WTF Chuck?

pdxjim · September 21, 2019, 08:54:46 PM

As some of you know, I've been having quite a challenging time with our resident tuner Chuck "SUPERTUNE" Quenzler this summer.

In March, we exchanged a few PMs and emails about getting some tuning done on my '81 JDM RD350LC cylinders and head. At that time he quoted me a "three week turnaround".

June 17th, my parts arrived at his shop.

July 2nd he said "later that week" as soon as he was done with a project "your up to bat".

August 13th he said everything was done and ready to ship later that week.

September 18th I receive this email:

"Jim,
Top end is due for delivery today or tomorrow.
I did have the cylinder get some slight damage with cracking a small piece off the sleeve skirt off while packing over the weekend.
The damage is minimal, but is there. It will have no effect of running or piston skirt issues.
Due to the damage and late finishing up job, your paid up.
Make sure the cylinders are properly finish honed to size for your pistons.
A pair of head o-rings are included.
Chuck"

That day, when I get home from work, this is what I find on my front porch:

Now, I don't know about you all, but this looks like way more than "minimal ... slight damage". I have no desire to risk piston failure ruining my freshly rebuilt crank. I also have no desire to live with the nagging doubt involved with running damaged parts. Fear of the "whispering death" is bad enough on a 2T even when you know your shit is correct.

My total invoice was for around $700. I had paid him (at my initiative) $500 at the beginning of September hoping to give him some incentive o finish the job. This, "all paid up" means he gave be a discount of $200 (+/- 30%) for the damage he did to my parts.

At this point, a full three months after my parts arrived at his shop in Florida, I'm out $500 and have a pile of beautifully machined/ported custom parts that only work together as a whole. And a significant part of that whole is damaged, and in my opinion, unusable.

For Chuck to shrug off the damage as "minimal" and treat it as "no big deal" is frankly, insulting. I've worked in service industry jobs (remodeling/custom carpentry/home inspections) my entire adult life. This is simply not how one does business. When you fuck up, you own it, and do whatever it takes to make sure the customer is satisfied. Even if it is at your expense.

I see the only logical resolution is for me to spend the $200 "refund" on a replacement cylinder and ship it and the good one back to Florida to be matched. Thankfully I've already found a replacement standard bore cylinder, but it ain't gonna be cheap.

Of course, I've called and emailed Chuck a few times since my damaged goods arrived, encouraging him to do the right thing, but true to form, there has been no response.

pdxjim · September 21, 2019, 09:02:35 PM

As a point of reference, here's what they are saying about it over on Norbo's UK LC forum:

http://rdlccrazy.proboards.com/thread/48749/run

Gill · September 22, 2019, 12:43:26 AM

It needs a resolution, hope you get one at the earliest!

Whats wrong with gasket area on damaged cylinder & exhaust ports?

Old Brit · September 22, 2019, 12:47:45 AM

Why someone who seems to be highly regarded in the trade would do that is beyond me

. WTF pretty much covers it so hope it gets sorted without to much hassle.

pdxjim · September 22, 2019, 01:03:29 AM

Quote from: Gill on September 22, 2019, 12:43:26 AM
It needs a resolution, hope you get one at the earliest!
Whats wrong with gasket area on damaged cylinder & exhaust ports?

Good eye, Gill.

Base gasket area appears to have a bit of cutter damage, and flange at head bolt area appears to be distorted from being dropped (arrows).

Exhaust ports are the same size, but the flanges are different as one is an early cyl and the damaged one is a later one.

thatguy · September 22, 2019, 10:04:31 AM

Me......I'd insist on a sleeve bore/hone and port matching w/one week turnaround. That's just me.

paul1478 · September 22, 2019, 11:29:24 AM

I know Chuck. He is the most standup guy I know. He has given so much to the 2 stroke community. I have seen him at 2 gap meets and Barber last year. Goes from
Person to person helping and not asking or getting anything.
He will make this right.
Had he told me this will not cause an issue I would trust him 100 percent.

Personally I would not have taken this public to 2 forms questioning his integrity.

pdxjim · September 22, 2019, 01:22:59 PM

Quote from: paul1478 on September 22, 2019, 11:29:24 AM
I know Chuck. He is the most standup guy I know. He has given so much to the 2 stroke community. I have seen him at 2 gap meets and Barber last year. Goes from
Person to person helping and not asking or getting anything.
He will make this right.
Had he told me this will not cause an issue I would trust him 100 percent.

This what I have been hearing for years, and exactly why I wanted to give Chuck my business. I firmly believe in supporting those who support the community. I like supporting the little guy who stands on his work and doesn't rely on a flashy website or Facebook bullshit to generate business. I always strive to "keep it local", and even though Chuck is at the diagonally opposite corner of the country from me, his presence on this forum makes him local in my mind.

As I stated above, the issue isn't whether or not the damaged sleeve will cause problems or not. I ride my 2T's hard, and put many miles on them each year. Most of these miles are out of town on long rides in Eastern Oregon. It is already stressful enough listening to every pulse of the engine mile after mile. Do I also want to be worrying about the damn piston skirt breaking and fucking up my brand new crank? I've seized my TDR at 75mph on a crowded freeway in the past. Not something I want to do again if I can help it.

Really, though, all of that ^ is beside the point. I sent my parts off in good condition and they came back damaged. Nothing more, nothing less. Chucks problem (breaking my shit) has become my problem (living with it).

iranana · September 22, 2019, 04:55:29 PM

Barrie · September 23, 2019, 11:05:29 AM

Well Chuck I think you should contact your customer and nip this in the bud, my 2cents.

Redbird · September 23, 2019, 06:59:04 PM

I think it should be taken to PM/email/phone call/etc. No point in dragging either party through the mud until a resolution (amicable or otherwise) to the issue is reached ;)

pdxjim · September 23, 2019, 07:36:52 PM

Quote from: Redbird on September 23, 2019, 06:59:04 PM
I think it should be taken to PM/email/phone call/etc. No point in dragging either party through the mud until a resolution (amicable or otherwise) to the issue is reached ;)

LOL, I called Chuck as soon as I unpacked my parts and he still hasn't called me back. Emailed him too.

Redbird · September 23, 2019, 09:24:05 PM

And you figured the next logical step was a public shaming? Clearly you're the only one acting like an adult in this. :o

It's like my Grandpappy used to say "If you wanna catch flies... Shit works just as good as Honey. It just depends on what you wanna smell like afterwards".

I have no dog in this fight either way, so I'll just say 'Y'all have fun with that'

Beavis · September 24, 2019, 06:13:35 AM

I have worked as a prototype machinist for almost 30 years. After looking at that cyl, maybe it got launched out of a lathe, smacked him in the head and hit the shop floor? The gouge in the gasket surface could be from a tool hit. So maybe Chuck got hurt?? I dunno,

DesmoDrew · September 24, 2019, 08:09:31 AM

It really and truly sucks your liner got cracked (however it happened). However, it will not hurt anything. You can't see it and your engine will run just as strong and just as long (dependent, that is, upon the skills of the person doing the final assembly). Sounds like Chuck did the best he cold as far as compensation. No, you did't send him a cylinder with a broken liner; but he did the port work, assured you the broken liner was not an issue (his word and abilities must have some value to you since you sent him your parts in the first place) and took 30% off the bill as a show of good faith.
Choosing to buy more parts and spend more money is simply a personal choice, and has nothing to do with Chuck, the parts in hand, or Chuck's work. The nick in the base gasket surface is literally nothing, and if you think the ding on the edge of the cylinder is an issue, just take a mill bastard to it and make sure it is flat. Two seconds with a sharpie will cover up the missing paint.
Do what ever you choose to do at this point, but understand it is all on you and has nothing to do with Chuck or his work and, in a big boy world, has questionable motives being publicly vented here.

What I take away from all the pictures, being the pragmatist that I am, is how shitty and porous the factory Yamaha liner castings are. So no more badmouthing those cheap RD350 cylinders being offered out there. ;D

News:

WTF Chuck?