Pricey repairs

[John Suter]

Jim, Ron and the gang,

I hope y'all aren't forgetting that the formalized
alliance with Prevost Chassis (thru common parent,
Volvo Truck) opens their repair locations to Birds.
My experience with their work is they provide a
fixed maximum quotation to avoid financial
"surprises."

John Suter


--- Jim Owens wrote:

> Ron,
>
> I think Jack has hydraulic brakes on his '71 FC.
> $3500 sounds steep
> to me anyway! We paid about $250 to have the parking
> brake valve
> replaced - the mechanic did have to trace down the
> lines, drain the
> tanks and adjust the rear brakes also - sad scenario
> where a water
> line had been plumbed into the back of the park
> brake valve (his
> assistant traced that line and connected it to a
> spigot under the
> batteries)... We haven't found anyone willing/able
> to service the
> air dryer - they want to install a new unit and say
> it will take
> hours just to plumb the new connections...(copper
> vs. plastic, etc.)
>
> Parts can be bad enough but it's the labor charges
> that really cost -
> is there such a thing as a flat rate book for Blue
> Birds? (duh) Some
> shops seem to charge a substantial markup on sublet
> work justifying
> it by saying they lose about three percent to the
> credit card
> companies!? It pays to scrutinize the repair invoice
> and ask about
> any questionable charges.
>
> I envy those who have the mechanical expertise,
> tools and equipment
> to tackle major chassis repairs. My wonderful wife
> is willing and
> able to tackle many repairs - she has crawled under
> the coach/into
> the doghouse many times - heater valves, hydraulic
> lines, fuel
> filters, accessory belts, etc. She's also gutted the
> roadside twin
> bed to access the water tank/pump and lines. She was
> single for many
> years and learned to do a lot to keep from being
> taken advantage of
> by unscrupulous mechanics and repairmen.
>
> Jim and Pam Owens
> 77 FC33SB (Gas)
> Lake of the Ozarks, MO
>
> In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
> "ronmarabito2002"
> wrote:
> >
> > Unfortunately on that $3500 brake repair. You
> were ripped off.
> > Probably nothing buy an air leak and the emergency
> brakes set. You
> > should have gotten an entire brake job.
> >
> > R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jack &
> Donna Smith"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > ALL: Though I didn't plan it this way, I seem
> to be getting an
> > idea
> > > on the price of reparing a "Vintage" Coach.
> > > The first 'Mistake' was that we got it at a
> great price.. Then we
> > > took it to San Diego for a weekend. Brakes
> locked up and wouldnt
> > > move, so we took it to Holland Motors, feeling
> they knew something
> > > about Birds. They simply farmed the job out and
> hit us with a
> > $3500+
> > > bill. (Felt we were ripped off).
>
>
>
>
>




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