AVOID THESE GUYS AT ALL COSTS!! NO COMPENSATION AND ACCUSED ME OF POSSIBLY ATTEMPTING TO SCAM…read moreTHEM!!
I had Alec's Machine Shop disassemble a pair of vintage 1976 Harley Davidson Shovelheads from my original numbers matching Police Special FLH. While inspecting the heads, minus the valves, springs, and valve guides, I noticed the guide "boss" hole on the rear head, looked "beat-up." Upon closer inspection and measurements, it was blatantly evident the "engine builder" neglected to remove the heavy carbon deposits from the portion of the valve guide behind the valve.
He hit the front head exhaust guide with such violence while trying to remove it from the head, that it broke a third of the guide right off, and then actually managed to drive the rear head guide (with all the heavy carbon deposits still attached), through the aluminum guide hole boss, tearing up the hole and rendering the damage beyond viable repair.
My initial phone call to Alberto (company phone-answerer), to tell him of the damage I had found, was met with instant incredulity, and doubtful accountability.
I took both heads in to have the owner's of the establishment scrutinize the findings; again, met with instant proclamations of prior damage, to minimize, if not eliminate, any compensation.
All 4 guides (iron), measured .565", (including the guide that came from the now torn up guide hole, measuring up to .593"), and 3 guide holes measured the same (.565"). The damaged exhaust guide hole measured between .570", erratically up to .593". The hole was now "egg-shaped" and off center. The repair would cost a minimum of $850.00 before tax, and could only be performed by an extremely experienced machinist with the right tools, of which this shop was NOT qualified to perform.
When all was said and done, no compensation was given, and they basically accused me of attempting to "scam" them, as they claimed that the broken head "may not even be the head they disassembled."
After having my 35 years of vintage Harley experience minimized to novice proportions, I couldn't take the inability of these people account for their incompetence. I left feeling completely defeated, never to return.