XS Hell

[rebelron]

If there is an XS hell it is named Thomas Racing Service of Greenwood Indiana. This is the hole where good bikes die at the hands of demonic hack mechanics. $2k to buy a rebuilt motor, $1k more to fix it. BUYER BEWARE.

[scotts]

Care to elaborate?

[jack]

What's your personal experience dealing with them,doesn't seem appropriate to bash someone over prices.

[necos650]

REBELRON what happened??? ?I know I would be mad if I paid 2k then they suck out another 1k but we need to know the situation.

[jscribner]

First bad I've heard about them.... what exactly happened?
John Scribner

[jeffery]

Please share your experience. I have heard nothing but good. I thought that some of the custom chopper builders use Thomas engines on there builds. I think ya get a bad one every now an again no matter whether your talking about cars, bikes, motors or even women. My bad experience came from Omar's tank, while others have not had a problem. Considering paint and price of tank I lost about $600.00 and I'm not through yet if I want to correct the problem its another tank (another manufacturer for sure) and paint. I feel the pain.

Jeffery

[shifty]

Why is this thread a 'Sticky? ... I've seen a few threads turn up this way lately.

[rebelron]

Boyer ignition improperly installed.
Three new heavy duty clutch springs all installed on same side.
Clutch springs screws have evidence that a chisel was used to remove or install said springs. On the inner clutch boss, where the screw springs install, two were broken. Leaks oil badly.
XS1 type barrels on an 81 or 82 block. Resulting in an antique type cam chain tensioner that was installed with out a gasket. Another oil leaker. Left side clutch adjuster missing parts when delivered. Oil tube bent badly where it attaches to top of head.
So what do you think? Do I trust these guys with warranty work?

[grizld1]

Ouch. If there's an XS1 cam chain tensioner in there, you may have another problem. Those units used an idler gear rather than a plastic shoe to tension the cam chain. Series 256 and series 447 cam chains were different pitch; can't be good. What's their response to all this?

[rebelron]

One of the reasons I started this thread was to gather more info on the engine. This is my 4th project bike and the problems that I am finding are adding up to more than just minor tweaks or gremlins. I believe the motor has some major issues. My first hint of trouble actually came from MMM. I don't want to drag him in this but he was not to impressed by Thomas's work on one particular occasion.

Do the barrels have serial numbers that can be looked up?

[grizld1]

Not to my knowledge. You can tell them apart by the head gasket seating surfaces.

[rebelron]

Called yesterday, no answer left message.
Called today, no answer left message.
Requested Thomas to replace top end, I already fixed broken clutch, and to pay for shipping. Waiting for reply.

Grizdl1, would the different pitch in the cam chain be the reason I can't get it to stay adjusted?

[rebelron]

There was trouble from the start. I purchased carbs and holders from MMM and an oil cooler type filter from Mikes. These items were included with my core engine that was shipped to Thomas. Was told that my parts would be set up and test run on my 750 engine. The new engine was returned with out my parts. Different carbs and holders were installed and no oil cooler. Called Thomas to find out what happened. Was told that my parts were still there in the boxes and I had actually been sent an engine that was destined elsewhere. Thomas said to keep the engine and we would exchange parts. All parts were sent back and forth and the motor was installed. As I tried to start the motor, the stator wire fried my brown wire and the junction. I don't know yet if that was all. I had sent in a good working stator with my core engine. (Side note, my core was a running, working engine.) Called Thomas again. Thomas said he would ship my stator and rotor to me and we would exchange parts again. Thomas also said he had not tested the stator in the engine sent to me. When asked about the fried wire harness, Thomas said he would cut the junction off of an old harness and send it to me. What every one wants is a cobbled up electric system. I refused and purchased new parts to repair the harness. Received my old stator and rotor and installed back into motor with out further problems. Upon setup, the clutch actuator was missing the the part where the cable attaches. I had planned to replace this anyway but still the part should have been complete. Whenever I tried to ride the bike it was extremely hard to shift or no shift at all. I learned to wear steel toed shoes to keep my toes from damage. Finally took the clutch apart after reading some posts and asking some questions. First thing I noticed was the clutch only opened on one side. Thomas said they installed 3 heavy duty springs to keep clutch drag down. Unfortunately all three springs were installed in consecutive order. The weaker springs were the only side opening up. I noticed that at some point a chisel had been used to either remove or install the clutch spring screws. Chisels leave tell tale marks for sure. After disassembly I measured things out and decided to replace all the plates. The big surprise came at reassembly when I discovered to or the threaded plugs the spring screws insert into were broken. Nothing like quality chisel work. Purchased an inner clutch boss to repair.
Why is all of this relevant? I spoke with Thomas several times before I made my purchase. Thomas always said that the engines were test run and run up and down through the gears. How could this be? How does one hook up a cable to a clutch actuator part that isn't there? How do you shift gears with an improperly installed clutch? Did I even get a 750 motor?

What do you guys think? Do you trust Thomas to do warranty work? Do I trust him to replace the top end and return all my new parts in the bottom end? Also when I said it leaked oil. It pools oil on the back of the block. The front of the block is even better. Wipe off the seep where the barrel meets the block and you can watch it come right back out. The engine has 10-15 miles on it right now and has only idled enough to dial in the carbs. It does run but makes cam chain noise which I just learned about from Griz.

Brand new parts will run around $1k to replace the top end. I am not a happy man.

[grizld1]

OK, Ron, here's my interpretation, for what it's worth. Somebody has your property and you don't; you were given another engine. If I were in your shoes I'd consider that my good engine core had been stolen, and I'd be talking to the Illinois Attorney General's local office about a civil and/or criminal complaint and where to file it. You may have a similar service in your area.

[leethal]

Did rebelron get -1 Karma from this thread?