Pre-purchase inspection problems

Sooo the story goes i bought a new boat on the weekend

Ill do a full write up of it later including steps i did to get the US trailer compliant

I had a Pre-Purchase done on the boat 2 days earlier before I picked up the boat

I wont be naming and shaming just yet until I have heard back from the mechanic

 

Problem goes that the inspection reports that the wheel bearings were "good"

This did not compute when the wheel fell off about 10mins up the road

I ended up getting the boat and trailer home after and extra 3 hours of driving time.

 

What would you do?

I am under the impression that the mechanic should at least be refunding the "service"

as by the looks of the rust hole in the backing plate would have been a clear giveaway that shit aint right

and this also give me very little confidence that the rest of the 40 thousand dollar boat I purchased is actually good.

 


pelagicyachts's picture

Posts: 1322

Date Joined: 23/02/11

hard without more detail -but

Tue, 2012-10-02 10:18

hard without more detail -but on face value the wheel bearings may actually be good -ie if the trailer was jacked up and the wheel was hand spun and checked for play ...
Axles on tandem trailers can get put under a fair bit of load when they are manuevered into tight turns (reversing etc) -if done excessively eventually they will snap
be pretty hard to say what condition an axle is in unless it is rusted badly

Posts: 5981

Date Joined: 17/06/10

when you say

Tue, 2012-10-02 15:42

when you say the wheel fell off was it just rim and tyre of did a bit of the axial still fastened to the hub come of as wheel i know it sounds a bit silly but i agree with pelagicyachts comments more iunfo required befor comment look forward to report

All the same it shouldn't of happened sorry to hear about it

pelagicyachts's picture

Posts: 1322

Date Joined: 23/02/11

yes mate -not a nice way to

Tue, 2012-10-02 16:03

yes mate -not a nice way to begin a boating relationship -i wouldnt draw comparisons with that and the boat (condition) trailers do cop a real belting - a bit of trailer love goes a long way!
if your not/cant fix yourself - guys at fremantle trailers have done some work on my previous trailer and i bought my new one from them -

Bradlze's picture

Posts: 96

Date Joined: 06/02/12

Bearing had collapsed wheel

Tue, 2012-10-02 16:17

Bearing had collapsed wheel rim and hub had come off the axle and parts of the brakes have been lost luckily the mudgaurd had held the rim from completely coming off the axle

There was only 3 corners 30 secs after I started the journey. It was all straight sailing for about 13kms and was only just noticed after I went through the Mandurah round-about (mandurah road and Mandjoogoordap Drive).

 

First time I had driven this particular trailer so was weary enough as it was

Not the first time I have driven a tandem axles trailer so I am aware of not doing tight turning circles

Inspection report was marked "good" not "poor" from a qualified mechanic so....?

tim-o's picture

Posts: 4657

Date Joined: 24/05/11

LH side? Is the nut still on

Tue, 2012-10-02 16:56

LH side? Is the nut still on the spindle? 

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I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.

Bradlze's picture

Posts: 96

Date Joined: 06/02/12

Yes LH side and nut was still

Tue, 2012-10-02 17:05

Yes LH side and nut was still on the spindle

tim-o's picture

Posts: 4657

Date Joined: 24/05/11

OK, thought the nut may have

Tue, 2012-10-02 17:11

OK, thought the nut may have been missing the split pin and turned itself off, may have been overadjusted, but so soon after picking it up????? Some pics and a personal visit should land you the thing fixed for nothing I would think, lets hope thats it, best off checking the rest of the bearings, may be piss poor quality and being tandem....

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I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.

Bradlze's picture

Posts: 96

Date Joined: 06/02/12

nope split pin still there.

Tue, 2012-10-02 17:28

nope split pin still there. It was a private sale but the mechanic was just for the pre-purchase inspection so dont expect anything to be fixed just expect at least to get my money back for the "inspection" if you could call it that

tim-o's picture

Posts: 4657

Date Joined: 24/05/11

Prob wasnt checked and was

Tue, 2012-10-02 19:24

Prob wasnt checked and was just a bearing on its way...well, you pay for an inspection to find these things so refund would be just, good luck

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I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.

sea-kem's picture

Posts: 15020

Date Joined: 30/11/09

Sounds like the trailer

Tue, 2012-10-02 20:47

Sounds like the trailer mechanic I had out to check the bearings on the boat trailer. Just smeared a bit of grease on the cap and put it back on. Nearly burnt the bearings out.

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Love the West!

Piggy's picture

Posts: 553

Date Joined: 24/08/12

Shonky

Tue, 2012-10-02 22:15

Sounds like the mechanic just did a tick and flick..... Threaten him with consumer affairs!! he will do anything for you after that!!

 

When you said you got the US trailer compliant, is this a boat that you imported or whats the story behind that?

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I go boating not fishing

Bradlze's picture

Posts: 96

Date Joined: 06/02/12

Mechanic will be doing a

Wed, 2012-10-03 06:35

Mechanic will be doing a refund, sort of happy with that but still worried about things he may have just "tick and flicked" and hasnt given me a lot of confidence in the boat at all. I maybe just get a service and check over done with a get the trailer sorted out.

Piggy's picture

Posts: 553

Date Joined: 24/08/12

Service

Wed, 2012-10-03 07:41

 Definently a service is the way to go hey!

Trailers are easy to fix and maintain with very little mechanical knowledge!

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I go boating not fishing

Bradlze's picture

Posts: 96

Date Joined: 06/02/12

Found another pretty easy

Thu, 2012-10-04 06:50

Found another pretty easy spot on the other side of the trailer that should have been picked up very easily

bolt had snapped between the spring and rocker, def not a recent snap and must of been like it for months

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Date Joined: 21/02/08

What a shocker.

Thu, 2012-10-04 07:04

What a shocker.

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Date Joined: 03/09/10

I would

Thu, 2012-10-04 07:14

be putting new springs and bearings on for piece of mind as it sounds like lack of maintenance. 40k boat = cheap insurance.

Bradlze's picture

Posts: 96

Date Joined: 06/02/12

another little giggle I had

Mon, 2012-10-08 06:51

another little giggle I had yesterday

the rear left spring had actually snapped hahaha

Posts: 9358

Date Joined: 21/02/08

ROFL, it just goes and goes

Mon, 2012-10-08 07:01

ROFL, it just goes and goes that one.

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Perry Home's picture

Posts: 434

Date Joined: 07/10/10

Bloody Hell Bradlze

Mon, 2012-10-08 10:33

Mate - not wanting to put too much of a positive spin on things but that wheel coming off may have been a serious blessing in disguise. Squidder's right - extra $ buys piece of mind. Once you get your refund hit up another mechanic that is recommended by someone you trust. Tell him the saga so far and then let him give it a good look over. Mind you by the time that happens you may have spotted all the issues anyway! At this rate you'll be able to name your boat AND trailer ( trailer is prob already called Shonky?)