shop to check on anything. I have passed by just to say hello as the roads from New Orleans to Tylertown are a fun ride, but only on a bike. I guess if RFH Andrew and Joey da Pants really want to go, I'm ok with it, but I'd just be for fun.
It'll be interesting, because he has lotsa on hands experience with my bike. When I brought the bike in in 2011 at 9am, he had checked compression and power by 10am and without my knowledge, pulled the engine and head off in time to call me at 4pm. Then the discussion started whether to fix it or get a engine. Then there were over $300 in new parts, plus an ebay used header for $100 sent to him direct. I picked it up 4 weeks later.
So I'm staying busy, I'm extremely buoyanted by your great generousity and my good fortune, and I await whenever it is to pick up Isabella from the hospital alive, cured, and vital again. I will take up RFH Andrew on his offer to get me there and get us home at his convenience. And Joey da HPPants is invited too.
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ANDREW & JOEY:
if somebody wants the engine, we need to talk about that and make a plan. I'll let Aaron know our intentions and figure out the logistics (like getting it into a truck and tieing it down.)
If not, I'll have Aaron pull usable parts like the side cases & starter which I can store ready to send them to a needy member. I still have the starter and side cases from the stock engine swapped in 2009. WFooshee was interested until he rebuilt his own starter.
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I'm so frickin long winded