Spence

You can balance to .1 oz and still have a bunch of vibration from road force variation. We do that and check the 1st. 2nd and 3rd harmonics on all tire/wheels we do as well as lateral force. I wasn't wondering but I also race. Drag and road racing. Spence

Now we are getting somewhere! Going back to reply #32 I thought I would make it easier to get a response to these to help move this along. 1.Thank you for your offer but correct me if I am wrong. With a paid membership the ads are still there, it's just me that doesn't see them and the public still can read the responses. Is that correct? At least for me this way takes away from the value. I know it has held me back from at least a half dozen posts I would of made about how brakes are seviced, handling customers looking for finacing and others. 2.What else is extended with this paid membership other then me not seeing the ads? Thanks again Alex!

Thanks again for the effort Alex. I hope this clears up more how I feel and maybe others as well. Have a good day.

Thanks Alex for your response. Lets take a look eh... You seem to narrow in on two so you say. Lets start with what you mention above. In the sceam of things you and the "co-founders" seem to feel a need to help "Auto Shop Owners". Hell it's the title of the website. I get a flood of thoughts on just this thought. 1. Does it help them when the public can peer in on thoughts that an "Auto Shop Owner" feels and wishes to discuss without having the public view it until he or she has a handle on the thought. I don't see where it does. 2. Is it constructive when again "Auto Shop Owners" are discussing how bad it is for these $X.xx oil changes are for the customers of the motoring public and the "ads" hone in on the title of that topic and flood the page with discount and low ball oil changes. Again I don't see where it does. 3. I can get rid of the "ads" on my viewing page if I am willing to pay $99.00 a year. a. Does it get rid of the adds for what I write so it remains private or just so I don't have to see them? My thought is it's the latter. If so then the problem is still there. b. I need to feel a value for my money. So far I don't. c. I am on this site/forum and 4 others for a total of 5 regularly. 2 of those are set up as public/private with a way of keeping the 2 seperate. The other 2 are full private. The ones with the most particapation and best value of conversation are the total private. followed closely by the public/private one. d. Of the 4 mentioned sites in "c"... All are free. Go Figure e. If you wanted income from the site you could consider sponsors to run ads. Ones that would consider having the people that own shops nice to be in front of. So there you have some food for thought Alex. Thanks again for your post.

I agree. Having industry related people involved with discussions is worthwhile outside of that I don't think it's constructive.

Cool so I got you to think. So if you have a "CHEAP" consumer... And they installed this crap... For the sake of conversation the leak is a hose... So you drain the half charge left in this system into your equipment, You replace the hose. You did a proper repair and recharge the system with the proper amount of refrigerant but being as the evaperator and/or the condensor is not functioning correctly due to being clogged... This system doesn't cool properly... Now just who do you think this CHEAP CONSUMER is going to blame for what they feel was a poor service because they now paid for it... Just who do you think they now want fixed for ahhhhhhh... FREE? Oh but you now are back pedaling trying to say they need more parts to fix this vehicle and you want more money... I said if this is not handled properly they will EAT YOUR LUNCH... Oh yeah and I'm sure they are talking good about you to everyone they know... How we doing now?

Sean thanks for your comments. I am glad you made them instad of just a rant. I looked at the title of the thread and not you phynny's opening post. I gave my views on what I might be look for here and whom I would wish or not wish to view my comments. Just as you may not wish to have your tech's venting their views about you. I will limit my comments (and others may also) about what they would say being as this website is being viewed by people that do not have an proper perspective of where an "Auto Shop Owner" is coming from. I would have ideas on how it could maybe be set up but does it really matter?

Don't mean for it to be a trick question. It was meant to make you think. By answering it you will have come to the conclusion made by your own answers instead of me just saying this is the way it is done. Hell you might not like the way I say it is done and who am I to say something should be done that way in the first place. So if I comment and we discuss it I might turn the light bulb on in your head to a thought of how you want to handle it. Now to get back to my question. If the leak is not fixed the car probably is low on refrigerant and not cooling as the consumer wants on the hot day they are across your (or my) counter. If it is a leak that is causing it not to work then it will be empty soon and you won't have to recycle it into your machine. There was an "IF" at the beginning of that comment. What does the sealant do? When it works on clogging leaks it will also start clogging up EVAPORATORS and CONDENSERS. If you do not understand A/C systems and are only a shop owner and not a tech then ask your tech what happens if a either or both of these clog up! The system will NOT function properly! Keep that thought for the next paragraph. I ask you now the same question I did in reply #13. Do you want this person for a customer? Is this a trick question... Well here's some thought. 1. If they are of the cheap kind of customer they are going to eat your lunch if you handle this wrong! 2. If they bought the car this way from a used car lot of private sale you have a chance of making them a customer if you handle it right. I'll let you dwell on that for a bit...

Another part of your comment is more then likely true as well. You say it didn't work, Explain what you mean by it?

Seems you may have a handle on this... So now the question isssssss... Do you want this kind of person as a customer?

Wes lets think about it for a minute or two here. Just who do you think would put this sealant crap in?

Seemed like the woman were enjoying it a bit to much...

We have used the Neutronic's system for a little over two years now. Have caught more then a half dozen with the sealent in the vehicle system before we hook up. I will not let our guys hook up without testing and if they find any trace they are instructed to not hook up any other A/C equipment, I would recommend purchasing the tester and using it. Spence

In what way Sean? The issues those have posted seem clear to me and not muddled at all. If someone has a thought and/or is frustrated how would one handle it?

Joe I have found two things very dissappointing with the website. The open to the public and the ads that are on this site. I see no reason for either. 1. I have no issue with people of this industry being part of the disscusion and it's just my take on the subject. I am fine with mechinics and equipment people being involved but when you let the public look over our thoughts without having an understanding of the business and industry other then from their point of view... Well I think it does a dis service to us and is not a help. In reading your opinion above I get the thought you feel tech's would not have the same backgound knowledge as a shop owner but ask them to "keep ASO true to its brand". I think how most of the public views it is how they could use it to their benifit not ours. 2. This leads me into the "ads". Why would I as a shop owner... tech... or equipment person wish to have a coupon for a cheap oil change found ran on this site? With out a doubt this is a target towards the public. And/or a profit for the owners of the site. I don't see how that lines up with the mission thoughts of the site or helpful to any of us as shop owners. Would you wish a local customer of yours seeing the coupon from your area and going to the quick lube place for substandard service instead of heading to your shop? Joe I know this is a direct comment at you and the "co-founder" but where better to direct it... I enjoy the discusion and try to give good input to my posts but... I am almost to the point like the show Shark Tank where the investors comment "I'm out"

Look forward to your reply.

I would be glad to! Any particular part of the comment you wish me to focus on?

I find it ironic that this website must sell advertisement and that the advertisement I see twice in this screen is for a $10.00 off coupon and Jiffy Lube. Just doesn't seem constructive to me...

Sure Wes, The 1st generation had a small roller then the later versions. I believe it was 4 or 5 inches in diameter. Don't hold me to that but what I can do is measure the diameter of mine tomorrow and let you know. The later versions were almost twice the diameter. The lateral force was an option. It can not be added to an existing model even of the same generation. Well worth the extra money to have that option.

As you can see I am not xrac. My take is you are to "true" all rotors to do a thorough and proper brake service. This goes for re using or replacing them.

My suggestion is do not try and compete with franchise shops. Or the other shops, or the dealers for the matter. You can put a better job out then the others you mention here. If you do that then the competitions is over with. Your job then is to make sure your customers you have now and the future one know it. From there you will be leading and they will be left scratching their heads to try and beat you.

There are at least 4 or 5 generations of Road Force Balancers. The range of years you post are of the 1st and 2nd generation. Though better then other brands new balancers in my opinion. The 1st gen I would pass over. The 2nd and 3rd could serve you good. With lateral force then you would be in pretty good position As far as the cost goes I'm not sure you are considering this expense properly. There are profitable and non profitable expenses. I put this one into the profitable category.

Are you a tech/owner or just a tech?

We have owned road force balancers for 10+ years now. Wouldn't think of mounting a tire/wheel combo without it. The oppertunities to find and correct issues is many. One of the best ROI of any piece of equipment I have seen.