How long should it take?

[mattpope]

Just had the MOT done but I decided to let the shop fix what needed to be done rather than do it myself. This was a costly mistake - the following work needed doing:

1) Replace front wheel bearings
2) Replace headlight pilot bulbs
3) Take off and refit rear wheel and tyre (wheel had to be sent away to be re-spoked)

It sounds like a mornings work for an amateur. Any guesstimates on how long it should take? The garage owner reacted a bit too sheepishly when I questioned how long it took.

I'll tell you how long it took later!! Don't want to influence the replies. The bike has been taken apart lots and nothing is seized and the tyre would not be a problematic one.

Many thanks!

Matt

[Lord Stig]

Took me about two hours for the front wheel bearings (including wheel removal and replacement) - it's a very easy job. I can have the rear wheel and tyre off in around half an hour (that's very slow, but the bead is usually a sod). The pilot lights you can just reach in and pull out with nothing dismantled. However, I did the job a month or so ago and discovered mine were corroded in. I got by it by breaking the glass of the old bulbs and using pliers to twist them out. That took a total of around 3/4 of an hour. I would have though a well equipped shop could do this all in around two to three hours (with tea/****/coccaine breaks). I'd be interested to hear what they suggested.

Stig

[mal]

I recently changed the pilot light bulbs , in theory a ten minute job,in practice took about an hour, same problem as Stig bulbs were seized in their holders ,lots of swear words and the use of pliers got the job done.

[YEN_POWELL]

Me too with the pilot bulbs, it was smash and pliers, took a long while I seem to remember. Front wheel bearings shouldn't take more than 30 minutes including wheel removal and refitting. Rear wheel removal and tyre change would take about 45 minutes if you drink plenty of tea and take your time. Wheel respoke...god knows, a little old man in Halstead does mine overnight.

[iswoolley]

So... how long did it take?

[scdan3]

well, the bike shop that i work in...

3 hours max + parts (bearings 13ish quid a side, pilot bulbs 75p ea)

+ the dreaded VAT

should all be done for under a ton....

dan

[BlindPugh]

Getting the wheels off - about 20 minutes.
Bearings + new seals - about 1 hour. Parts about £20 inc seals.
Pilot bulbs ( or anything in that region ) I always take the nose fairing off as I usually struggle to get my hands in and see what I am doing - 40 minutes estimated for bulbs and fairing on/off.

Wheel building - I would expect spokes and nipples to be around £2-3 per spoke x 36 + cost of strip and rebuild. £150ish.
Wheels back on - 30 minutes.

3 hours labour seems about right including fitting /balancing tyres. Parts cost including wheel build £180.

I would be expecting a total bill of around £300. Anything less would look like a bargain to me.

[mattpope]

Thanks for your views guys. Still waiting to hear back from the shop with the break down of timings - mechanic who did the job seems very part time.

Cost me £388 (including £135 for the wheel respoking and another £30 or so for the bearings and bulbs)

The labour was 3.5 hours which according to the poll seems an extra half an hour. My guess when I was told what needed to be done was 2 hours for a pro including tea.

Guess I'm just a bit diappointed that I could have done all this in an afternoon and saved myself £200.

Anyone recommend a bike shop around Guildford?

Cheers,

Matt

[Lord Stig]

Well, I suppose it could have been worse - not as far over as I feared it could have been. However, that's a lot of dosh to have to hand out, and if you have somewhere to work it might be a better idea to do the work yourself if you have similar jobs to do in the future. I come through Guildford everyday (cold this morning, eh?) but I've never heard of a 'good' shop. There is none in Portsmouth either. My guess is that they are as rare as xylous equine excrement, though there used to be a few I new in Somerset. Good luck in your search!

Stig