Used Parts Ethics

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by Yorkie

Question - If I placed a wanted ad for parts - say cylinder heads - and a guy sells me some that turn out to be junk with deep cracks, should he be obliged to take them back or is it on me for being a sucker? Just curious as to what the etiquette is?

If you're looking for someone who might be able to save the heads, check out Kelly's Block Welding up in the Culver City area.

[Yorkie]

Thanks for all the replies. I contacted the seller and as expected he was not up for making a refund so you live and learn. Expensive lesson.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by Yorkie

Thanks for all the replies. I contacted the seller and as expected he was not up for making a refund so you live and learn. Expensive lesson.

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

If you're looking for someone who might be able to save the heads, check out Kelly's Block Welding up in the Culver City area.

I bought a set of 8'' Fuchs once. They were sevens. I sold them on to a guy with a 914 project, and I lost money. He really wanted them though, so I have that going for me.

Don't let this deter you from your project.

[john70t]

If there was an obvious crack he should have said something.
You might have inquired and been more proactive with determining the known condition in writing beforehand.

That sux. Your project is going to be set back a bit. Keep on man.

[wdfifteen]

A long time ago I bought a set of hubcaps for my 356 from a well-know 356 collector. The seller sent me something that fit a 67 or later Volkswagen (totally different mounting system). His response to my complaint was, "I can't help it if they didn't fit your car. You bought them, they're yours." A few years earlier I was at a swap meet and a guy who I was friends with saw a 1953 356 bumper I had for sale. He told me about how much he needed such a bumper for his project, so I made him a hell of a deal. Later that day he had it for sale at his table for twice what I sold it to him for. As a result I have been VERY cautious about dealing with Porsche people.

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

As a result I have been VERY cautious about dealing with Porsche people.

For me it's people general... some have ethics, sadly enough, a lot of folks don't.

Wishing humankind would live up to their potential.........

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

OK, how about this.
It took the machine shop to identify the cracks...you didn't see them (I guess) so you can only assume the seller didn't see them.

Agree 100%.

If you don't see it when you receive it, how can you expect the seller to see it?

If you had noticed the day it got in, and dealt with it in less than a week, then I could understand.

Months...that is just being a pain to the seller, and it also wasn't something you noticed.

Now what I might do as a seller may not line up with what is above; but these are my expectations as a buyer.

As a buyer, with what you have outlined I would not even contact the seller for a refund.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by MMiller

For me it's people general... some have ethics, sadly enough, a lot of folks don't.

Wishing humankind would live up to their potential.........

Pretty much what I have discovered...unfortunately.
I tend to not trust anyone until they demonstrate trustworthiness.
The opposite of the way I used to be when younger.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

A long time ago I bought a set of hubcaps for my 356 from a well-know 356 collector. The seller sent me something that fit a 67 or later Volkswagen (totally different mounting system). His response to my complaint was, "I can't help it if they didn't fit your car. You bought them, they're yours." A few years earlier I was at a swap meet and a guy who I was friends with saw a 1953 356 bumper I had for sale. He told me about how much he needed such a bumper for his project, so I made him a hell of a deal. Later that day he had it for sale at his table for twice what I sold it to him for. As a result I have been VERY cautious about dealing with Porsche people.

I gave some tools to a younger guy starting out and he was selling them at a garage sale. People suck

AFA the heads go, almost any crack can be welded. There aren't a lot of pristine TypeIV engine heads left, especially 2.0's, so welding up is common.

Why can't the one's Yorkie has be fixed?

[Yorkie]

Why can't the one's Yorkie has be fixed?[/QUOTE]

I sent the head to a guy who is regarded as The Man when it comes to Norton heads and although he has tried over the years to find someone to weld up the cracks, apparently the heat necessary to facilitate the welding process is so great that it basically messes up the metallurgy of the head and they warp badly. Early 850 Commandos had heads that suffered cracks induced at the factory (this was at the tail end of the British bike industry) but we quickly changed to a better design. Sadly I have the crappy early one. I can buy a new one for $3500...

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by Yorkie

Thanks for all the replies. I contacted the seller and as expected he was not up for making a refund so you live and learn. Expensive lesson.

1) I'm always wary of overly well priced parts. Unless it's a known, reputable seller I usually stick to Ebay simply because I can get my money back if it's junk.

2) Let everyone know what a sleazebag you got.

[Don Ro]

^^^
Sure...post the seller's info here. I buy moto parts on eBay.

[Scott Douglas]

I think it would be worth your time to check out Kelly's.
They've been around for a long time and know their stuff.
There also used to be a Triumph dealer down the street from them (this was back in the early '70's).

[Yorkie]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I think it would be worth your time to check out Kelly's.
They've been around for a long time and know their stuff.
There also used to be a Triumph dealer down the street from them (this was back in the early '70's).

Thanks, I will talk with them as they are doing my crank.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Yorkie

Why can't the one's Yorkie has be fixed?

I sent the head to a guy who is regarded as The Man when it comes to Norton heads and although he has tried over the years to find someone to weld up the cracks, apparently the heat necessary to facilitate the welding process is so great that it basically messes up the metallurgy of the head and they warp badly. Early 850 Commandos had heads that suffered cracks induced at the factory (this was at the tail end of the British bike industry) but we quickly changed to a better design. Sadly I have the crappy early one. I can buy a new one for $3500...

That's the problem right there. I'm not an expert, didn't stay at the Holiday Inn, but I've watched an expert. The head needs to be in an oven and heated to 500-600 degrees F. The welding is performed and the head is returned the oven to cool overnight. Might have to go through another cycle on top of that.

The alloy used in the Norton head could very well be a difficult one to repair, IDK. If it's a situation where these heads are that difficult, then someone should be making new castings. No need for $3500 for each with CNC machining. Hell, the guys at LN Engineering could make billet heads for that kind of money but they wouldn't look original. How about this guy? products He doesn't repair heads per se, but he seems to have some. Maybe his prices are better. Again, IDK and I ought to shut up. But I never leave a challenge unprovoked.

[biosurfer1]

I wouldn't expect a dime from a seller months after a purchase if it wasn't what I expected...just like as a seller I wouldn't expect the buyer to call me up offering more money if they found out the item was in better condition than originally thought.🙄