Lets do this by the numbers, because as an experienced mechanic you say you are, I wouldn't want to confuse the issue.
Picture 1 of 9 - I really can't tell what the picture is of. The engine looks like it was cleaned, not bead blasted or acid dipped, but clean old aluminum.
Picture 2 of 9 - That Rusted thing - Do you mean the vacuum advance unit? If that is a part of the rebuild you specified as being part of the engine, well it's not. It's part of the distributor. Any engine you get rebuilt the extremities such as the distributor, carb, fan, Alternator.... are just that extremities.
Picture 3 of 9 - Fan Cushions - Just as I said in 2 of 9.
Picture 4 of 9 - That is the Back up light switch. Every one I have is just like it until I cleaned and worked my butt off getting it to look and work like new. But the plastic is still brittle as can be and short of rewiring the unit it is all cosmetic. But again, as I said in 2 - 9 not part of the engine. More cosmetics.
Picture 5 of 9 - That is the tie rod end dust cover, not the rack. So, what was wrong with the rack? I believe like all of us, the Pinion shaft bushings were replaced and the rack disassembled and put back together. Show me the wobble in the pinion shaft. I see this as a tie rod end and the dust boot at that. But before I put it back on I'd change it, if you can find one.
Picture 6 of 9 - Fan shroud rubber cushion. New ones look about the same. It's rubber and squeezes out around the edges. More cosmetics.
Picture 7 of 9 - If your talking about the cylinder fin rubber, that too is external to the engine rebuild. When I do an engine it comes with a few (paid for) extras. But, most owners prefer to do them because I use Neoprene and that stuff gets expensive. But it stands up to Acid, Solvent, Oil, Heat, Sun aging, and rebounds from Hot and Cold.
Picture 8 of 9 - Exhaust and heat exchanger, more cosmetics and as I said in 2 of 9, this is not part of the engine rebuild.
Picture 9 of 9 Fan Belt, if your original belt was just replaced before you took it over to Tim to have it rebuilt, why? It's getting pulled apart for rebuild, I'd tell you to wake up, your dreaming.
I have put a number of engines together for many folks and getting an engine to look like new is a fair amount of detail. Your remarks apply to cosmetics, parts that are not part of the rebuild and if they were done I would question what was done on the inside of the engine.
My bet is that your engine will run very well unless your carb is fouled, it will not leak and the rack will give you a quick turn on the steering wheel to wheel. Not the 3 inches of play it had when you brought it over to Tim.
With labor costs that they are today - just in labor I think you got one hell of a deal. Because unless I am living in another part of California, getting the engine, transmission, and differential all rebuilt for 3 grand is one heck of an accomplishment. Please take me to the other Honda 600 shop that will do that for that price.
And, I sent this to Tim, hate talking about people without them knowing about it. Makes things appear closed door or behind their back. I work with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and laud their services when ever it makes since. And they have a saying that I believe applies here. "If you don't do business you won't get a complaint, but then you won't make any money either. And, like bad businesses there are bad customers and no matter how you treat them they will never be satisfied." If you have a complaint, go to the BBB and let them mediate, but as I said above I believe your claims are unfounded.
Bill Colford
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com [mailto:2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com] > On > Behalf Of > locklobster1 > Sent:
> Friday, August 22, 2008 5:01
> PM
> To:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> Subject:
> [2cylinderhondas] My rebuilt engine
> Thank you all for your help in finding a place to rebuild my engine. I
> will recomend anyone with a Honda 600 to come here. I had Tim Mings
> work on it, though it was a shoddy job. All in all, the price was
> $3,000. Not the best, but OK. He was very rude with me, and was not
> professional. No reciepts, no warranties, no nothing... not good.
> I
> asked him if there was any gaurantee of his work. He said, "I'll > gaurantee > you it'll break down again". Priceless... . except for the > $3,000. I > uploaded some pictures of his work to the website. The phoyo > album will be > dubbed "My rebuilt engine".
> I, regretfully, will not recommend anyone
> to Tim Mings. I am sure to be
> called on for my actions. Sure, he knows
> what he's doing, no doubt
> about that. Just, why can't he be a professional
> of it. The man was not
> worth my money. Better to send it to someone else.
> Just send me any
> remarks. I'll be glad to fill you all in on
> more.
> Time is no Honda 600 God. No God would be so awful as to disgust > His > creation, as Mings did with my engine :(