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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: easycleanwindows on April 12, 2005, 05:46:38 pm

Title: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: easycleanwindows on April 12, 2005, 05:46:38 pm
I turn over between £150-200 per day mon sat due to customer volume.Went out saturday in my transit only 4 years old fitted with tucker pole wfp system all tools etc filled up with diesel van stopped 7 miles up the road.
Called garage and had towed back with 700ltrs of water on board.
Garage said could be fuel pump?
I waited with anticipation........
They showed me the problem...not fuel pump....cam shaft had split in two...ouch...
not being a mechanic i asked "what does it need doing and how much???gulp gulp gulp beads of sweat.

I have been off the road now since saturday

sat,mon,tue....and will also be wed thur and fri so 6 days £200.00 lost for each day=£1,200.00

The van is having new engine fitted ooops £550.00 for engine plus vat

Fitting costs £150.00 per day x 2 £300.00


Who can beat that......ps if you drive a diesel and need a service get it done cos if the cam belt goes so will the engine
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Davindo Cleana on April 12, 2005, 06:13:56 pm
Thats bad luck indeed - I need cam belt change for my Mondeo and I think you have hastened that move - my bad luck was much less to bear - this morning I had a flat tyre and put the spare on, only to find it was shaped like an egg - this brought new meaning to 'going to work on an egg' I thought the car was coming apart until the new tyres went on this afternoon :)
you are getting the engine very cheap if its a good one - good luck
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Terry_Burrows on April 12, 2005, 06:34:49 pm
 ;)yes had one go on me years ago,big bucks it does knacker the engine,having my Timing belt done this weekend,and clutch,costing around £400,main dealer wants £700 to do the clutch alone :o its not cheap to run cars etc these days
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Duke on April 12, 2005, 07:34:36 pm
it's a sod I know...but once you are up and running again...it shouldn't be too hard to catch up...that's good money....
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: easycleanwindows on April 12, 2005, 08:25:13 pm
Yes is good money but i have built that up over the last 18 months and not been easy but am getting there.
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: s.hughes on April 12, 2005, 08:58:17 pm
Excellent to have that type of work after only 18 months
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Duke on April 12, 2005, 09:01:56 pm
fair play to you mate...we've done it in the same timescale......over 2'000 customers and rising...not bad for a couple of chancers...
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: easycleanwindows on April 12, 2005, 09:17:55 pm
Ive had a few lucky breaks...and i use wfp as well as 'traditional way' and wfp has got me most of my work.Ii have lost a few jobs but always pick up more than i loose.An it beats driving 40 footers all over london all day
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Duke on April 12, 2005, 09:20:39 pm
absolutely....well done...
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: rosskesava on April 12, 2005, 09:25:55 pm
Hi Duke

2 000 customers....

drool ..............

Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Duke on April 12, 2005, 09:28:11 pm
all down to CANVASSING.......
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: texas girl on April 13, 2005, 03:18:31 am
Sorry it has been so challenging lately.

I thought the same at times until I got the call that my son was in a condition  at the hospital announced.

It was because he was dead.  Ate age 20. Forgive me but your woes are fixable.

Hope all works out.

Hugs,

Texas Girl :-* :-*
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: John Walker on April 13, 2005, 08:18:00 am
I find it very disapointing that engine designers have still not found a way to stop the total destruction of an engine just because a belt costing a few quid gives up.

They don't all go the full milage either before snapping.  Get those vans in for service now if you're unsure of when the belt was changed - there's not usually any pre warning of failure.

I appreciate that the valves have to open to a certain degree to ensure efficient breathing.  How about larger valves which open less or indents in the pistons to ensure zero contact in the event of a belt failure.

My Mercedes diesel saloon had a massive dual chain to drive the camshaft - nearly 300,000 - miles on the same chain.  It can be done!

John
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: littlejack on April 13, 2005, 08:31:29 am
Nissan had a 2.7 diesel unit fitted into london taxis. they took out chain and replaced it with two big cogs.

No more belt snaps,  but .... it failed the new emmission tests so they have gone over to a transit diesel unit.

Point is... They can do away with belts/chains  that do snap.  Next time,  I will check too see whether any manufacturer has got rid of these belts before I buy.

Was told it is common to use the cogs in commercial vehicles.
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: marc al on April 13, 2005, 08:38:34 am
  If you use the cogs on every day "domestic" engines it increases the power sap from the engine by creating more gyroscopic effects, this will then cause the engine to be slower to rev up and not perform aswell, in this day and age where everyone wants to get about as quick as possible they would soon moan about a slow engine, no winning really.
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Ian_Giles on April 13, 2005, 10:53:33 am
The moral of the story is to maintain your vehicle :-\
It's happened to me too, it's an expensive lesson, change your cam belt regularly.....now when did I last have mine done?........

Ian
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: easycleanwindows on April 13, 2005, 04:08:19 pm
Funny really i went to my aunties funeral today 48 years old leaving two sons 17 and 20 no father only my mum their five other aunties to take care of them.When i looked at their inconsoalable faces today i looked up and no matter how many engines i get through nothing in this world can be harder than what i saw today..God bless you all and take care and keep those cam belts up to scratch
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Duke on April 13, 2005, 04:21:04 pm
sorry to hear that mate.....
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Ian_Giles on April 13, 2005, 07:49:52 pm
The loss of a loved one is a horrible thing to have to bare, and if like Debbie you have lost a child it is truly awful, when all is said and done, a vehicle is just a vehicle, it can be replaced, lost a week's work? big deal, no different to taking a week's holiday. After a few weeks it is past, and if you are earning 50k plus a year then you can afford it.
Having said all that, it still feels like a lead weight around your neck, your stress levels rise (along with your blood pressure :-\) It's tough, we all know there are people far worse off than we are, but we can only deal with the things that life deals us personally, and some things that would leave others saying 'So what?' Will leave some on the edge of despair.
We all have our crosses to bear (bare?) The weight of them can sometimes bring us to our knees, but those on forums such as these can share their burden, have the support of people they feel they know personally, every reply can help you ease that burden a little, or help give you the perspective to realise the weight of that burden isn't perhaps that heavy after all.....

Well this reply didn't quite turn out as I intended, I've even forgotten what my original thrust was going to be ???

Where is that gin & tonic :P

I'm giving the 'mothers ruin' a shot cos I understand it isn't supposed to give you a thick ead' if you guzzle too much of the stuff ;D

Did you know that 'James Bond' has helped lessen the popularity of gin?
He always has a vodka martini (shaken not stirred 8)) Martini's also can be made with gin, but are rarely done so now because of the impact of 007 :-\

Ian
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: rosskesava on April 13, 2005, 08:50:14 pm
Tricky one that - defining 'worse luck'.

Is it by direct experiences now or recently or by what we know of that goes on in this world. In other words is it relative to what's going in my life right now or relative to what's going elsewhere in the world also.

I suppose it like having an itchy backside in a public place. At that point in time it's very important.  ;D

Right ...... time for a beer.
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: gaza on April 13, 2005, 11:13:36 pm
solved the problem 4 cam belts why dont they fit 2 belts?you heard it here first copyrighted
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Spoonbill1970 on April 14, 2005, 10:11:56 am
Quote
I need cam belt change for my Mondeo and I think you have hastened that move

Hello,

Don't wait too long to get Mondeo belt done - I learned the hard way a few months ago.
Mine wasn't due for another 20k miles, but as I have done mainly town driving in it, this seems to reduce drastically the life of the belt.
Problem with our car was not the belt itself, but the tensioner that the belt sits on. It is made of plastic and it eventually broke causing the belt to slip off resulting in knackered engine.  :( If you get your belt done at a Ford garage, they automatically change this while done the belt. It is part of the mysterious "kit" that garages tell you that you need.

Happy Window Cleaning!
Jonathan
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Davindo Cleana on April 14, 2005, 07:16:56 pm
Cheers for that Jonathan - my mate is the proverbial back street mechanic and he told me also to get the full kit - belt and tensioners so I will - says he will do it for £140 all in -
then I will continue to dream of a Vauxhall Vivaro or maybe a VW such and such, for the WFP I am determined to get :)
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: gaza on April 14, 2005, 09:22:37 pm
My mum is pregnant by the bloke next door,
my dads out of work and is a drunk
my sisters tell us they are holding down good positions in Soho
Ive just met a sweet lovable lady who I plan to marry,when she comes of the game.
she says she will leave me if I dont disown my brother because hes an Man Unt fan
Thats bad luck lady,cus luv my brother more than you
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: rosskesava on April 14, 2005, 11:48:44 pm
Your brother's a Man Utd fan - man that's serious.

You need to do something about that straight away.
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: windows_chepstow on April 15, 2005, 08:08:33 pm
I had a puncture last week (or was it the week before?), and another today!

I received a load of stick off the receptionist for not getting my spare fixed straight away - she thought I was a soldier when she assumed my address was the local barracks - and was chatting me up (I reckon).

Two punctures in two weeks - that's bloody unlucky - just under £100.00 and an hour hanging about at the garage, getting two new 'budget' tyres!

Then when I rush home, after a collection, to taxi my Missis to her night out, I find we've no electricity down stairs.  Eventually, after unplugging everything, then plugging it back in one by one, I find she's overloaded a plug socket that feeds her fish tank paraphanalia!

Okay, it's not as bad as your bad luck, but it was a bad day!
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: rosskesava on April 15, 2005, 10:09:00 pm
How about one missus and 3 daughters all with pmt?  :-[

All I want to do is my paperwork and go to bed as we've (me and my business partner) have a long long day tomorrow window cleaning.
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: dai on April 26, 2005, 11:13:10 pm
I was once doing a new job, I should have gone one rung higher but thought I,ll manage. I was over reaching, just got hold of the top of the window frame to balance myself, next thing I'm on the deck feeling for where hurts most. some stupid git had fitted a tilt and turn window upside down so that it tilted out from the top, After a couple of mins I manage to get to my feet and hobble over to one of those rustic garden benches. I plonked my self down,Crack! it snapped like a carrot and I'm back on the deck. I half crawled to the car and managed to drive down to the local A&E unit. One broken foot, off for three weeks and I never did get paid.
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: Mike_G on April 27, 2005, 03:26:16 pm
Did they charge you for the bench?
Title: Re: WHOS HAD WORSE BAD LUCK THAN THIS
Post by: dai on April 27, 2005, 10:33:01 pm
TO TELL THE TRUTH i NEVER WENT BACK