Buyer beware.

I have just bought and R1 engine off eBay. It was described as "Yamaha R1 Engine i.e for kit car its a '98-'99 and its carbs its comes complete with everything except a battery to run it."
I emailed to ask about engine numbers, V5 and instrument pack. I was told that the engine number was intact, that the instrument pack was included in the sale but that there was no V5.
The engine arrived with the number drilled off and without the instrument pack.

This is what arrived: engine including coils. carbs, wiring loom. 4 into 1 manifold. small servo motor like thing. metal thing with 3 large hoses and 1 small hose attached, marked 4XV 0G1, 1 air box, 1 ecu and heatsink with 5 pin connector attached to a plastic thing. radiator, headder tank and fan.

Is this everything that I need from the bike? instruments excluded, obviously.

Sorry to hear of the problems. Is there no way you can seek a refund on this, its not as described apart from anything else! There are legitimate reasons for an engine not to have the number, but the fact that he lied to you would make me suspicious enough to think that there's a distinct possibility this engine is stolen

If that isnt a go-er then from the list you've given I think everything is there, but Im not 100% sure off the top of my head (maybe Colin can confirm?)

Chris

[Edited on 4/5/05 by ChrisGamlin]

Like Chris says i would think about a refund if poss, i dont want to pickle on your strawberrys but my experience with bike engines in cars as been motor sport related, mostley grass track but now tarmac, during this time (not at tarmac meetings to my knowledge) i have seen plod arrive on several occasions checking for stolen engines by checking numbers or the lack off, it is also possible too read a removed number too as even when it is machined off it leaves traces further in the metal which they have a gadget able too read them, i have seen people try stamping (recon) on in place of a number, never followed it up to see what the outcome was though.

metal thing with 4 hoses fits neatly to the top of the engine and to the radiator. I guess that this is the thermostat.

The seller has emailed me back explaining that he drilled off the enine number because he sold the frame and V5. He also said "what do u mean instrament pack u mean the sub loom"

I have started the eBay claims process. Has anyone any experiance of this?

The excuse he's given you is bollox AFAIK, if that needed doing to every engine sold without a V5 / frame, then we'd all be driving around with no engine numbers. Id say he's either been mis-informed as to the regulations on the numbers or he knows exactly what he's doing but isnt divulging the true reasons why the engine number is missing

Regarding the appeal, I did it for an impact wrench I bought which was a pile of poo and no way produced the torque claimed. It takes a little while (a couple of weeks) but in my case once the wheels kicked in he just sent me back the money and arranged a collection before it actually got to the "verdict". Thinking about it though, this was though Paypal rather than Ebay itself, so it may be different.
If you havent done it already, Id maybe try to negotiate with him first and not persue this through Ebay straight away - sometimes the threat of action with Ebay etc is more of an incentive to rectify things (depending on how much they value their feedback rating)

Yep the metal thing is the thermostat housing, a right PITA on seven style cars as it usually fouls the bonnet and needs remote mounting!

Good luck with it whatever happens

Bad news Smart, i really hope you can get your cash back, and if not, then i hope you got the engine cheap enough not to worry.
Iv'e said it before on here, but the bike breaking business can be a very shady place to find yourself. best to use a recommended source for big purchases. If somethings cheap its usually for a good reason. A couple of guys on this site have a very good reputation for supplying bike engines.

Al.

i have to add, the amount of money you must've spent on this package would've persuaded me to collect rather than trust them to deliver. I collected 2 engines off ebay, never had trouble except when it came to buying the bits and bobs to finish them off...

all the best anyway.

IMHO - if he has nothing to hide he could give you the engine number as he must have records of it. This could then be verified for it's history.

I hope this can be resolved imicably between you two guys - all is not lost, yet!

Here's hoping you have this guys name and address in case things go wrong...

I have spoken with the DVLA and VOSA.
The DVLA say that it is possible to register a car with an engine without an engine number. They will mark their records accordingly.
VOSA say that the engine number isn't important but proof of age is. If an engine's age cannot be proved then it must pass the latest emmission standards, which being a 98/99 engine it would have to do anyway. All is not lost.

thats good news!

Hi guys,

Do you think if you had recipts of all the other parts of the car, proof the engine has been reconditiond, but it has no engine number, you could get a new reg plate?

Thanks
Sam

P.S. - sorry for the thread hijack

[Edited on 10/5/05 by Smooth Torquer]

The seller on eBay has offered me a refund and courrier collection of the engine. He has asked for my bank details. If I give them to him, can he take money out or use them for some other improper purpose?

I hope not because I do it a fair bit! If you're only handing over account number and sort code then its no different to giving someone a cheque, which also has this information on it so Im almost certain that nothing can be done with that info.

Glad to see its hopefully being sorted

[Edited on 17/5/05 by ChrisGamlin]