Experts.....

badbaws · 27 August 2004, 23:51

The thing about boats and engines is that when they go wrong and it is beyond us mere mortals to fix them we send the bits to experts...
The latest of which charged us £1200 to 'recondition' our diesel pump..
So don't ever send anything to Watsons Diesels....
Why??
Well since it has been refitted the boat would not reach more than 2200RPM..
The nice man from Finnings in Poole.. (we like them....) phoned Watsons diesels up and spoke to the man who "soughted" out our pump.. only to find that them did not do the required setting up and calibration of the pump.. why??? Because they did not have the required setting up equipment.. but they assured us that the pump was wonderfully working and had been set...

So on the South Coast we have
EPS(Hamble).. they left us with a £4200 bill for diagnosing that we had faulty injectors when it was not even the engine causing the vibration..
and now near London..
Watsons Diesels..
So beware anyone who thinks they are going to an expert.. I intend to name and shame any company that does not do what they were required to do...

Biggles · 28 August 2004, 00:50

Badbaws

Badluck,

I wish I had £4200 to spend on aboat never mind a pump.

Good on you mate. Name and shame all these cowboys. Just because we stupid Brits have loads of spare money to blow on trying to enjoy ourselves doesn't it doesn't mean some shyster cowboy has to have his cut. (Never mind Gordon Bloody Brown and his pathetic "New Labour Bloody Party")

Maybe the almighty John Kennet could start a new forum with bad and crap dealers, etc.................

Dirk Diggler · 28 August 2004, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Maybe the almighty John Kennet could start a new forum with bad and crap dealers, etc.................

Doubt he'd have enough server space, especially if he had a section on crap customers!!!!

Badbaws, is Bugle back in the water yet?

jwalker · 28 August 2004, 11:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again. A good bit of advice I was given fairly early on, "Remember, they'll tell you anything.".

Andy Stevens · 28 August 2004, 18:05

EXPERT

EX=Has been

SPERT=Drip under pressure.

Dirk Diggler · 28 August 2004, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

I've said it before and I'll say it again. A good bit of advice I was given fairly early on, "Remember, they'll tell you anything.".

Yeh, and that's just the customers!

jwalker · 28 August 2004, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

Yeh, and that's just the customers!

You're being very defensive, DD.

Rogue Wave · 28 August 2004, 20:32

To be honest I would recomend Watsons Diesel for injector and pump problems and I think they did a good job of repairing the pump which had very bad water damage. The engine runs smooth and sweet it just needs the lift pump tweaked.

re test equipment Watsons had about 30 different calibration chambers and test rigs including one for the Cat pumps ...they also had a good few CAT pumps there being overhauled. and hundred of other makes.

It's also worth bearing in mind that the Finnings man aint gonna say it's not a big problem cos they don't like to relax the grip they have on CAt service in this country.

EPS did a bit more for the money than diagnose faulty injectors, but it did seem to be their favourite game and I certainly wouldn't reccomend them to anybody in fact quite the reverse. Another lesson I learned from EPS is that if one needs a big job done then use a company that is a member of the Marine Trades Federation as they have an arbitration process for financial disputes.

Dirk yes Billy is back in the water

Louise · 28 August 2004, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

Billy is back in the water

So there is a happy ending, then?

Sorry you've had to go through so much (not to mention having to spend so much) to get there. May you have lots of troublefree boating from now on (fingers crossed)!

Rogue Wave · 28 August 2004, 21:39

Thank you very much Louise

the fact that that Billy is in the water allowed me to answer dirks kwestion positively. He didn't ask me if the engine was in bit's know did he?

The injector pump goes back on on Wed/Thu then its all of on extensive sea trials. ( well at 25pence a litre for fuel it starts to get easier)

I was talking to one of the Tecno 40 guys at Drivers yeasterday and I am beginning to think we aint the unluckiest people there?

Louise · 28 August 2004, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I was talking to one of the Tecno 40 guys at Drivers yeasterday and I am beginning to think we aint the unluckiest people there?

Yeah, think you could be right there, judging from a report on the racing on Wednesday posted on the other side, and the fact that they came back missing a rudder just a few weeks ago.

Hope it all comes together soon (literally!) and looking forward to seeing you on the water!

TIM · 29 August 2004, 09:29

I can understand why it is now costing so much...

Water in a diesel pump is not good .... not good at all, the prices CAT charge for parts and labour is nuts..... the positive thing is that when it up a running again it , it should run and run and run ................

I bet that cat will sound amazing.... like sweet music ....... is it Turbo'd too???

Rogue Wave · 30 August 2004, 21:15

yeah it is running fine now it's just the flow isn't enough. I must admit when the CAT turns over (it fires within 2 seconds) and I hear the engine it's easy to forgive it all the grief it's caused.

the lump is a v8 with a 12.7 litre block which generates 45 hp and has 1650 footpounds of Torque. just a few more days of waiting left

badbaws · 31 August 2004, 00:27

it will be the best boat ever once working 100%...
can not wait!!!

EPS won't be on the credits list for helping getting it together!!

Cookee · 31 August 2004, 07:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

the lump is a v8 with a 12.7 litre block which generates 45 hp and has 1650 footpounds of Torque.

45 hp doesn't sound very much!

Rogue Wave · 31 August 2004, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

45 hp doesn't sound very much!

yes I agree but it's all torque (like me). would 435hp be better