[Closed] LBS charge - switching forks?

Maybe just do it your self.

It's really not very difficult.

Depends how much work is involved, does the steerer need trimming/crown race fitting/SFN fitting? etc

how much would you be happy paying?

I reckon you’ll be charged 1hr labour minimum so £30-£60

I agree with plus one

I assume swapping crown races as well which can be simple and can be a real pain, plus setting up the brakes again plus sorting out all the issues you have forgotton like a new star fangled nut

I reckon you’ll be charged 1hr labour minimum so £30-£60

Plus Tourist Tax.

Yeah it’s a hour, about £50.

It’s also a ‘simple’ job that can turn into a total pita if   /when it becomes less straight forward that it could be.

Unless you live above or next to a LBS you'd probably be quicker doing it yourself rather than taking the bike in and collecting it again. Just remember to measure twice, then twice again before cutting steerer and leave enough for a spacer or two to adjust in future.

It’s also a ‘simple’ job that can turn into a total pita

Really?

Not pisstaking but i'm really not understanding how it can be considered difficult?

Hours labour seems fair. I guess depending where you are £30-50

what are you being charged?

An hour to do it properly.

That would be remove brake

Remove remote

Remove fork and check headset bearings, probably clean/inspect/grease

Fit SFN

Fit Fork, check steerer, mark, remove and cut

Fit fork properly

Fit and adjust brake

Fit and test remote

Check all is OK

If it all goes right your headset is OK and the remote is not an absolute PITA

Not pisstaking but i’m really not understanding how it can be considered difficult?

Headset falling apart, brake mount bolts seized, someone tickling you when you're trying to work...

Problems that could make it difficult

Changing the crown race - headset borked needs work.
Brake mount standards don't match, needs adaptors.
Brake hose too short
Wheel standards don't match
Headset standards don't match
Something wrong with stem
Getting steerer tube right length (straight position match or is fork length A-C changing?)

Generally it is a quick job, but occasionally it isn't.

Really?

Not pisstaking but i’m really not understanding how it can be considered difficult?

Nothing earth shattering, crownrace not coming off, steerer tube not being the right length, headset failure, not having the right spacers if the tube is now 2mm longer or shorter than the last one. Star Nut not fitted.

Nothing earth shattering

Exactly.

All very simple stuff that would be dead easy to sort even as a noob.

Might even add to an understanding of how a bike works.

It's hardly revalving a shim stack is it.

Not pisstaking but i’m really not understanding how it can be considered difficult?

For or someone with the tools, space, time and a high level of competence, it *probably* won’t be difficult.

but it might be.

If it’s not a split crown race & has a tight interference fit (on either fork, steerer tolerances vary IME) for a start. Or a number of other possibilities, listed above.

sock.

Hammer and flat blade screwdriver.

Who doesn't already own them?

It's not difficult. I hate the fact people pay for stuff as easy as this.

Loads of people will help with advice on simple stuff like this.

Aye, but you’re still assuming mechanical competence, which I’m sure you have, others might not have the same confidence or experience and assess things differently.

knowing you from forum presence over the years I’d say you’re along way up the curve on that one.

One can do a lot of damage with screwdriver. Especially if it’s a job that needs you to hit the screwdriver with a hammer.

Even experienced people can make mistakes...

😂

You win this round, Flashheart!

God damn it!

Beaten to it AGAIN!

Can't make that mistake with a tapered steerer . 🙂

CFH.

Having met Northwind the more I see that pic the more i'm sure he did it just for shits and giggles.

#nothwindisaverynaughtboy

Sock.

In my job i see people with no idea what they are doing attacking stuff with a screwdriver and hammer but I'm sure even some of the worst offenders could manage to remove a crown race without any SERIOUS damage.

Even buying a new crownrace would be cheaper and allow swapping back and forth.

It’s not difficult. I hate the fact people pay for stuff as easy as this.

I hate the fact that some people can't comprehend that others don't have the same god-like mechanical abilities that they do. It's only easy if you know how, and that's a very condescending attitude that you have there.

Really?

Oh sorry I forgot that you think that you working in a bike shop makes you into some kind of a wizard and no one can learn even basic stuff...

Get back in your gravel pit.

I am sure many people cant be arsed too.

Suggesting a hammer and screwdriver to someone with little or no mechanical aptitude and ability is IMO really daft - very easy to take a big gouge out of your steerer

It’s only easy if you know how

This. There are any number of other "skills" I pay for because I haven't learnt to do them myself. I'm sure that, to those proficient in them, they appear easy.

Well that escalated quickly.

So how much did you get charged OP?

Fit SFN

Fit Fork, check steerer, mark, remove and cut

then fit another SFN coz you cut the first one off?

Oh sorry I forgot that you think that you working in a bike shop makes you into some kind of a wizard and no one can learn even basic stuff…

Get back in your gravel pit.

You shouting that from the high horse or the ivory tower?

Some people don't have the tools, the space or the confidence, some have the money to make the problem sort itself out.

I've been paid to swap forks around, been asked to do it properly (not the half arsed home methods with wonky cuts etc.) It's a job worth doing properly.

But at the moment I don't have a space to do it, a bike stand, a decent hammer or SFN tool, a decent cutting guide or hacksaw, I'm screwed if a hose needs changing too so I'd happily drop it in a shop and get them to do it for me, personally I'd have got the shop to get the fork if they could and had the lot done in one go.

It’s not difficult. I hate the fact people pay for stuff as easy as this.

Hate leads to suffering and that is the path to the dark side.....

My LBS would charge an hour, £40ish.

I'm not sure why paying for services is such an earth shattering concept. Why buy bread when you can merely mix flour and water together and bake? Why buy carrots when you can just grow some? Why pay for a hair cut when everyone has scissors in the kitchen drawer?

 very easy to take a big gouge out of your steerer

You'd have to be stupid blind and working in the dark to do that and even then i'm not sure it'd be terminal.

Just refer to Sam Pilgrim's Youtube channel for mechanical tips.🤣

 But at the moment I don’t have a decent hammer

Please hand in your man badge on the way out.😘

You shouting that from the high horse or the ivory tower?

Not shouting it from anywhere Mick.

I'd happily help the OP out and show him it's not that big a deal.

Might save him [b]time[/b] and money.

I’m not sure why paying for services is such an earth shattering concept.

It's just compensating for small hands or something, it's the ultimate sticking it to the man trick or just an excuse to hide in the garage.

Please hand in your man badge on the way out.

What out of the 70's?

Not shouting it from anywher Mick.

and WTF is it with people who think I'm called Mick?

I’d happily help the OP out and show him it’s not that big a deal.

Might save him <strong class="bbcode-strong">time and money.

Or not, just might, you going to buy him the tools too? Is there a special ceremony to get your man badge after?

I ride with people who I wouldn't trust to swap a fork over, especially if it involved changing a crown race. On the whole they know their limits and go to an LBS or bug me.

then fit another SFN coz you cut the first one off?

Made me laugh anyway.

oooww micks getting all insulted again how cute.

@rocketdog that will teach people not to trust the internet 😉

@Stuart bit early to be hitting the sauce isn't it? Are you finding you flinging insults to be cute? Do you have a mirror there to flex in front of while posting? Sort of a gym for keyboard warriors?

 Is there a special ceremony to get your man badge after?

If you have to ask you'll never know mick.

Thanks for using my full name mick but there's no need to be so formal on here.

#nothwindisaverynaughtboy

Well, he’s certainly not the messiah . .

Well, he’s certainly not the messiah

Took him about six weeks to be bothered to even think about receiving a bike he'd payed me for.

Even then it took him until the last day of our trip up to Inners to collect the last bits of it.

Nice guy though when we eventually got to meet him.

What does it take to change a pair of forks - well, it appears you only need one tool to do the job.

😂 at convert.

Just trying to suggest that it's really not [b]that[/b] difficult a job.

Oh well.

OP if you're anywhere near the West Mids give us a shout and I'll do it for you and talk you through it so you can do it your self next time.

Stu, you’re proper good at trolling. Genuinely makes me laugh. Keep it up.

As a LBS manager, it’s probabky an hours workshop time.

And people letting us look after their mechanicals helps pay the rent and bills, so we are always grateful people bring their bikes to us.

Its not a rocket science job but as people have said, sometimes it’s nice to let someone else do the fiddly bits while you make better use of your time.