Cat convertor cores & cu tting pipes

[Michael White]

I am interested what everyone is doing for
cat convertor cores that require cutting off
pipe(s). We do not have access to a torch
thanks to the fire department, therefore the pipes have to be cut by by hand. What are other stores doing? ARe you just eating the time??

Mike

[gordyw]

Techs do it, it is part of the job as far as I am concerned. Most of them use a pipe cutter or cut off wheel.
I suppose it would be as I hadnt thought about that,I hadnt had any techs ask me about it which they are usually right on every angle for some extra time.

[This message has been edited by gordyw (edited 11-01-2000).]

[Michael White]

Gordy, is it worth a couple of extra tenths OLH since it is not part of the LTG??

Mike

[DMuller]

We have a handyman on staff that handles it for us using a cutting wheel. Prior to that we took them over to the local muffler shop who charged a small fee.

Dan

[lovemotors]

Durring a recent warranty administration meeting in San Jose that was put on by our "highest in command" in GM warranty this question came up. The answer was that we had to eat the time as part of the cost of doing business. Good thing we don't do many Cat's at our shop.

[Gerry Laughlin]

We use a reciprocating saw we bought at Sears for $70. It takes me about 30 seconds to cut a pipe, versus arguing with the tech for 10 minutes.

[Michael White]

I have recieved quite a few personal e mails on this subject. We are all over the board. Many are charging .2 for 2 pipes and .3hrs
olh for 3 pipe cuts. Some just force their techs to cut these pipes. Some in GM expect the parts people do it. Some dealers subletting it to a muffler shop and have them cut the pipes.

I think GM does not want to adress this concern. I do not think having a reciprocating saw as a "essential tool" is appropriate. There are some convertors that do not have core charges on them, yet pay the same amount. Cutting the pipes is not part of the LTG op time or listed in the service manual. My feelings are, if they require the pipes to be cut, then they should pay us to cut the pipes, and supply us with the tools to do it. Its a small amount of time, but in this day and age when GM has increased our administrative times by hundreds of percent, they should help us out when they want something, they should pay for it. Now if they need help on anyalzing failures like being on the GM VME or Aztec launch team,etc, it is our responsibility to assist them without question.
Mike

[FARFINATOR]

MY GOD,
ALL THIS TO QUITE THE BANDS OF CRYBABY PRIMADONA'S. JUST BY A CHEAP SAWSALL, TAKE CONTROL AND "TELL" THEM TO DO IT! FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE WE ALL KNOW THEY LOOSE MORE TIME AT THE COFFEE TRUCK, ON CIGARETTE BREAKS, AND CONGREGATING AT THE PARTS COUNTER THAN THEY'LL EVER SUFFER CUTTING AN OCCASSIONAL PIPE. WHO'S RUNNING OUR SHOPS THESE DAYS ANYWAYS? IF YOU CONSTANTLY LEAVE EVERY TENTH OPEN FOR DISCUSSION....TRUST THEY WILL FORCE THAT DISCUSSION, BUT IF YOU ARE FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR AND IMPOSE THE OCCASSIONAL EXCEPTION THEN THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CHALLENGE EVERY MANAGEMENT DECISION.

[jargonaut]

This all reminds me of the recalls to caty converters back in 1980's when I was with a Chevy dealer and I always thought the carcinogenic factor of cutting open those converters and taking out beads and replacing with new ones was significant since we never at the time had proper procautions in place let alone protective clothing apart from masks!! I imagine some of those technicians back then (circa 1984) glow in the dark now!!!

------------------
Alan The Warranty Guy

[warr_wiz]

First off, a word to Alan the warranty guy. I never realized the cats I opened in the 80's was the cause of my glowing at night...thanks for helping me get to sleep. Ha ha Now on to the original post. Fortunately we do have a torch. So I usually have the hourly kid that comes in after school cut them up. Otherwise I can always find someone to do it, or I'll do it myself. It get's me out in the shop 1 more time during the day. Even the parts manager has done a few. Basically we do what we need to do to meet the requirements.
I also noticed a reply from "farfinator" that strikes a cord with me. This may not be the place to reply but I will anyway. There was a time when I could throw a "premidonna" out the door and I would hit 1 of the 25 people standing at the door waiting to work. Unfortunately, today there is no one standing outside my door. I realize that there are times when techs seem to be "premidonna's." But I spent 20 years on the line so I know excactly what they go through on a day to day basis.If they have a question, they come and ask. I always give them the benefit of at least listening. Sometimes that's all they are looking for. Occasionally I do give in and maybe OLH something or maybe a little shop time. But there are more times when the rules are the rules and there is no bargining room. Hopefully this is one of the reasons the department's CSI, CPL, and bottom line profits are at an all time high. Maybe not, but I'll keep treating my "premidonna's" like human beings trying to earn a living in one of the toughest trades today.