'Rebuilders'? Am I tooo Picky?

[Newc]

My latest go around with a 'Rebuilder' of my 90 mph '32 Stewart Warner speedometer- Photo provided of a $190 job!! Broken glass, dirty original face and odometer numbers, and uncleaned/polished bezel. All by a 'Big' name Speedo guy in the Mid-west.
This is the latest of poor quality 'Not as Manufactured ' Rebuilds/repairs. I expected Concours qualities- like anodized carb finishes [not painted], correct parts 91-99, Fuel pumps that have factory type gaskets/diaphrams [ not home cutouts]. Radios/clocks that actually work [advertizes in the V8 Times, and stole the extra 8 tube core]. If not concours quality they better own up to that standard ahead of our jobs. Some rant, Newc

[tubman]

Are those "Before and After" pictures?

[DavidG]

I'm assuming that they are 'after' pictures given the evidently new green plastic strip for the opening for illumination from the dash light. With respect, neither the face plate (not uncommon rust on the white numbers) nor the bezel (chrome is on its last legs) can be brought back to near new by even the most conscientious rebuilder and perhaps the glass was broken in transit (no excuse, however, as it reflects poor packaging). Likely I can help with those; please send me a p.m.

[petehoovie]

"My latest go around with a 'Rebuilder' of my 90 mph '32 Stewart Warner speedometer- Photo provided of a $190 job!!" - Newc

[J Franklin]

Maybe this person just rebuilds the mechanicals. Did you two come to any contractual agreement as to what was expected?

[TagMan]

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Not too picky at all, IMO. I too, would have expected the gauge to be in 'like new' condition, for $190.00. You could pick up a gauge in that condition at a swap meet for under $50.00 I'd expect.

I would go back to him and tell him you are not happy and would like your money refunded. The broken glass lens is inexcusable. I sent a gas globe with two 15" lenses across country and they arrived in excellent condition. The broken lens alone, shows no pride in workmanship or care in handling a customer's property!

[Newc]

Well; The lens was already broken. But is there no decal for the face? I have rolls of odometer numbers that stick on. Also most rebuilders will not work on any part NOT Stewart Warner. Newc

[Anteek29]

Appallingly unprofessional workmanship!

[Tim Ayers]

I want to be fair and would like some clarification.

The lens was broken when sent to the rebuilder, correct? Did he say the $190 would include a new lens or did you assume it would?

Not sure why he didn't reset the odometer. Every rebuilt speedo I've seen goes back to zero.

Is it possible there was a mix up and the unprepared got sent back to you? What was the vendor’s explanation as to what happened? If this his idea of being restored?

[deuce_roadster]

Maybe he thought you were a "patina" guy. That really sucks Dale. I'm sorry that happened to you.

[Bored&Stroked]

Why not talk to the guy and get it straightened out? Seems to me that expectations were out of alignment (probably on both sides) or at the very least maybe not communicated?

I will say that $190 doesn't go too far these days. My guess is that to get a full mechanical and cosmetic restoration will be a lot more than that.

[cas3]

I have a small stained glass shop near me that will cut a circle of glass like that for 5 bucks. You do have to be very careful with the bezel, they can be brittle. I also dont understand why the odometer was not turned back, mainly because to properly lube the assembly it needs to come apart. Most of the time I hire someone these days its a disappointment.

[Fritz]

I don’t know what the standard is, but a few years ago I also had a speedometer rebuilt by a Midwest instrument shop. My rebuild seemed to be only a mechanical rebuild also, and the odometer wasn’t reset. I don’t remember what I paid. But it works. I later found an NOS face plate, and it looks good to me. Definitely a case of expectations not being communicated.

[rotorwrench]

I don't do the older speedometers like that but I have what I refer to as "refurbished" a number of 1940s/50s Stewart Warner motorcycle speedometers. I don't do it for anyone else since I would never be able to finish my own projects if I did.

Bezels and glasses are available so I made my own rool to roll crimp the bezel back onto the head with a new glass and gaskets. Getting the face plates silk screened is a challenge. I've gotten away with reusing the best parts in my parts piles to get a decent indicator a few times. Cleaning and oiling the internals is easy after the face is off. The mileage and odometer wheels aren't all that easy to restore and resetting them is easier by disassembly that by setting there for hours turning the things back to zero. There are a lot of little pieces there. The wheel drums have to be repainted on some and the decals are sometimes poor quality.

The faces are very thin material so it doesn't take much corrosion to kill them. If they have minimal corrosion then a person can strip them and repaint. Silk screening the indicator markings is the hard part.

Anybody that does this stuff for a living should be up front about what they can do for you. If they aren't then they are just another crook. With folks charging $100 per hour or more then don't expect this stuff to be cheap. The more they have to restore, the more expensive the job is going to get. If they don't do an inspection of the indicator before quoting the price then they may be suspect. I'm sure not near all of the folks that provide these services are crooks but they should be honest with their customers about cost.

[eric huffman]

Just had both gauges out of my 39 pickup Refurbished but NOT restored. This entailed a complete cleaning, voltage step-down and repair back to full function as needed. Most of the gauges still were operable I was told. They came back looking just as I request and expected meaning CLEAN and Operable. The cost was close to $500.00 but it was exactly what I asked for and the gauges look like the very originals that they are. It can be harder and more time consuming to renovate instead of restoring IMHO. Restorations can be all shiny and new looking but that can be accomplished by paint cover ups etc. It sounds like a miscommunication to me.

[Karl]

I wouldn't be happy if it was mine
However you do get what you pay for - I can't see that at even at $60 an hour that there is any way that this speedo could be brought up to concourse condition in 3 hours . You could probably spend more than that on the dial face alone . I would expect a restorer to contact me and inform me that to get it where I want it is going to cost more than quoted and give me the option to proceed or stop.

I'm having a battle with a clock restorer who 3 months ago charged me $400 to rebuild a Sandoz Vielle Mirror clock. Its returned and has now stopped running- I contacted him and he tells me it will need a full rebuild at $450 and he's to busy to do it for 6 months . I informed him that his invoice was for a full rebuild previously and I'm not paying for it to be done again -He hung up on me.
Luckily I have a few spares and found one that worked perfectly and installed it.'
I'm looking for a new clock restorer !

[J Franklin]

Small claims court. He's thumbing his nose at you every day you don't!

[tubman]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Small claims court. He's thumbing his nose at you every day you don't!

This is most likely in a different jurisdiction; probably even in a different state. This will make things difficult at best, and if you do win, how do you collect that size judgement without spending more than the judgement amount?

[DavidG]

I guess my offer in #3 above isn't of interest.

[aussie merc]

picky i dont know because i wasnt there so you may have got what you asked for or maybe not always make sure that you put in writing exactly what you want it not only protects you it gives your repairer clear directions and protects them quite often what you think you say is not what the repairer thinks they heard

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by tubman

This is most likely in a different jurisdiction; probably even in a different state. This will make things difficult at best, and if you do win, how do you collect that size judgement without spending more than the judgement amount?

Justice isn't always easy, but we needn't make crime easy ever.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Justice isn't always easy, but we needn't make crime easy ever.

I agree we have a small claims court and I could take him there .
Might win but really just don't have the time to do it. I will vote with my feet and its very unlikely that this guy will get any work from anyone I know - The amount he will lose is much more than the $400

My cousin is a sign writer and he installed a large sign in an exposed site. He informed the owner that the sign needed metal posts to support it . The company refused to pay for metal posts and demanded wooden posts -He installed it with wooden posts making them sign the quote that wooden posts were used at their request and risk . You guessed it broken posts in a storm . My cousin got taken to small claims court - He lost According to the Judge he should have not installed the sign with wooden posts if he knew it needed metal posts -Go figure !

[tubman]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Justice isn't always easy, but we needn't make crime easy ever.

This isn't a criminal matter; it is a civil matter. There is a big difference between the two in the court system.

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by tubman

This isn't a criminal matter; it is a civil matter. There is a big difference between the two in the court system.

Small claims is a civil court. The judge will decide if someone was too picky or if someone didn't do the job requested.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Small claims is a civil court. The judge will decide if someone was too picky or if someone didn't do the job requested.

Well, that would probably depend on whether the judge knows the difference between good wood, and kindling! DD

[V8COOPMAN]

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Oopsie! DD

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Well, that would probably depend on whether the judge knows the difference between good wood, and kindling! DD
.

That is true, but the offending party has to show up and give an explanation.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

That is true, but the offending party has to show up and give an explanation.

And when he doesn't show up and you win by default, how do you go about collecting the award? Remember, the work was done by a : "'Big' name Speedo guy in the Mid-west" while I believe the O/P is on the east coast. The judgement is worthless across state lines.

[J Franklin]

I had a judgment that was basically uncollectable until the fellow wanted to buy a house. I received my money plus interest! I think people that do nothing are just feeding the problems we are seeing in our modern society. I use the courts, write my representatives in government, even president Reagan once. I also vote, and not afraid to argue with the IRS. Plus I volunteer in my community on top of everything. I am not part of any problem, unless you ask my wife.

[Charlie Stephens]

I wouldn't expect them to set it back to zero unless I asked them specifically to do so.

Charlie Stephens

[papanick]

I do rebuild them but you would need to let us know what was to be done just a service or a rebuild..

[Jeff/Illinois]

Newc please check your Private Messages

Thanks

[papanick]

I just checked the parts out you can buy the new face plate, decals, you can have the new lens cut, have the bezel redone, so what was to be doing. something dose not look right here.

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by papanick

something dose not look right here.

I think that is why this thread was started.

[kirkf]

Well; The lens was already broken. But is there no decal for the face? I have rolls of odometer numbers that stick on. Also most rebuilders will not work on any part NOT Stewart Warner. Newc

Not to hijack your thread but where do you find decals to repair odometer numbers?

Kirk

[Kube]

Originally Posted by tubman

And when he doesn't show up and you win by default, how do you go about collecting the award? Remember, the work was done by a : "'Big' name Speedo guy in the Mid-west" while I believe the O/P is on the east coast. The judgement is worthless across state lines.

Heck, more often than not, these judgements are worthless within state lines.

[papanick]

any S/W speedometer from 28 to 32 will take the same decals on the mile bar or trip bar wheels.

[Tinker]

Submit it to Judge Judy. They will fly you to Cali for a nice winter vaca and they pay for all restitution. Probably not in their wheel house though, they like neighbor disputes and dog bites.


190$ seems like a good deal. But what did they fix? or what did you agree that they would fix?

[johnboy34]

Originally Posted by DavidG

I guess my offer in #3 above isn't of interest.

Surprising, I would have jumped at a nice offer like that......