What should a carb rebuild cost from a dealer?

[carnut108]

Took my 2005 max to the dealer finally. Could not get it to run right since I bought it. Anyway, to make a long story short--- dealer says I need a carb rebuild. They want $800. Does that sound right ? Seem way high to me but I want to be done with this so I said go ahead. Did I get screwed ?

 

[Fire-medic]

If that's labor alone "Ben-Dover!" Go get your bike. Before they disassemble it! Call them and tell them you are cancelling the work order. Fax them a notice of cancellation, requesting a written confirmation and a phone call to your cell, then go get your bike.

You could have one of the vendors on here work on it and with shipping and a lot of new parts, it might come to that. It depends on what needs to be replaced. Four slide/diaphragm assemblies is $400. You probably don't need four, but you might need none, one, or two. $is unfortunately 'to be determined' once the tear-down happens, and you see what's needed. In a 'worst-case' scenario, you could have damaged and unrepairable carb bodies, for instance, and then you would be better-off buying a known good-working set from one of the fueling specialists on here, like dannymax, Kyle or Sean Morley, who have spare sets either usable, or gone through, at a higher cost.

If I were you, send them to someone on here to fix for you, and you probably will undercut your dealer's price considerably.

I have a spare set of carbs, so I can swap mine out if I encounter an issue, and want to keep riding. I have a new fuel tank, so I don't have to worry about the same thing happening to my replacement carbs (slsoughing-off rust from a corroded tank clogging the replacements). The shop sould be replacing your fuel filter and at-least eyeballing your fuel delivery system while doing this work.

 

[alorio1]

Thats a steep price, but thats why they are called Stealerships. If you were wrench savvy you could have sent them to Sean Morley and he could have probably saved you a couple hundred. Another member on here rebuilds carbs also called Dannymax who is also top notch on carbs. You need to invest on a synchronization tool such as a Carbtune and learn how to sync the carbs yourself. A Vmax needs resynching every few thousand miles or so just to keep it purring right. If you have to take it to the stealership I'm sure it would be 150 bucks to get a carb sync on your bike. A Carbtune would pay for itself on the first sync job you do on your bike with change left over. The only tools needed for a sync job is a flat head screw driver. Make sure a OEM fuel filter is included for that price and maybe ask for the old parts, you are going to be surprized when they show you the parts they replaced........

 

[carnut108]

That's parts and labor, removal and re-installation. I have a sync tool and used it, but it needed more than everything I threw at it--- Carb spray, seafoam, plugs, fresh fuel and filter, air/fuel adjustment, fuel bowl drain. I've had it two months and just got tired of dicken with it. Neighbors got tired of hearing me work on it too. So that's why I said "fix it" Thought the price was high but not knowing for sure, went ahead. Weather is beautiful and I want to ride !!!

 

[CaptainKyle]

Its high compared to what I would charge or Dannymax or Sean but for a dealer that is probably about right. They have a lot more overhead than us little guys.

 

[customizedcreationz]

But that includes removal and installation. Most places rebuild carbs for $400. $400 to r&r might be a tad high.

 

[CaptainKyle]

But that includes removal and installation. Most places rebuild carbs for $400. $400 to r&r might be a tad high.

Yep if some one brought me the bike I would do the whole job for $ 400 but a dealer adds in sync, shop supplies & charges top dollar for parts. If its customer pay they usually take the warranty time X 1.5 to get customer pay at least that is the way they done it when I worked at Harley.

 

[dannymax]

Pretty steep Patrick....a little surprised an '05 would even need a rebuild, gaskets, o-rings & jet block plugs should still be pretty good I would think.

Ask them for the old parts, might be interesting to see what they actually replaced.

 

[one2dmax]

We have finally started stocking rebuild racks ready to exchange. Install your slides and jets and you're in business. From a dealer standpoint depending on what exactly they are replacing that sounds about right. If they replace EVERY single part not including the slides and enricheners then it's going to be high.

Sean

 

[carnut108]

Thanks guys, lesson learned.

 

[davesax36]

Make sure you get all your parts back. Call them and tell them that or drop off a letter. That way you can look at the parts and see what was actually replaced. At least you'll know it's been done. They're not that hard once you have them apart, just gotta screw things in. I know when I went to the dealer to price a few parts it was about 4x what I was gonna pay total at Ronayers.

 

[carnut108]

Called the dealer and passed along some the comments from you guys and mentioned the Vmax forum. Told them I wanted the old parts and wanted stock jets put back in, since I am changing back to stock exhaust.

He sweetened the deal by saying they will install the stock exhaust for me free, so they can tune it right. Thought this was a nice gesture since I know, to get it right, this needs to be done at the same time.

I don't think he would have done this if I had not mentioned this forum. Do you guys have an enforcement division I don't know about ? :biglaugh:

Patrick

 

[gamorg02]

Called the dealer and passed along some the comments from you guys and mentioned the Vmax forum. Told them I wanted the old parts and wanted stock jets put back in, since I am changing back to stock exhaust.

He sweetened the deal by saying they will install the stock exhaust for me free, so they can tune it right. Thought this was a nice gesture since I know, to get it right, this needs to be done at the same time.

I don't think he would have done this if I had not mentioned this forum. Do you guys have an enforcement division I don't know about ? :biglaugh:

Patrick

maybe an owner/manager who knows how far bad press can go.

 

[Fire-medic]

Well, that certainly is to your advantage, and if you get it back and it works well for you, you can 'spill the beans' about your chosen dealer. See what happens when you act from a point of knowledge?

 

[dannymax]

maybe an owner/manager who knows how far bad press can go.

That's what it sounds like. This makes a big difference as installing the OEM mufflers without a lift....alone....can be a tough job.

And yes, there is an enforcement division....headed by these guys.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZedQYcGOYkw

 

[sdt354]

In the future, keep in mind the guys here can talk you through just about anything you need to do on your bike. And we're glad to help.
Steve-o

 

[one2dmax]

You could have him put in Mikuni 150 mains while you're at it. The OEM usually sets the bike just a little on the rich side.

Sean