If you are re-plating, boring, or nikisil READ THIS

Started by mcquack, April 22, 2013, 01:45:43 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

mcquack

Hello to all and thank you for reading this, I apologise in advance that it is so long, but it is good information. I ride a 02 CBR954RR and had to rebuild the bottom end, I was burning oil and fouling plugs and after tearing into the engine, (which was one hell of a process might I add, but that is whole nother can of worms I'm not going to open on this thread) I found some severe scoring on the pistons and cylinder walls, (which are nickle plated) so after doing some internet searching and price checking I found Kustom Kraft, who said that they could re-nik my cylinders and include my pistons for a price that was lower yet still comparable to other companies such as U.S. Chrome. So I decided to think with my wallet and go with Kustom Kraft, I was told that is would be a two and a half week process until I would get my sh*t back so I shipped half my engine to Vegas. 3 days later I received a phone call telling my that the pistons he is ordering for me for the better price are on back order for a month. At this point I'm thinking that it would have been wonderful information to have before I shipped my engine to them, but I decided to wait the month and see what happens.
So after a month and a day I called them and was told and I quote "well they might be on a shipment coming from Germany that might be here some time next week or the week after that." At this point I'm beginning to become slightly irritated. I asked him to quote me a price on some Wiseco pistons, after finally receiving that phone call, I was told that it would be an extra $200.00 on top of everything. I told him that I was looking at a Wiseco kit for the same price he was giving me the pistons from Germany (actually I think the Wiseco kit was a few dollars cheaper), I then bought the Wiseco's and had them shipped to Vegas. As soon as I told the person I was dealing with at Kustom Kraft that I was not buying his and was getting them online, his attitude changed dramatically for the worse.
To wrap this story up, 3 weeks after my pistons arrived, and several phone calls later to find out if they are doing work or not, and several heated discussions with the Representative I talked to throughout the whole process, I was finally told the words I wanted to hear for 2 months, that my cylinders are finally re-niked and in a box ready to come my way, all that was left was to pay.
Now originally I was quoted $1200.00 for the whole process, that's stripping the old nikisil, and then a skim bore, then re-nikisil, then hone, and new pistons. After I bought my own pistons online I was told it would be $700.00. and thats 600 for the stripping and replating and then 100.00 for the skim bore. I then saw on THEIR WEBSITE that the skim bore is included with the re-nikisil process. After asking the rep about that I got a wishy-washy response and was told that my total was $780.00. After a very heated conversation he lowered the price to $740.00 and told me I was getting a good deal because of the type of engine case it was and yada yada blah blah.
Basically, I caution anyone who is thinking of doing business with Kustom Kraft. From the very begining it was nothing but a headache. The person I talked to on the phone the whole time (I won't give his name out of respect, I'm not sure if he is the owner or not) gave me nothing but attitude the whole time especially after I bought my pistons, it took 2 months for me to finally get my cylinders back and the workmanship was not very good. I couldn't see the hone job untill we took LED lights to it and held it at just the right angle. Absolutly terrible.
Well I'm done ranting, thank you and congrats if you made it all the way through, I hope this help whoever is reading it and I hope that shotty businesses such and Kustom Kraft reap the consiquences of treating customers like dirt.

Dads_FJ

"...Now originally I was quoted $1200.00 for the whole process,..."

Geeze for $1200 you could have purchased a Yamaha FJ1100/1200. 

Live and learn...
John S.

'84 Yamaha FJ1100
'89 Yamaha FJ1200
'94 Yamaha WR250
'80 BMW R100S/Sidecar
'39 BSA WM20

FJmonkey

I don't have the time to break this down... Anyone else....
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

mcquack

Quote from: Dads_FJ on April 22, 2013, 02:22:20 PM
"...Now originally I was quoted $1200.00 for the whole process,..."

Geeze for $1200 you could have purchased a Yamaha FJ1100/1200. 

Live and learn...
that's funny, I just sold my 89 fj1200 literally last night for $1300. I needed to upgrade.

rktmanfj

Quote from: mcquack on April 25, 2013, 11:58:29 AM
that's funny, I just sold my 89 fj1200 literally last night for $1300. I needed to upgrade.

Not possible.

The '89 FJ1200 is the ne plus ultra of motorcycling.
Unless you had one of those blue/black ones, and got a silver/white one, of course.    :biggrin:


Randy T
Indy

Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.
Psalms 144:1

'89 FJ1200
'90 FJ1200
'78 XT500
'88 XT350