I’ve edited the OP with rebuild info.
What is it they say; "If you want something done right, you have to do yourself" I did and will from now on, see opening post.
The follow is a bit of long story of my encounter with C & M Rebuilders & Bob Reed the manager of the shop (a real sweetheart of a guy)
Late last Friday headed cross town (30 mile trip) to pick up my rebuilt starter, just in time for weekend install. Thinking great, I'll have a professionally rebuilt starter, armature commutator lathe turned to true run-out, under-cut of commutator spec'd & decarbonized, gears cleaned & greased, and new contacts & plunger, seals, boot & vent tubes. My factory Denso should last for the next 200k miles.
I arrived at C & M Rebuilders Inc.
http://northamericantrucktrailer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=50 where I was greeted by Bob Reed service manager, my only contacted with them. His attitude with me was different this time, calling me sir, being very formal and short. In a hurry to get on the road before Friday rush hour traffic. I handed Bob my credit card and a USB thumb drive for the pictures he had agreed to take of the rebuild. I had previously spoken to Bob about posting these pictures in mud, with C&M’s name, for those wishing to have starter rebuilt, like I. Which he was in favor of, and went on telling me about this great camera he’d use.
Bob said: "I don’t have the pictures. After speaking with my employer, we decided we not give you picture, as we aren't really interest retail customer business. We have plenty of work from fleet. We'll except walks in like you, but don't wanted to deal with long distance customers. You know if we have issue with them, it can get messy".
Self: “I really wanted the pictures Bob, but ok”.
While waiting for the credit card charge to go through, I notice a picture of an atomic blast with howitzer in foreground next to me. I also was aware of a no neck with arms of gorilla sitting/waiting partially hidden from view behind me, just within ear shot of us. Myself being someone that works-out regular at a health club, I’d say he was a steroid using body builder, a very big boy.
Self: “This is an interest picture of nuclear blast with a howitzer. (I’d notice at eye level next to me)
Bob: “It’s kind of a passion of my friend their & I”. (OK….. I’m thinking)
Self: “I noticed it Bob, as it was my mission while station in Germany if alert was sounded. That is to put a nuclear projectile in the howitzer tube and fire. Our life expectance was 20 minute, from time of alert".
Shortly after some more small talk, the charge went through and I was out the door.
The next morning eager put the LX back together; I started by making sure I was ready. Upon inspecting the starter, I noticed the vent tube of the gear box was a little wet around the edges. Wet with a clear oily fluid with no real smell, could it be a solvent? I then notice the screw I damaged, that lead me to using C&M Rebuilders in the first place was still in, but was damaged even more. I’m thinking; C&M (Bob) must have removed this gear box case screw somehow, without drilling it out as he said he would do. Otherwise he’d not be able to clean the gears & bearings.
Concerned, if he washed with solvent without cleaning gear box, I’d have a starter bound to fail. So I drilled it out. What I found pissed me off more than I can say. Now I knew why Bob didn’t give me pictures as promised, and had a change of attitude when I saw him last.
This SOB for some unknown reason basically sabotages my starter, and didn’t even say thank you as he stuck it to me. You’d not believe the lies upon lie Bob Reed the manager at C & M Rebuilders told, when I confronted him. I asked Bob did you clean my starter with a solvent? Yes, we use and "OSHA approved biodegradable, why do you ask" So you washed with a solvent but didn't open up the gear case? Bob, just plied lie upon lie.
I called him on everyone lie. Letting him know I have before and after pictures to prove it. I think what happen, is it just got late on a Friday, and the job wasn’t done. Rather than take the time, he washed it with solvent, cleaned off the contact & plunger with steel wood, put on a use mismatched torn boot and called it done. He started saying “come down and will talk in person” “it’s easy to talk on phone”. Acting like a high school kid tough guy. This was while I was still being polite. Now I know why he had a gorilla no neck sitting within ear shot, He had an agenda all along..
I am relentless, as few unlucky soles have found. I’m not in high school, nor do I punch, stab or shoot people any longer. Yes I'm sorry to say I have done those things as a young mad man. But I'm older and like to think wiser. I do know how to use the court system. The amount of $ makes no difference to me, when someone screw me. It just a matter of principle, it’s the way I am. I doubt he’d messed with me had he checked me out first, not difficult for a Denver native to do. But then he’s a transplant from out of State.
Bob, now says he going to refund my money. I really hope he doesn’t, I’m bored and need a mission.
What is it they say; "If you want something done right, you have to do yourself" I did and will from now on, see opening post.
