Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
tencent is my hero...
Page: 1, 2  Next
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
noza
Samba Member


Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 97
Location: walla walla, wa
noza is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:39 am    Post subject: tencent is my hero... Reply with quote

If any of you are thinking of getting a motor from tencent, don't hesitate!
I was on a recent trip, 3 hours from home on a brand new, broken in tencent motor when the unthinkable happened. Saw my coolant light start flashing, and temp start to climb. Pulled over thinking a coolant hose came off when I saw something a little surprising, I was missing a head stud nut!
Shocked
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I called tencent and told him about what happened. This was 5:30 on a friday night, by the way. We talked about what to do next, and while I was waiting for the tow truck, he did a little research and called me back while I was getting a tow to the home depot parking lot.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Gotta love the look on the dog's face! Laughing

Tencent called me back and walked me through what I needed to do to patch the head so I could limp home. Turns out a 1/2" tap fits the hole in the head perfectly. This was discovered by tencent on a head he had at home, less than 20 min after my call. I picked up a tap set, socket to fit the tap, and some high temp gasket maker.
Here is what turned out. (upper left corner)
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


This worked to get me back home (after a couple days of camping in hood river)
Tencent kept in touch with me the whole time making sure that all was well with the motor and even walked me through an unrelated problem I was having with my starter (loose wire from install, Rolling Eyes )
When I did make it back home, tencent came up and fixed the problem at Rocky Jennings' shop.

Bottom line is that the customer service that comes with one of tencent's motor is unbeatable. I am very pleased with the motor, and all the time that tencent has taken to answer any questions I had both during install and break-in.
Cheers,
noah
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
dhermanesq
Samba Member


Joined: December 15, 2006
Posts: 160
Location: MKEWI
dhermanesq is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yep. 10cent is one helluva doude. Knowledge is enough, the willingness to share is noble. Word to 10cent's mothership connection. Props doude!
_________________
1993 VW Eurovan 5-Speed
1995 Mercedes S600 v12 (Rides again!)
2001 Passat V6-30v
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Escorial Syncro
Samba Member


Joined: May 02, 2004
Posts: 436
Location: Manitou Springs, CO
Escorial Syncro is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not surprised. I've been working on a strange beast to me, a 2.1 WBXer, (I'm a subie convert), and every topic of interest I've researched on this forum contains useful info from Mr. Dime. Amazing stuff, amazing amount of time and brains this guy DONATES to this forum. My thanks go out to him for all the help I've gotten from just reading. Saved me many $$$$'s. So I'm not surprised that this dude would treat you so great after a motor purchase. You just know he didn't sleep until it was fixed, and fixed right.

Cheers, Joel
_________________
Joel Lane
1985 Vanagon converted to syncro, ALH TDI, Reimo Primus top with Westy interior
2002 Toyota Tundra 4x4
1974 Honda CL360 Scrambler (for sale!)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
camit34
Samba Member


Joined: January 14, 2006
Posts: 1567
Location: Commerce City CO
camit34 is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's one pretty cool dude...
_________________
In search of a Vanagon
1971 Westy (SOLD)
1971 Deluxe (SOLD)
1967 Freedom Camper (SOLD)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
87Enterprise
Samba Member


Joined: January 05, 2009
Posts: 134
Location: sodak
87Enterprise is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What 10cent did for you really does not surprise me, if you read his posts and look at the way he answers folks. I only wished I had of heard of him before I got my engine, no problems with mine, but his engine would have been in the running!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
D Clymer
Samba Member


Joined: December 22, 2005
Posts: 2978
Location: Issaquah, WA
D Clymer is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, thumbs up to Chris for the excellent customer service. Traveling from New Mexico to Washington state to personally fix the problem speaks alot about his commitment to his customers and his product. Very impressive!

David
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
kshbaja
Samba Member


Joined: June 15, 2008
Posts: 476
Location: Portland, OR
kshbaja is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What were the results of the post mortem? Did the stud break and fall out of the engine taking the nut with it?
_________________
1986 Westfalia
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Williamtaylor33
Samba Member


Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 1545
Location: Arkansas
Williamtaylor33 is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

one question.
Why was there a head stud missing? maybe i'm missing something here but it seems like that would be something obvious that was missing.

The other day i clicked on the feedback tab by one of 10cents posts. And nothing came up. So maybe this should be moved to the buyer and seller feedback forum to show good customer service.
_________________
89 Bostig powered syncro westy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
noza
Samba Member


Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 97
Location: walla walla, wa
noza is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

stud snapped next to the case. Took nut with it.
Worked out for me because the stud was not in the way for threading the head for a bolt.
I think Chris might have kept the culprit as a souvenir...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
tencentlife
Samba Member


Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10067
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
tencentlife is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 5:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Why was there a head stud missing?


Well, hell, it was there when I built the thing. Now where did that thing go?

The stud broke off down at the root in the case. It's just a risk you take when rebuilding this old stock. There aren't any credible tests established to assess the head studs (although you can be damn sure I'm trying to figure one out!); you inspect them for corrosion or damage, and run with them if they look OK and take your chances. The alternative is to replace them all at over $200 the set, and an easy full day's labor to R&R, if you're lucky. That would raise the price of an engine $500, for every one, whether it needed new studs or not. I don't think I would sell many engines if the price went up $500 but there wasn't $500 more performance, so this is just one of those calculated risks one takes in business. Lots of things are this way; you'd be surprised. The only downside is you have to be prepared to deal with the consequences should they arise.

I had been wanting to travel up that way anyway to meet Rocky, since we've been collaborating on some projects, and to take him a load of valuable old engine parts I won't use but he can recondition and turn into money instead of selling them for scrap. The genius here was Mr. Jennings; once I got the engine out and the head off, he took a look and thought we could make a go of getting the busted root out. He and I spent about an hour and a half hand drilling thru the root, and he had the tools and knew the tricks to get that thing free! I had brought a complete prepped case and was ready to reassemble the entire engine on it to get the owner back on the road, then deal with the stud afterward to salvage the case, but Rocky's know-how with these things saved me an easy day and a half of work. My luck that my customer lives in the same town as the guy who pulls more studs out of wbx cases than probably anyone in the country. And just a great guy on top of that; I had a wonderful visit and it didn't seem like work at all. The van's fixed, I had a fun road trip, made new friends and saw some old ones along the way, and everyone seems to be happy in the end. Drank some great wine, too.

Rocky could have dealt with it, but he's busy with his own business and has walk-ins and everything, and I would have had to compensate him fairly with cash, so it was a money vs. time question: I could drive up and deal with it myself for far less money, if I could just take the time, which at that moment I could. Add the other reasons to go and I undertook the trip without reservation (I mean who needs reservations when you travel in a van?).

It couldn't have worked out any better than it did.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
shadetreemech
Samba Member


Joined: October 05, 2005
Posts: 777
Location: Claremont, CA
shadetreemech is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Criminey, the things some people will do just because its the right thing to do.

I'd like to buy you a beer, or a nice glass of wine, one of these days, sir.

Cool
_________________
'84 GL 1.9
'01 Volvo V70 T5
'88 Westy - "MZDRTHY"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
fairweather
Samba Member


Joined: August 26, 2007
Posts: 663
Location: Aspen, CO
fairweather is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This isn't "good" customer service it's, ah well, is there even a name for this?? Something beyond exceptional for sure.

I have always stated in the various "swap" threads to just install a 10c or GW engine, well that list just got shorter by 50%.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Spezialist
Banned


Joined: July 01, 2005
Posts: 1941

Spezialist is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 9:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm pretty impressed by much of what I've read.
_________________
Popcorn
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
errolprowse
Samba Member


Joined: April 18, 2009
Posts: 177
Location: monterey california
errolprowse is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i wish we could have a online donation box for tencentlife, i mean i barely have enough money for fixing my vanagon but i would totally give him a couple bucks here and there. and if everyone did that too i think it would work out great.

his posts are like 5 times as long as others and tell in exact detail how to fix a problem, i like bookmark his postings just for later on reference. (not excluding everyone, there are some other really smart guys on this forum)
_________________
'89 Vanagon GL
The ultimate kiteboarding/surfing/skimboarding van!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Bruce Wayne
Samba Member


Joined: May 15, 2007
Posts: 1210

Bruce Wayne is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I plan on going with a tc engine when my time comes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
CasaDelSol
Samba Member


Joined: December 04, 2007
Posts: 71
Location: Virginia
CasaDelSol is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If tencent don't rock, ain't nobody rockin'. Assuming I am around long enough for me 2.1 to kick, the next powerplant will be a tencent deluxe.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
ftp2leta
Samba Member


Joined: October 11, 2004
Posts: 3271
Location: Montreal
ftp2leta is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bravo but i wound's expect anything less from him Smile

To tenc, i sometime test the strength of the stud by putting a very strong metal bar with a hole in it across the water jacket, put the stud in the hole and over torque it to 42-3. On a old case that i didn't care about i was able to but 55 before the stud stripped.

By the way noza, i see normal hose clamp on those injector!!! And i see original hoses on the injector.... you don't want that beautiful engine to burned down!

Cheers, Ben
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Facebook Gallery Classifieds Feedback
sanchius Premium Member
Samba Member


Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1441
Location: IN
sanchius is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="tencentlife"]
Quote:

...I had brought a complete prepped case and was ready to reassemble the entire engine on it to get the owner back on the road, then deal with the stud afterward to salvage the case...


10c,

Do you need core cases (or any other engine parts)? I have a couple that I'd be more than happy to send you.

It would be only a partial payback for all the advice and, more importantly, the confidence that you've so freely given us over the past couple years.

When we know that we have an expert willing to help us if we get in trouble, it allows us to be much more adventurous when diving into these old engines.

Lawrence (Colorado)


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
FNGRUVN
Samba Member


Joined: October 27, 2007
Posts: 2237
Location: Fort Collins, CO
FNGRUVN is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Even if you did replace all of the studs with new ones, who is to say one of the new ones couldn't break. Stuff happens. The space shuttle is a good example of this. The best of everything, tested and retested and the thing still breaks. Stuff happens.
_________________
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
tencentlife
Samba Member


Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10067
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
tencentlife is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's exactly right: stuff happens. Rocky has built more of these than I have, even, and he said he has had a few studs break after some time in service. It's just one of those things that's hard to control. I would think the odds would be improved by use of all-new ones, but the increased cost of a blanket approach would mean I would sell very few engines at all. It doesn't do much good to build a perfect product that no one can afford.

Ben, the overtorque test is a good way to assess the threading in the case, because aluminum threads will shear or not shear, pretty much, but I'm afraid that overtorquing studs like these might just stretch them and put them closer to potential failure even though they don't break under the test. Their construction seems to be a stretch type, and there's no doubt that as the engine expands they are put under much higher tension than the basic torque applies. So I'm thinking that an accurate length measurement as is done for other stretch-shank bolts might be the way to weed out the ones that have given up some of their strength already. Because they are not seated in the case at consistent depths, it would require making a tube of accurate length that could be slipped over each one until it bottoms on the root flare. There would have to be three different tubes for the three lengths of studs. This will require some more investigation.

Sanchius, since you're not far away, I'd like to talk with you about those parts. I've had offers of similar but from so far away the shipping cancels out a lot of the potential value. I'm not hard up for good cores, but the Albuquerque VW wrecker where I score a lot of my working stock is going to go out of business at the end of '09, so I should try to get ahead somewhat. Look for a PM.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is kryptonite to doctrine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.