Quote:
Originally Posted by BBQCYCLEWERKES
The level or quality and workmanship is measured on what is normal and customary within the automotive field and within the accepted standards of the automotive repair industry. In the case of welding together a water pump pulley, this is not an accepted practice within the repair industry. In the event this part fails, which it may very likely, both you and your boss could be held liable. Depending on the pulley diamater and crank shaft pulley diamater, your pulley can be turning in excess of 6000 rpm. If not perfectly aligned and balanced you will not only receive vibration stress but possibly sonic metal fatigue which could cause the pulley to shatter, not to mention metal fatigue and molecular realignment at the weld area. Best case is if it brakes and only damages the vehicle. What if the new owner is working on the car and say timing it while running at a high rpm and the pulley shatters and flys apart. This would possibly cause injury and possible death to the person working on the car. That could come back against you and the business owner. This type of suit could cost millions of dollars and who do you think the business owner will blame. In the end, the tech doing the work is most responsible for the quality and liability as he should know better and therefore open to a huge judgement in the event of damages. I've seen too many product liability cases where the jury award has been great so that a message is being sent to the entire industry. Just my 2 cents though. Be careful.
|
I have a question I thought of today. I'm not saying any of you are wrong at all. You say metal fatigue and molecular realignment at the weld, driveshafts are welded together and they spin in excess of 6000 RPM all the time. I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I just want to know why a driveshaft welded together is OK but a water pump pulley is not? It spins the same RPM and has much less load. Again, not saying your wrong or trying to be a smart ass, just curious.