The bolt that holds the spoket on the hydrolic drive motor on my case skid loader broke. Saturday, an employee of mine pulled the motor and gave to a friend of mine who had volunteered to extract the broken bolt shaft.
Whe he successfully complete the extraction, he brought the motor to my house and put it in the back of my truck Sunday night, without telling me. I was home and he neither called nor knocked on the door. Today, he told me I could find the motor in the back of the truck.
I went to the truck to find the tailgate was down, and no motor. My wife used the truck early this AM to take the boy to school, as her car is in for maintance. The motor must have fallen off the truck when she was in route. My wife had not lowered the tailgate or had anything to do with the bed of the truck or it’s contents.
We retraced her path, but could not find the motor.
Replacement cost is $1,500.00 for the motor and fittings.
How should I approach my friend, and what should I require (if anything) of him? So far I have been too upset to talk to him, adn I want to find the right approach before I do.
Edited 1/9/2006 11:00 pm ET by txlandlord
Edited 1/9/2006 11:02 pm ET by txlandlord
Replies
Life sucks sometimes and $1500 ain't no chump change, but other then asking him-delivery person- to help look for it, whatcha gonna do? No good deed goes unpunished.
Your likely thinking it so the question needs saying: Did he put it into the truck or not? Was there any hydraulic fluid spillage?With that out the options are to confront the guy who is assumed to be trying to help and get some payoff or not. I think not. Unless you have some substantial reason to think the guy is taking you for a ride your going to have to assume he is being straight up. making demands on him makes you look petty. Coming down on the person trying to help you is considered poor form.Unless you can produce some substantial evidence of wrong doing, finding the part on someone else's equipment or on e-bay, you going to have to eat the loss. It is likely tax deductible as a business loss. That won't cover the loss but it might take a bit of the sting out.
I can't imagine that you have much of a bone to pick with him. You have permission to step outside, look at the truck, shaske your head and scream at the top of your lungs - SHEEEEEEEEE-IT -
Feel all better now?
Sometimes $h!t just happens. Gotta get on with life now
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If it's a friend who volunteered to extract the bolt (sheer pin?) and in good faith placed it in what would normally be a reasonable location, then he's taken pretty good care of your goodies.
Just about every other vehicle is a pickup where I spent most of my life in Wyoming and we've seen just about everything fall out of pickup beds. Early in life most boys and girls learn to drive in a pickup, often before they reach highschool and learning that tailgates are wonderful ways to lose things is part of driving 101.
It would normally be considered operator error if the tailgate was left down, knowing items are in the back, and something fell out during accelleration.
It would also be considered operator error if the tailgate was known to be down and a quick check of the bed for items that might fall out wasn't made as a precaution. A down tailgate is a bigger red flag than a warning light on the dash for a quick peek.
So, at least in this neck of the woods, what your friend did sounds reasonable if theft from a pickup bed isn't a high risk in your neighborhood. Also, anyone borrowing a pickup, even if they have nothing whatsoever to do with any cargo that may be present, would be expected to take reasonable precautions to prevent things from falling out under acceleration.
From the tone of the message it sounds like your friend would have been better off letting the broken equipment fix itself.
Good wrenching,
Don
this is a true story in that i know the man. my freind a ww2 101 paratrooper moved to akaska after the war. a old sourdough died and he and his buddy went to pick up the body and bring him to town. well you know the rest of the story. they stopped at a bar to drink. when the people came out to see the old guy he was not there and the tailgate down.. went back and found him and back to the bar.. i guess its a famous story but i believe it.
That sux...
You said: >> Saturday, an employee of mine pulled the motor and gave to a friend of mine who had volunteered to extract the broken bolt shaft. <<
Was the friend getting paid for the job? If it was a freebie, I'd say that you definitely can't bitch and probably shouldn't even bring it up unless you want to risk loosing a friend and a hydraulic motor.
Buddy of mine lost a transmission out of the back of his pickup one time. We spend hours looking for it...
A friendship is worth far more than $1500, and I think it is a good thing that you have elected to not talk to your friend yet given that you (in your upset state) are even considering the idea that your friend is somehow responsible.
As already stated by others...sometimes unfortunate circumstances just happen!
Among the contributing factors to this happening at all was that your wife needed to use your truck because her vehicle was in the shop. The fact that you pointed this out indicates to me that it is not a normal situation for your wife to make use of your truck. How in the world could your friend be responsible for the quirky situation that your wife would use the truck in the morning, and that she might not notice the tailgate down. For all you know, your friend may have purposefully left the tailgate down on your truck so that you would notice the fact that he had quietly dropped off the repaired motor to you. Obviously this is an unfortunate situation, but no it would not be appropriate to hold your friend responsible.
If the arrangement was that your friend was expecting to be paid for the work he did, you could perhaps ask him nicely if he wouldn't mind giving you a break on that, given the crappy luck that nobody knew the motor was in the back of the truck, and your wife took the truck in the morning and the motor bounced out. That is as far as I would go in terms of the friend...and that is only if he was to be paid. If it was just a favour...you thank him for his work, and just tell him the lousy news about the motor falling out of the truck
my 2cents
Thought somebody else would ask this (maybe it's just a dumb question). Is it possible that it was stolen? For something as big as a motor to push down the tailgate, fall 4'-0" to the pavement, and not be noticed by the driver or anyone behind the car seems odd. Also that the motor wouldn't still be laying somewhere by the side of the road.
Sure you've considered this, but just my two cents.
Whether stolen or lost out the back, a HOME OWNERS POLICY might cover the loss. Of course you have to be willing to have a claim on you insurance and we all know that can drive you rate up. But then again what is insurance worth?
The guy VOLUNTEERED to extract the bokt for you. And he even brought the danged thing back to your house. All for nothing.
And now you want him to pay for it ???
I'm with the other guys. Stuff happens. Look for a used hydraulic motor and move on.
txlandlord:
You sound like a good man. Your reference to Solomon is perhaps appropriate.
Legally, someone who has your property is required to take reasonable or extraordinary care. Don't recall which applies in this case. I would guess teh lower threshold here since he was doing you a favor, but still held to a standard. In either case, to put a $1,500 motor in your truck where anyone could just walk up and take it (that is another possibility) and not to even tell you, could be argued tobe not taking reasonable care.
See a lawyer or go to small claims . . . OR!
Now, is this guy a friend? If so, a friend who makes an occasssion mistake is worth 1500 thousand dollars not $1,500. So tell him about the problem, perhaps he will offer something. If not shake hands, but don't forget that he may not be the most reliable person to entrust with your property again.
Blessed is the man who is slow to speak and slow to wrath....... something I am trying to practice and the reason I posted.
In an abundance of council there is wisdom....another reason I posted.
Sometimes when we are inclined to act on self interest it takes some confirmation and encouragement from others..... that you need to follow the good and loving path.
I truly appreciate the BTers attack on my inclination to require something of my friend.
I sometimes see it as the fight between the good and the bad dog we have on the inside. Which ever one is nurtured will win.
I called my salesman today and asked for a discount, being that he helped me purchase the loader and will (perhaps) be helping me with the purchase of dozer in the late spring or early summer. I also asked him if he knew of used equipment vendors and he gave me three compaines likely to have a good used hydrolic drive motor. The Case 1845C is / was a popular model with lots of used parts on the market. I am exploring all options.
I also called another friend who is branch manager for a company that services heavy equipment. He said he will call Case and find out if he can get a trade discount on a new motor.
As suggested, I am prepparing to absorb the loss, while trying to reduce the total damage. The problem would probably not seem so large if I had no just expereinced the theft of 110 sheets of Tech Shield roof decking @$15.00 per sheet and about $600.00 of roofing materials.
Remember I started the "Deck Choices" thread. I did explore and produce samples of many of the recommended products from BTERS. This is the type of project I take when time allows as most of our efforts go to building new homes. Our client rejected the high cost of all composites, the high cost of Ipe and an alternate wood - Angelina (South America) and is going with Ultra Wood / Weather Shield decking a 2 x 6 SYP #1 Select Structural Grade KDAT with water repelant applied.
My overall profit is greater with the use fo this product, as I had trouble adding usual profit percentages to the high cost of the composites. This brings some comfort to the expense of a replacement motor. Again, this was a good small project at the right time, and one that I usely ignore. Life is good.
Thanks guys.
You refer to this guy who helped you your friend, and it sounds like he was acting like a friend. The lost / stolen motor is something the two of you can look back on and laugh about during many more years of friendship. Other comments I have read in response to this are uplifting. Its good to know there are people out there who aren't greedy and ready to sue about anything.
Whoa!! My girl friend ran over your Hyd. motor in her vette on her way home from work. Slammed on the brakes and sideswiped some guy in a Kia - I think he's a pitching coach for the Astros- Anyway, about 15K damage to the Vette- the Kia's totaled $48. My lawyer has your motor.
.....LMAO.......I decree that said tailgate shall be hewn into equal parts and thence divided among all parties, who shall then cast the offending parts into the infernal regions......or a nearby ditchhave a nice day,K. Solomon
LOL
My lawyer has your motor.
Tell him to call me, I'll give him $300.00 for the motor.
If it was your girlfriend then it was probably a Chevette?
some guy in a Kia - I think he's a pitching coach for the Astros
What's with the Astros pitching coach and a Kia?
Trying to figure out the connection, some sort of dis?
I'm not a Astros fan so lets have it!
Doug
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=68122.17
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Jon
Thanks, well that was certainly an interesting read!
Doug
I wonder if your friend left the tailgate up or down when he put the motor in? If he left it down, some closer sleuthing may locate it a bit further off the side of the road. If he left it up, perhaps it was stolen and should be reported to the police. It may be worth contacting the police regardless, in case some one found it and contacted them. Get proactive, not pissed. Good luck!
Tex:
An unrelated, kind of off the wall question:
In your houses that get hardwood floors, do you install painted shoe molding to match the base of stained shoe molding to match the floor?
Thanks,
Matt
Both, according to the clients desire. painted shoemold is included in our price for wood floors, and stained shoemold in the same species of wood to match the floor is an upgrade and extra cost.
Personally, I like the painted shoemold. I think it shows nicely and draws attention to the floor more than stained.
I'd check with auto and homeowners insurance, maybe even business insurance and see if it's covered. First make sure your premium won't go up after you file the claim, may end up costing you more than 1500.
Kevin
No one seems to be noticing this, that the wife had anything to do with this.
I find it hard to believe that anyone could ever NOT notice something the size of a skid loader motor crashing out of the back of a pick up.
I had a full 400 gallon water tank slam out the back of my pick up once. You dont miss the type of force.
Check DW bank statements
Look for usual amounts of cash
GoodLuck
Edited 1/15/2006 6:30 pm ET by HandySteve
U live alone, don't cha?
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Even my wife misses my dry sense of humor .... some of the time.
Most of the time.
GoodLuck. Hope the shoulder is back to what it was.
Since it hurt pretty bad for the past yerar, I guess so...I am just starting to let it out of the sling and sometimes type with both hands but doc says all sling all the time for another week...can tuck in shirt if carefull now, but no fun.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
The truck is a Ford F350 crew cab diesel. It is loud and the motor carries on the truck like a flea on a camel. It also has a good stereo system, and my wife like s music.
The only money I can trace that she took out of our business account without my knowledge is $13,000.00 for a new motorcycle for my birthday. She is a dedicated, loving honest wife.
We ran an ad in the local paper for the lost motor with a reward listed.
Halelujah, I found a used and guaranteed drive motor for $500.00, just north of Houston.
They actually have two if someone else needs one. I think they only come in Case Yellow.
Buy'm both, just in Case!
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
My wife wants a new SUV, I think I'll tqake the risk with one...went SUV shopping...they are some high priced vehicles.
I can not talk here into a new Ford F350 diesel crewcab like mine for her grocery runs.
at five hundred per grocery run, that SUV will be dirt cheap by comparisson.I got mine a Toyota Hybrid.
Hard to say wht the gas mileage is so far. she sits idling for the heater at the ferry for an hour a day.Then she comes home and opens the window 'cause "It's too hot in here!"But other than hormones, she's a lovely bride.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!