Buying used parts

C

clutchdust

Millionaire Playboy
Joined
Mar 27, 2008
Messages
1,726
Location
In transition
Well, I made a deal over at CF for some aluminum 1.6 rockers. The guy advertising said he had a very nice set of Harland Sharp's with poly locks. The price was really good so I jumped. I got the box today and 4 of them are just plain bad, the roller tips are trashed, and 2 or 3 are questionable.
I just PM'd the guy about it so I'll see what he says. Not saying to not buy used parts and, at least at this point, I'm not condemning him. We'll see what, if anything, he says when he responds.
Just saying to be real careful what you're buying and who your buying from.
So while I'm at it, anybody have a few spare 1.6 rockers laying around?
 
Shit, hate to hear that Clutch, I feel I have been very fortunate in my dealings with forum members, for a long time now...

not so lucky with other more local business types from years ago, however....nothing to do with any forum members, totally unrelated, except over the car hobby/living/business....

:hissyfit::censored:
 
Hell, I've made out really well so far. And I can't say anything bad about this deal yet, other than the guy obviously didn't really inspect what he was selling. Even if I have to replace those four, it's not a big loss. I'm only in to it for $155, including the valve covers. I'm sure I can find just a few rockers to make a complete set for a reasonable price.
 
clutchdust said:
Well, I made a deal over at CF for some aluminum 1.6 rockers. The guy advertising said he had a very nice set of Harland Sharp's with poly locks. The price was really good so I jumped. I got the box today and 4 of them are just plain bad, the roller tips are trashed, and 2 or 3 are questionable.
I just PM'd the guy about it so I'll see what he says. Not saying to not buy used parts and, at least at this point, I'm not condemning him. We'll see what, if anything, he says when he responds.
Just saying to be real careful what you're buying and who your buying from.
So while I'm at it, anybody have a few spare 1.6 rockers laying around?
Click to expand...

4 are bad, another 2-3 are questionable? I would be suspect of all of them...
 
I've always taken the long view on ebay or even forum used part purchases. The vast majority of the deals are great and the parts work perfectly. Sometime though, you'll get stiffed. In the long run, you're probably ahead. Having said that, I do prefer to pay with Paypal so if you get shafted you do have some recourse. I tend to shy away from money order transactions with people that I haven't done business with in the past.
 
redvetracr said:
4 are bad, another 2-3 are questionable? I would be suspect of all of them...
Click to expand...
Oh, I do. I've gone through all of them and the roller tips do feel a little "iffy" on several others. Not notchy like a bad bearing or anything, but a little sloppy. I "saved" about $100 over buying new from Jegs, but looks like I'm going to end up buying a new set anyway. :(

73 Mike said:
I've always taken the long view on ebay or even forum used part purchases. The vast majority of the deals are great and the parts work perfectly. Sometime though, you'll get stiffed. In the long run, you're probably ahead. Having said that, I do prefer to pay with Paypal so if you get shafted you do have some recourse. I tend to shy away from money order transactions with people that I haven't done business with in the past.
Click to expand...

See, I'm just the opposite. I refuse to use PayPal. I'd much rather buy/sell with check or M/O. Just a personal preference thing I guess.

I checked them again today and now I don't even believe they're 1.6 like they're supposed to be. There are absolutely no markings on them at all. I scribed a small mark on the side as close as I could approximate to the center of the pushrod end cap. I then measured from that mark to the center of the trunion and then from the center of the trunion to the center of the roller tip. I had 15/16" on the pushrod end and 1-3/8 on the roller end. Hope my math is right.
Haven't heard from the seller yet, but if he bails on me, that's just going to suck.
 
Last edited:
You may get lucky if you contact Harland-Sharp. They have a rebuild service that was cheap several years ago. Maybe you can get them all rebuilt for a deal or they may "warranty" the bad ones.

Mark
 
I'll talk to them. I just heard back from the seller. He seems to be pretty straight but he claims to be going entirely off the info of the engine builder (not him) who sold him the engine.
Even if I get them replaced, I'm still "stuck" with a set of 1.5s I don't want. I still want the 1.6. But maybe I can sell these for what I have in them and just buy new like I should have to begin with.
 
I'm sorry for your purchase that went bad, I have been there more than once. Over the long haul, though, I have made many more good purchases on CF than bad and wouldn't give up on them. Keep working on a solution and it may work out at the end, mine have.
 
Red said:
I'm sorry for your purchase that went bad, I have been there more than once. Over the long haul, though, I have made many more good purchases on CF than bad and wouldn't give up on them. Keep working on a solution and it may work out at the end, mine have.
Click to expand...

I remember ONE case it took some jumping to 'Git 'er DUN!!'.....but it WAS dun....

:clap::clap::smash::thumbs:
 
Seller told me he would be happy to refund as he wasn't trying to get anything over. He also said he would look around and see if he has a good set of 1.6s if I was willing to swap. I told him I'm good with either.
 
Sounds like he's trying to work with you to make it right. That's hopeful.

clutchdust said:
See, I'm just the opposite. I refuse to use PayPal. I'd much rather buy/sell with check or M/O. Just a personal preference thing I guess.

.
Click to expand...

While I despise Paypal, the reason that I use them is the purchases are insured to a certain point if you get stiffed. They do an "investigation" which means that after you file a claim, they send an email to the seller. If the seller doesn't respond within a week, you get all or most of your money back.
 
Last edited:
mrvette said:
Red said:
I'm sorry for your purchase that went bad, I have been there more than once. Over the long haul, though, I have made many more good purchases on CF than bad and wouldn't give up on them. Keep working on a solution and it may work out at the end, mine have.
Click to expand...

I remember ONE case it took some jumping to 'Git 'er DUN!!'.....but it WAS dun....

:clap::clap::smash::thumbs:
Click to expand...

You got that one right Gene, those heads cost more than I could write off and that lying POS got me pissed. Then, when the mods initially took his side I was beside myself. Fortunately, that was an unusual situation and I subsequently purchased many parts with great results. Like clutchdust, I received parts that were not as advertised, but the seller always made it right. It would seem guys take parts on trade and don't closely examine what they have before selling. Some part damage is so obvious you have to wonder, but there it is. It sounds like this deal will take a good turn and be made right.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top