I had a Honda CB-1. I took it in for repair, rode it home (ran fine) and the next time (within days) I rode it, it broke down and left me stranded. So yes, that can happen. It was part that failed because of an existing problem that my mechanic did not fix. He was able to warranty the original part he put in and give me a credit back towards the new repair.

This is so f***ed up! Question #1 - What kind of bike? What year, etc? THAT can tell a lot of what *might* be wrong.

IF... you think the mechanic is sleazy or incompetent (oh man, working in bike shops I could tell you some horror stories about bike mechanics, testosterone, and f**k-ups) get a second opinion. Or a 3rd. DO NOT take it back to this cat if your gut is telling you there's something wrong.

OK. Breaking it all down... The oil thing? Is it related? I dunno. Sounds to me like either the bike hadn't been ridden in a loooooong time and the seals were dried out (OK if it's a '67 Triumph, not OK if it's a '98 Honda) or something clogged the breather or the breather valve stuck, pressurizing the crankcase and popping a seal (Common on newer bikes where you have flap valves and PCV and other stuph) or - this is the usual cause of blown seals - overfilling the crankcase with oil. Question I'd ask - Which seal? Followed by "Let me see the bad one."

No start? Hmmm... there could be a lot of things causing that. Tons. From a bad electronic component (new bikes) or collapsed points (older bikes) to rust in the gas tank shaking loose and clogging the carb to a wire on the cutoff switch coming loose to a coil going bad to... Yeah. Buncha possibilities. Or the obvious... Gas on? Gas in the tank? Kill switch on? Wire came loose? How about the vacuum hose that runs the automatic-on gas valve? Is there a trick you know about she doesn't to starting *that* bike?

There's not that much that can keep a bike from running. Serious. What you need is someone you can TRUST to look at this thing, figure out what's wrong with it. Since it ran then died, it tells me... something. Without seeing the bike, it tells me that it needs to be looked at.

There is another thing, tho... once the bike is sold, it's not your responsibility. I know that sounds cold and cruel and f***ed up, but seriously - I have sold (and bought) bikes that something messes up on within days of the sale. Was I taken? Was I intending to scam the buyer? No, it's just the motorcycle Gods telling the new owner to LOOK at the bike, learn it, and become one with it. See My Rule #2 below.

Susanne's rule #2. Learn how to care for the ass which bears yours. (Rule #1 has to do with mixing Cheap Bourbon, Red Wine, and Vodka, and isn't too relevant here;) ) Take a motorcycle maintenance and repair class at your local JC, or hire a decent mechanic to teach you the bare bones basics so you DON'T get taken. Along with this is the Rule 2 Axiom - Know your bike well enough so if someone other than you works on it (bad idea) if they screw something up bad, you tan take the Axe to them.

The given? If YOU learn how to work on your bike, and YOU become your own mechanic, YOU will know it's put together RIGHT, fixed RIGHT, and don't have to wonder if some mechanic is out to take you to the bank for his idiot child work. Plus, you save money, and feel a hell of a lot more confident in your machine, and can know when someone is trying to BS you about bike stuff (amazing the shit you hear!!) on rides and runs. ADDED BONUS - When people find out you can turn a wrench, you gain extra hutzpah points for being cool.

Back to this fiasco. What I would do, seriously, is find a new mechanic, have *them* look over the bike, and negotiate with the bike's owner (meaning not me - or in this case you) to pay for getting it running. When you take it to the new mechanic, tell her (or him) WHAT was done and by whom, so they can start looking there. You may even decide to pay for this repair... but GET THE NEW OWNER INVOLVED. Then... walk away. Te bike is HERS, good parts and bad. Once it runs again, it's her responsibility.

I just looked - if you were up here in norcal instead of the southland I'd even look at this thing for you. But hell, there's a TON of bike shops down there. I'd even )gulp!( consider having a dealer work on it - this once. but the important thing is to TAKE LESSONS so you know (a) an idiot who worked on your bike knew what they were doing, and (b) you can fix it yourself, taking the idiot out of the equation. Get someone to show you what to look for, and take charge of your bike... so it will take care of you!!!

Hugz,
Sus