Help with Fuel and starting issue

[lragan]

The Honda dealer in New Braunfels charges $75/hr.  Part of why I do all my own maintenance.  Only thing he does for me is mandatory annual state inspection, for which the State of Texas sets the fee -- at $12.

I like the shop manager, too.  When I first bought the blue bike, I concluded, erroneously, that it needed a new rear sprocket and brake pads.  I called them, and they ordered both.  I rode the bike down to New Braunfels.  When the man put the sprocket on the counter, I knew the drawing in the owner's manual was not really well done as far as judging the need for a new sprocket -- it looked just like the one I had on the bike.  He saw my face, went out and looked at my sprocket, and said "you don't really need this yet -- how about we just return it to stock?"  Right away he gained credibility.  I was then inside admiring the various accessories and gear when I was called back to the shop.  He had the front wheel off, and showed me the new brake pads were only slightly thicker than the old ones, and suggested I didn't need them either.  So he only charged me for an inspection.

I found MOOT shortly afterward, and have learned from the guys hereon how to do just about everything.  Bought both the shop manuals, and enjoy doing my own work.

At one time, I did all my own auto maintenance -- until they turned all electronic so it requires a specialized computer or two to understand what is going on.  In the process, though, the reliability has gone way up -- I have over 100K on both our primary vehicles, and there has been almost no maintenance necessary.  The vehicles I grew up with needed major overhauls at about that mileage, if not sooner.  

So it is rather fun working on the bike.  Might not be if it were my primary transportation, but it is a hobby vehicle, pure and simple.  I enjoy tinkering with it almost as much as I like riding it!

[TLRam1]

Sounds like you found a Good guy there Lawrence, any chance someone needs help I'm sure you send them his way. Hard to find people like this in any industry.

[lragan]

Sounds like you found a Good guy there Lawrence, any chance someone needs help I'm sure you send them his way. Hard to find people like this in any industry.

But of course!  Integrity builds long term relationships and long term success in any business.  I got so frustrated when a local auto repair facility here in Austin was sold and the new owners milked the reputation the firm had built over decades for short term profit.  Cost me a huge repair bill, which I protested and got reduced some, but I will never go back!!

[Charles S Otwell]

If necessity is the mother of invention, then poor must be the mother of necessity .. Due to being finacially challenged, it has been necessary to learn to do my own repairs, I wasn't born a cheapskate, but it was that or do without, so I learned fast, to be a cheapskate that is ..

[a65bug]

My first bike, a 3 wheeler I got when I was 10, broke down and dad took it to the shop.  $200 later and my dad swore we'd never take it back.  Bought a shop manual and have never taken a bike in to a mechanic since (hardly take the cars in either, unless they're under warranty that is).  It's amazing what you can learn when you have to...