Discouraged!

[Rannos]

I recently purchased a 383 rotating assembly from a supplier a few friends had recommended. I had never heard of them but with 3 friends saying they had used them more then once and got good deals and good quality I gave it a try.

After calling them and explaining what I wanted they said they had a similar kit that with a few upgrades would do what I was looking to do and they could have it balanced and sent to me in 3 days and the price was VERY reasonable. So I asked the lady I was speaking with if there was anyway I could purchase this through Paypal so I would have some kind of buyer protection. She said that would be fine sence they used Paypal for all the kits they sold via eBay.

I felt a little nervous at this but went ahead sence they had been recommended by trust worthy people. So I ordered a 6" Scat Pro Competition rod 383 with Probe SRS pistons and a Scat 9000 internally balanced crankshaft. 3 days later I get a kit with what appeared to be what I ordered. So I set about double checking clearances and right off notice that the compression height of the piston is for a 5.7 rod.

I call them and am told a 6" rod and 5.7" rod use the same piston in a 383 as it's the bore that matters. I try to explain to them that the .300" difference in rod length would cause all sorts of catastrophic failures. Finally after I give them the exact Probe part numbers do they concede that I am right. They give me a shipping number to send this kit back and start looking at getting me the right pistons to start balancing another kit for me.

At this point I felt like anyone can make an Honest mistake but the machinist that balanced the kit should have caught this but sh*t happens. Soooo a little while later that day I call back to see if they got the pistons and all the parts together and am told 6 to 8 weeks for the Probe SRS pistons for a 6" rod 383. Instead of waiting for that they would upgrade me to a JE/SRP. Well fine by me they are as good or better (better IMO) anyway.

This was on a friday so I wait and call back Monday afternoon and they say Yeah we got them.... it's and Icon blah blah number. I look this number up and it's the lowest grade Icon that really shouldn't be advertised as a forged piston. I say yeah I paid extra to get the SRS piston I want an SRS piston or equal. So we go round about how they have it for the 5.7 rod but not the 6.0 rod. Finally I say fine I'll accept a 5.7 rod. Probelm solved. Or so I thought.

2 weeks go by and no parts. So I call again(I should mention I hate bothering ppl and feeling like a pest). I get told they're senior tech/machinist will call me back in 5 minutes. The next day he calls and says What can we do to fix your engine. I reply that's a good question as I have yet to receive any parts. To Which he says well it's either wait for the SRS for the 6.0 rod or do the hypereutectic Icons. I remind him I agreed to use the 5.7 rods with the SRS piston and had expected my kit a week ago. He says Oh yeah I forgot we did settle on that. I will get this kit right out to you. Once again I feel the probelm is solved.

Today my kit arrives and I set about double checking every thing and measuring just so all is well before I take everything to the machine shop in the morning. I happen to notice while checking the crank that the first counter weight doesnt have the SCAT 9000 on it like all the other SCAT 9000 cranks I have seen so I look up the part number and damned if they didn't send me the $150 stock replacement crank Scat makes.

Now they won't answer my calls and because the way the invoice through paypal is worded it looks like I may be stuck with this crank/kit. So now I am so discouraged at this entire ordeal that I feel I should just sell all my stuff and go back to just cruising around on my scooter. What should have been a mildly pleasent few weekends spent with my son and a few friends working on this project has turned into one of the biggest Hassels I have ever had to deal with.

Sorry for the long post and the rant, just had to get this off my chest.