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Sbt tools are pure junk

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Rick100

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Let start by stating that the folks at SBT are friendly and willing to help to the extent the company allows. I ordered the alignment tool and went to use it only to find it .045 out at the business end. I then Googled SBT alignment tool and found this to be a very common problem. Tom in tech service confirmed this and even described exactly where and how much they have been out of round and it always seems to be in the same area. He connected me with a very nice lady in the warranty department who agreed to replace the tool. I asked her to send me a ups pick up order and was told no and I would have to eat the expense of sending it back to Florida. If I order a wrong part I expect to pay for return shipping and maybe even a restocking fee but when the part or in this case a tool is defective I feel SBT should pay the return shipping cost. Any way I asked the nice warranty lady to have Tom check the replacement tool to see if it was in specs. Well guess what ?? the replace tool was not opened and tested and is just as out of round as the first tool and bent in the same exact area. Back on the phone again and they now agree to send a third tool out and pay for the pickup of the second defective tool to which I declined and stated to the nice lady that I would take it to a machine shop and have it straightened properly like it should have been from the start. I had that done yesterday at my expense and now have a tool that is very straight. As it now stands I now have over $200.00 invested in a $150.00 tool (plus shipping) plus the wasted time. Will I buy from them again?? Maybe only because they have a good selection and are fast to ship and the phone people are nice to deal with. Will I ever buy another tool from them?? No is the answer in fact hell no because
THEIR TOOLS ARE PURE JUNK
Sorry for the long rant but I am pissed about this and will probably let others know so they don't make the same mistake . Rick
 
I can't see them making you pay to ship back a defective tool out of your pocket. That is worng when they even tell you they know the tools are bent. They have a machine shop there so why don't they just fix them onsite? SBT does sell some parts you can only get from them like certain cables for the older boats that we own. I do have to say there cables work good.
 
I've never had in issue with SBT like that.

I would call back, and talk with a manager, and let them know that they need to pay for the return shipment since they sent out a defective tool.

If you put it on a credit card... just dispute the charge. I bet they will send a call slip then.
 
Not trying to sounds like a jerk, but return shipping on an RMA is generally eaten by the consumer or purchaser. Our telecom company gets defective parts once in awhile and through various suppliers and its the same policy. Generally, they (supplier) will advance replace your part, as in ship you a new one the day you indicate the problem. But you have to ship the defective unit back, and generally they will not credit your invoice until the defective part is returned. It blows and I hear yah ... but its just the way it goes. Ask them to express ship you a new one, and then just snail mail their out of round or out of spec part back via snail mail.
 
i see you posted same post on sbt forum about 1 hr earlier than this thread was made, i believe word for word ??? something fishy, or i think you just blew off the handle, i personally, never had a problem with sbt, but, i think u just may be a little hot headed or something, sometimes u get more bees with honey !!! my 2 cents ...... and they will probably make good for anything that came out your pocket -- they always do
 
griz400 said:
i see you posted same post on sbt forum about 1 hr earlier than this thread was made, i believe word for word ??? something fishy, or i think you just blew off the handle, i personally, never had a problem with sbt, but, i think u just may be a little hot headed or something, sometimes u get more bees with honey !!! my 2 cents ...... and they will probably make good for anything that came out your pocket -- they always do
Click to expand...

yeah I just saw that... ditto... they have always been a first class operation when dealing with any dept over there!
Tom V and JC rock!:thumbsup:
 
Kinda off topic, but is there a document on how you use the SBT alignment tool? I ordered one but have never had to use it, I've always pulled the motor out fixed it and set it back in and just left the motor mounts alone. In the spring I will actually be dropping in a different motor so will need to learn how to use this tool. Anybody have a simple walkthrough to get the engine properly aligned with the alignment tool?
 
BMANN06 said:
Kinda off topic, but is there a document on how you use the SBT alignment tool? I ordered one but have never had to use it, I've always pulled the motor out fixed it and set it back in and just left the motor mounts alone. In the spring I will actually be dropping in a different motor so will need to learn how to use this tool. Anybody have a simple walkthrough to get the engine properly aligned with the alignment tool?
Click to expand...
there ya go Bmann :cheers:

http://www.sbtontheweb.com/video/protip3high.wmv
 
Mine is out too right at the tip, bought it years ago aligned enough engines with it and never had a problem with. To be honest, I've been too lazy to take it to the shop and put it in the lathe. But in my eyes you should not have had to pay for shipping, especially for a brand new tool. Now a warranty part for a reman engine, yes I could see them having you pay return shipping. You tool was not reman and SHOULD be a precision tool, use precision loosely. And why do they fix them there, because they are already yellow zinc plated so truing them will remove that.
 
racerxxx said:
Mine is out too right at the tip, bought it years ago aligned enough engines with it and never had a problem with.
Click to expand...

I was thinning about it... and 0.041" isn't that much for this type of tool. A very small amount of play in the bushing, will amplify into a large movement at the engine. Also... you mount a plastic pump, onto fiberglass... and then mount the engine into rubber, so there is going to be some movement.

I've just recently said this... but the up/down and Left/right can be out a little. It's the angle differences that are critical... and even is the tool tip is out of round... it will still get the engine straight to the shaft.

I've been using my tool for a bunch of years, and never once did I have an alignment issue. (with prematurely warn parts)

I guess on Monday, I'll have to chuck my tool in the lathe, and check the tip.



RICK100: What EXACTLY is out? And how did you check it?
 
Paying to ship it back was only one of the problems. I very nicely asked the warranty lady to have Tom check the new one but that never happened. She did agree to pay return shipping on the second one which I declined to do and payed to have it straightened locally. Most but not all companys will pay return shipping on defective parts.

howie099 said:
I can't see them making you pay to ship back a defective tool out of your pocket. That is worng when they even tell you they know the tools are bent. They have a machine shop there so why don't they just fix them onsite? SBT does sell some parts you can only get from them like certain cables for the older boats that we own. I do have to say there cables work good.
Click to expand...
 
Maybe I should have insisted on a manager but I did ask for a return shipping label and was turned down and told it is company policy not to pay for return shipping on a defective tool. Talking to a manager now seems a further waste of my time as I have already sent the tool back and sent the replacement out for straightening. They did pay to ship the replacement out.




Dr Honda said:
I've never had in issue with SBT like that.

I would call back, and talk with a manager, and let them know that they need to pay for the return shipment since they sent out a defective tool.

If you put it on a credit card... just dispute the charge. I bet they will send a call slip then.
Click to expand...
 
Joined: Nov 2012From: South end Lake MichiganPosts: 1


Sea doo alingment tool is junk



Let start by stating that the folks at SBT are friendly and willing to help to the extent the company allows. I ordered the alignment tool and went to use it only to find it .045 out at the business end. I then Googled SBT alignment tool and found this to be a very common problem. Tom in tech service confirmed this and even described exactly where and how much they have been out of round and it always seems to be in the same area. He connected me with a very nice lady in the warranty department who agreed to replace the tool. I asked her to send me a ups pick up order and was told no and I would have to eat the expense of sending it back to Florida. If I order a wrong part I expect to pay for return shipping and maybe even a restocking fee but when the part or in this case a tool is defective I feel SBT should pay the return shipping cost. Any way I asked the nice warranty lady to have Tom check the replacement tool to see if it was in specs. Well guess what ?? the replace tool was not opened and tested and is just as out of round as the first tool and bent in the same exact area. Back on the phone again and they now agree to send a third tool out and pay for the pickup of the second defective tool to which I declined and stated to the nice lady that I would take it to a machine shop and have it straightened properly like it should have been from the start. I had that done yesterday at my expense and now have a tool that is very straight. As it now stands I now have over $200.00 invested in a $150.00 tool (plus shipping) plus the wasted time. Will I buy from them again?? Maybe only because they have a good selection and are fast to ship and the phone people are nice to deal with. Will I ever buy another tool from them?? No is the answer in fact hell no because
Their tools are pure junk
Sorry for the long rant but I am pissed about this and will probably let others know so they don't make the same mistake . Rick


here is your post from sbt, says you live in michigan ??? here it says u live in indiana ??? micheal jackson lived in indiana -- is mike really dead ???
 
The bar is .045 out where it goes into the pto and is caused by the bar being about .010 bent in the area that rides in the brass colored adapter. That would be an area about 6" to 24" from the end that goes into the pto.




Pale Rider said:
OP, can you please explain where the .045 is out and what is bent?
Click to expand...
 
This is the first company that I had to pay for return shipping on a defective part or tool. SBT did cross ship the replacement to me and I did thank them for that but it was junk also.




BMANN06 said:
Not trying to sounds like a jerk, but return shipping on an RMA is generally eaten by the consumer or purchaser. Our telecom company gets defective parts once in awhile and through various suppliers and its the same policy. Generally, they (supplier) will advance replace your part, as in ship you a new one the day you indicate the problem. But you have to ship the defective unit back, and generally they will not credit your invoice until the defective part is returned. It blows and I hear yah ... but its just the way it goes. Ask them to express ship you a new one, and then just snail mail their out of round or out of spec part back via snail mail.
Click to expand...
 
I did post on the SBT site first and later on this site and it was, as you pointed out, word for word. Why would you find that fishy?? or think that I was blowing off the handle??? I thought I was very nice in dealing with this problem and as I stated in the rant had no problem with the people I talked to at SBT. FYI I always use the honey approach and did so in this case. I'm pissed to pay return shipping on a defective tool but more pissed that the replacement was exactly the same piece of crap and not checked even tho I requested that Tom pull it out of the box and check it. If they make it good I will, for sure, post a response stating that they manned up and covered the shipping and the repair I had made. Reread the very first sentence in my post.



griz400 said:
i see you posted same post on sbt forum about 1 hr earlier than this thread was made, i believe word for word ??? something fishy, or i think you just blew off the handle, i personally, never had a problem with sbt, but, i think u just may be a little hot headed or something, sometimes u get more bees with honey !!! my 2 cents ...... and they will probably make good for anything that came out your pocket -- they always do
Click to expand...
 
I live in Indiana which is at the south end of Lake Michigan. Michigan also extends to the south end of the lake. "South end Lake Michigan is not a city". Mike grew up in Gary and is way dead but Elvis still roams the world.





griz400 said:
Joined: Nov 2012From: South end Lake MichiganPosts: 1


Sea doo alingment tool is junk



Let start by stating that the folks at SBT are friendly and willing to help to the extent the company allows. I ordered the alignment tool and went to use it only to find it .045 out at the business end. I then Googled SBT alignment tool and found this to be a very common problem. Tom in tech service confirmed this and even described exactly where and how much they have been out of round and it always seems to be in the same area. He connected me with a very nice lady in the warranty department who agreed to replace the tool. I asked her to send me a ups pick up order and was told no and I would have to eat the expense of sending it back to Florida. If I order a wrong part I expect to pay for return shipping and maybe even a restocking fee but when the part or in this case a tool is defective I feel SBT should pay the return shipping cost. Any way I asked the nice warranty lady to have Tom check the replacement tool to see if it was in specs. Well guess what ?? the replace tool was not opened and tested and is just as out of round as the first tool and bent in the same exact area. Back on the phone again and they now agree to send a third tool out and pay for the pickup of the second defective tool to which I declined and stated to the nice lady that I would take it to a machine shop and have it straightened properly like it should have been from the start. I had that done yesterday at my expense and now have a tool that is very straight. As it now stands I now have over $200.00 invested in a $150.00 tool (plus shipping) plus the wasted time. Will I buy from them again?? Maybe only because they have a good selection and are fast to ship and the phone people are nice to deal with. Will I ever buy another tool from them?? No is the answer in fact hell no because
Their tools are pure junk
Sorry for the long rant but I am pissed about this and will probably let others know so they don't make the same mistake . Rick


here is your post from sbt, says you live in michigan ??? here it says u live in indiana ??? micheal jackson lived in indiana -- is mike really dead ???
Click to expand...
 
Don't try to straighten it in a lathe rather use a press with the tool on v blocks.



racerxxx said:
Mine is out too right at the tip, bought it years ago aligned enough engines with it and never had a problem with. To be honest, I've been too lazy to take it to the shop and put it in the lathe. But in my eyes you should not have had to pay for shipping, especially for a brand new tool. Now a warranty part for a reman engine, yes I could see them having you pay return shipping. You tool was not reman and SHOULD be a precision tool, use precision loosely. And why do they fix them there, because they are already yellow zinc plated so truing them will remove that.
Click to expand...
 
.045 is enough to prevent the tool from going into the pto but turn it 180 and it goes in. It's not the tip of the tool that is bent and the tip is not out of round but rather the shaft is bent a short distance from the tip. If the up - down - left -right are out the engine angle to pump will be out and the shaft will not be correctly aligned. here is how I checked it. First made sure the pump mounting plate was clean then installed the plate and brass colored bushing to the pump mount. I then lubed the shaft and installed it into that assembly. At first it was a little hard to do this due to the shaft being bent and the tight tolerances of the bushing. I then pushed the shaft up to the pto and it hit the pto on the left side and would not go in. I rotated the shaft 180 and it slid in but was tight. that's when I noticed that when turning the shaft there was a movement at the small end at the pto that was very noticeable. I then put the shaft on a known flat machined surface and rolled it to see the high spot which was about .010 about a foot and a half from the small end. That explained the .045 when the tool is used in the adapter bushing. You could put it in a lathe and dial indicate and see this. I came up with the .045 at the pto end by mounting a steel bar to the engine mount and using a magnetic mount dial indicator about midway on the part that goes into the pto. If your lathe will allow you to install the shaft with only 2 feet sticking out of the chuck that will be the best way to do it as any bend towards the handle end will mean nothing in the actual use of the tool. I think rolling it on a flat machined surface works very well but only have the first 2 feet from the pto end on the flat surface and use a feeler gauge to measure under the high spot.
I owned a car shop and worked as an auto tech most of my adult life and have thousands tied up in quality tools such as Mac and Snap on and when they sell you a straight edge or a round bar to check for straightness you can bet that tool is straight. You seem very knowledgeable about mechanical things so pm me for my phone number if you want more detail. Rick




Dr Honda said:
I was thinning about it... and 0.041" isn't that much for this type of tool. A very small amount of play in the bushing, will amplify into a large movement at the engine. Also... you mount a plastic pump, onto fiberglass... and then mount the engine into rubber, so there is going to be some movement.

I've just recently said this... but the up/down and Left/right can be out a little. It's the angle differences that are critical... and even is the tool tip is out of round... it will still get the engine straight to the shaft.

I've been using my tool for a bunch of years, and never once did I have an alignment issue. (with prematurely warn parts)

I guess on Monday, I'll have to chuck my tool in the lathe, and check the tip.



RICK100: What EXACTLY is out? And how did you check it?
Click to expand...
 
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