| 2001 Suzuki GSX600F Katana - No Compression 11/21/01 to Present | |
| 11/17/01 | My new katana won't start! (actually, I've had it for about 7 months) No compression (damn). |
| 11/21/01 | Towed bike 70 miles to my original dealer, San Mateo Honda Suzuki ($24.00 trailer rental) |
| 11/21/01 - 12/18/01 |
Called dealer once a week to check on bike. |
| 11/23?/01 | Dealer told me that they had synced the carbs but hadn't fixed compression problem (As I understand it you can NOT sync the carbs w/o compression). |
| 11/26?/01 | Dealer said it was going to need new valves (warranty work). |
| 12/18/01 | Dealer instructed me to stop calling. Said that they'll call me whenever it's ready (They were very rude). |
| 12/18/01 | Called Suzuki-America (714.572.1490) and told my story to Brad Wright He said he'd call the dealer and see what was going on. |
| 12/22/01 | Dealer left me a message saying that my bike was ready (Yahoo!). ...But I was out of town. |
| 12/26/01 | Called dealer. Answering machine said they were closed until 01/03/02 (Shit). |
| 01/03/02 | Brad Wright from Suzuki-America left me a message asking if I had gotten my bike yet. |
| 01/04/02 | Picked up my bike! Paid $352.32 for parts and labor (Invoice #13875). Noticed that they hadn't changed motor oil (Oil was dark brown in sight glass). Oil drain plug fell out on way home (had a few very exciting minutes!). Waited 2 hours in the rain for a rescue (Brrr) Spent $11.62 in 2 credit card phone calls for help (no change, forgot cell phone). Spent $34.61 for motor oil and a temporary oil drain plug* to get my bike home. |
| 01/05/02 | Noticed dealer charged me for an oil filter (SGP#16510-34E00, $14.15) and oil ($20). Noticed dealer had NOT changed oil filter (Obviously old and still had my safety wiring on it). Dropped bike back off at dealer (I'm pissed). |
| 01/08/02 | Picked bike up from dealer (again). Dealer refunded me $100.00 Oil drain plug, oil and filter present (I'm afraid to ride the bike until I check it). |
| 01/12/02 | Had a chance to make sure critical bolts are tight and do routine maintenace (chain slack ,etc.). Starting riding (It rained most of the week). |
| 01/19/02 | Finally scrubbed all the oil and grime off my bike (Between the valve job and the plug falling out it was everywhere!). |
| 01/20/02 | Went for a long ride. Noticed valve cover was leaking oil (Did the dealer do anything right?). Added 1/2 quart of oil ($4.52 at some gas station outside of San Luis Obispo). |
| 01/22/02 | Decided to take the bike apart and see what else was wrong:
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| 01/23/02 | Went for a ride - It's still spraying oil! (...but not as bad) Oil appears to be originating from the head gasket (Grrrr). Called Suzuki-America but they had closed for the day. |
| 01/24/02 | Scrubbed bike clean (again) & went for a ride - It didn't seem to be leaking (Perhaps it was just leftover goo inside the fairing blowing out). |
| 01/28/02 | Started using the bike for commuting again. (It snowed on Hwy 35! PIC1 PIC2) |
| 02/03/02 | Oil levels low - Added another 1/2 quart of oil (...That ain't right!) |
| 02/04/02 | Called Suzuki-America and spoke to Marvin Rolof I faxed this page to him (714.577.9525) to forward to Brad Wright. |
| 02/09/02 | Oil levels low - Added another 1/2 quart of oil (Can we say, "botched job"?) |
| 02/11/02 | Called Suzuki-America (again) and spoke to Brad Wright. He indicated that:
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| 02/16/02 | Bought the wrong size compression tester from Kragen. Doh. |
| 02/23/02 | Changed the oil and the #2 and #3 spark plugs. |
| 03/02302 | Finally got the correct sized compresssion gauge from Kragen but didn't have time to try it. |
* Temporary oil drain plug: An employee at All American Honda-Suzuki spent twenty minutes trying to find something that would work as a oil drain plug for my Katana! He ended up selling my girlfriend an NGK spark plug (98076-54917 BPR4HS-10). It fit perfectly and I'll be going there again!
