Back in April I sent my rear brake drum off to John Hemming for him to weld a new toothed ring to it - I know in an ideal world it should have gone off for repair early in the winter, but an initial turn-around time was given as about a month, possibly sooner if he had others to do at the same time. Despite numerous promises of 'definitely next week' - the last one being a week last Friday - it still hasn't been returned and the bike continues to stand idle >:(
After 5 months I despair of ever seeing it again. Does anyone have a usable one kicking around that needs a new home? It's the three hole version for the interchangeable wheels.
Needless to say, I shall be very careful when it comes to choosing repairers in the future. Despite the excellent job made of the engine sprocket previously, this one is well and truly off my list.
Thanks. Steve
I had a similar experience, 3-4 week estimate, I sent the hub, phoned to check on its arrival and was told 10-12 weeks..
Did a great job though, I pestered him as the Coventry -Brighton run was approaching and received it back by week 9 or 10
It's been over three weeks now since the 'definitely next week' promise. I checked again today to be told he was working on the sprocket this week :o and it had slipped in the machine damaging the new teeth ::) It seems that the repair now has to be started all over again >:( It had been my intention to get it sent back if it hadn't been started and simply use it as it was. Even that isn't now an option. A whole summer of Beaming wasted!
I'm now in desperate need of a sprocket as I fear the original one might never be returned at this rate.
Caveat Emptor indeed.
Steve
Problem is John is the last one left advertising this service. I believe his main work is in agriculture and the sprocket re-toothing can take a back seat during busy times. The last one I had done took quite a while and had quite a phone call with him as I also got worried, but rest assured it was worth the wait and he hasn't lost one yet.
It's finally been returned - a lovely looking job, but it's taken five and a half months. I hope I can recall how it goes back together now :-\
Steve
I wouldn't have thought this job was that difficult for a decent machinist. For those who frequent the IKBA forum, Humbernut of that parish has done a couple of excellent machining jobs for me at very reasonable cost. He has a superb setup of CNC machining centre, centreless grinder, proper lathe etc and spent his working life fixing things on offshore oil rigs, where there isn't a convenient spare parts shop round the corner.