What did you do today?

[teddy037.3]

Want to run with the big dogs?  You got to pay the big dog dues.

they really have you watercooled boys by the sack, eh?

[MadDuck]

they really have you watercooled boys by the sack, eh?

If you really want it to work right, apparently so.  Wait until I fill you all in about what it actually costs to do your own services, tools & parts.   

[Thermite]

NO they're OEM Ducati.

$12.67 each from Plug Club.

OEM D-Zuss pin (cheap as cad-plated) out of SSD = 14.95.
TITANIUM D-Zuss pin aftermarket = $9.95.

OEM Ducati?  I think not.  I call balogna on them making either of these parts.

I give you credit for one thing though, you get big balls just for walking into their parts department.

[MadDuck]

It"s a NGK spark plug and says so right on the Ducati box.  When you Google the NGK number you get an entirely different looking plug than what comes out of the SSD parts dept.

[Speed 3 Pilot]

It"s a NGK spark plug and says so right on the Ducati box.  When you Google the NGK number you get an entirely different looking plug than what comes out of the SSD parts dept.

Interesting...when my plug change was due, I sourced my plugs from sparkplugs.com and Will never mentioned that it wasn't the correct plug...the sprakplug.com website offers up the 1098 as an application for the plug in question...does the 848 take a different plug?

http://sparkplugs.com/results_fitment.asp?pid=mar10a%2Dj

[teddy037.3]

If you really want it to work right, apparently so.  Wait until I fill you all in about what it actually costs to do your own services, tools & parts.   

that's why I am a consumer, and not... a... service provider?

[DarkMonster620]

Well I source my NGKs from Monster Parts, both regular and Iridium; the Champions, luckily, found a local parts store that carries the RC4H . . .and Bosch also carries plugs I can use as well as some Can Am models use the same plug . . .
Think my Gina is a keeper . . .

[MadDuck]

Interesting...when my plug change was due, I sourced my plugs from sparkplugs.com and Will never mentioned that it wasn't the correct plug...the sprakplug.com website offers up the 1098 as an application for the plug in question...does the 848 take a different plug?

http://sparkplugs.com/results_fitment.asp?pid=mar10a%2Dj

That plug is an exact match for the ones I got.  I'll probably use them as a source for any other future projects.

[eltristo]

that's why I am a consumer, and not... a... service provider?

Not what I heard...

[Thermite]

That plug is an exact match for the ones I got.  I'll probably use them as a source for any other future projects.

That's the exact one "plug club" listed for $2 less each.

Just hearing what they charged you makes me happy SSD doesn't have any parts for bikes as old as mine.

[teddy037.3]

Not what I heard...

shoosh. sailors don't count 

[MadDuck]

That's the exact one "plug club" listed for $2 less each.

Just hearing what they charged you makes me happy SSD doesn't have any parts for bikes as old as mine.

For what it's worth, and that may not be much, SSD is buying these spark plugs from Ducati and not NGK. Now, they could buy the plug from NGK but I don't know how such purchases would affect their franchise agreement with Ducati Spa. Same thing as BMW of Honolulu having to buy their parts from BMWNA. Very likely that SSD's wholesale cost from Ducati is higher than the Plug Club price. Every body up and down the line gets their cut of that red & white box.  In any case I don't feel all that bad about it and there are some other factors in the equation that lend to that feeling. I can't and won't complain about SSD. They are a business and they've always done right by me as far as I'm concerned. They certainly treat me better than BMW of Honolulu does. Of course YMMV.

[Thermite]

I can't and won't complain about SSD. They are a business and they've always done right by me as far as I'm concerned. They certainly treat me better than BMW of Honolulu does. Of course YMMV.

No secret I'm not a big fan of parts dept. over there and the lack of parts has had negative effects on the quality of service work.  When I took the monster in for 7500 service I was specific about changing the belts.  PO's forgot to ride it so it was four years old.  A belt change was in order for BOTH mileage and age.  When I picked up the bike from service I checked the bill and no belts listed.  I asked Will about it and he said "They were fine".  When I went in to pay the bill I went to parts and inquired about buying a set of belts.  None in stock. 3-4 weeks to order.  When I went back out I asked Will again and he told me he would have changed the belts if they had any.

This wouldn't really have jerked my chain except for the fact I had stopped in weeks earlier to verify everything needed would be on hand.  I was told yeah, just bring it in any morning between 7:30 & 8:00.  I'm not anal and I wouldn't have stopped by except I had previously tried to buy oil filters without any luck.  Wondering if they didn't have an oil filter how can they service the bike?

So yes, I guess you could say my mileage has varied.

[MadDuck]

Understandable from your point of view for sure. I can't say that every experience I've had with them was wonderful either but seems to be better over the last few years though. BTW, they still don't carry cam belts in stock but they've had oil filters lately. I even have four Factory OEM oil filters in my stock. Maybe I carry more than they do now.   

[Thermite]

I guess FP did it right by bringing his own parts for service.  He is wise in ways that still elude me.

I've been on the fence about doing my own valve adjustments so I can't write SSD off yet.  I guess I'll bring an oil filter, plugs, and belts in when the Monoposto Matrix needs service.  Fortunately that's a ways out yet.

Don't get me wrong about SSD.  Everyone there has always been very helpful and overall I like the place.  Just skipping portions of a major service because of a parts shortage doesn't seem fair to the customer though.  You know me well enough to know brand new belts in red/white wrappers would have been there with me if they had just said BYOB when I stopped in a month early.