alignment machines?

[krismoriah]

1)Ranger CRT380R $10.5K
http://www.asedeals.com/Ranger_wheel_alignment_machine.html


2)Atlas TD1760E $13.5K
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-TD1760E-BlueTooth-p/1760e-bth.htm

3)Accuturn Model 2410CCD $15.7K
http://www.asedeals.com/accuturn_alignment.html


Anyone have info on these? Have you used any of them?

[SpiderGearsMan]

I only have used hunter , john bean and really old bear

[LGMechanical]

Most alignment shop around here have Hunter machines.

[Fedwrench]

Hunter has the best vehicle database and in my area, service support.

I hate to say this but, if you have limited mechanical experience and you're not the one using the equipment, you shouldn't be buying it. You can't buy decent shop equipment by price alone or by visiting different websites. You have to know what works and is durable. I recommend to visit other shops to see what they use. Ranger is not a professional line of shop equipment.

[daveblank]

I've used Hunter & John Bean. I would say Hunter is the easiest to use & has a good support staff.

[rhandwor]

I had a Hunter but every time they come out to calibrate it costs money. When the steering wheel gets out of line it needs calibrated. Otherwise you need a couple of items to center the steering wheel.

[SpiderGearsMan]

everybody wants a printout

[SpiderGearsMan]

http://www.advancedracing.com/products3.php?prod=wheelalignment

[volvo420coupe]

Hunter rocks, john bean sucks.

If your buying an alignment machine new don't consider anything other than a hunter optical machine, the one with the flashing red lights and the 4 digital cameras.

[SpiderGearsMan]

yeah , just like the john bean machine
and snap on owns john bean

[volvo420coupe]

I have only used an old john bean machine, so my opinion is not based on much, but all the hunter machines of that age were much easier to use than the john bean one.

And I also think that any brand optical machine would be be better than any brand laser machine. But hunter has always seemed better to me, and the service techs seen more educated. (once again my opinion is based off just knowing one john bean tech who was also a retard).

[Moose-LandTran]

I have to ask, if you're not a mechanic and you don't know a lot about cars and workshops, how do you expect to run one?

[krismoriah]

Two of the guys I am hiring are mechanics by trade but not ASE. I am learning as I go.

I didnt know how to run equipment or much about mining..but I started an excavation business and made my first million by the age of 30.

I didnt know how to design a website until I sat down and learned how.

I didnt know half of what I thought I knew. But I hung in for 2 college degrees.

There is alot I dont know.. but I try to learn as I go from guys just like you.

Did you learn by asking questions or just tearing into an engine with a crescent wrench? Were you taught by someone?

I will admit that I am in way over my head.. if this is the wrong place to ask questions..please point me to the right place.

[Moose-LandTran]

I'm not taking a stab at you, but one of the (many) problems will lie in disciplining your staff. For example, you need to know how long a job takes in order to tell whether your staff at working at a decent pace. (unless they're flat rate)

You're in the right place, and that wasn't an attack on you. It's just not an easy thing to start up a business in an industry you don't know. It's like me starting a beauty parlour, i'd have no idea where to start.

Not trying to put you on a downer, or say you can't do it. I have no idea what you're capable of, how far your knowledge extends, what skillset you have. I just think it could be very tough, moreso with the way the industry is right now.

Are you going to run it as an all-out business, or is it a hobby kind of thing?

I ask that because one of the shops i worked is a "hobby" for its owner. The place is nowhere near its full potential. They could be making cash out the wazoo, but it's failing and has always run at a loss.

[Wesley B]

It's okay, calm down, don't leave. I think what everyone is trying to say is go big(hunter) or go home(no alignment machine). Get the good stuff.

[krismoriah]

Well thanks to you guys I am going to look into used equipment first. I had thought about that, but needed to know where I stood as far as what is good and what isnt and what a new machine costs. If I go into a business that is closed and they have a hunter alignment setup.. I needed to know if it was good/bad etc. If they offer it at $20K at least i know the pros/cons of buying new etc.

This is a hobby that will turn into my career. My other businesses can be run by cellphone or meetings.

I am only successful at my other businesses because of 'who I know' that gets me more business than most others that are much better than me.

I will start hunting for used this week. Thanks!

If nothing is good or available I will look into Hunter.

[Treeman]

krismoriah,

I hope you keep us informed of your business venture. Often times, a person succeeds not because he knows everything, but because he turns to, and/or hires others that are experts.

I would suspect that you have good business and people management skills. I could see that an expert mechanic without these skills could just as easily fail if trying to establish his own business.

Interesting twist to your endeavor. Thanks.

[krismoriah]

Treeman,
I will post pics as I break ground and build the shop..along with the final project.

I dont see where this is a horrible model for a shop.. but I do go to shops that are poorly managed.

1)The shop that just did my brakes.. ran by a mechanic and his helper. The mechanic is working on cars all day long..when the phone rings..he usually ignores it..when a customer comes in..they wait until he is good and ready to talk to them.

2)The shop that did some work for my company vehicle.. You call and his wife answers the phone..no matter what you ask she says that x... will have to call you back.. you wait an hour or two..sometimes he calls sometimes he doesnt. He is usually working on something all the time..so he is too busy.

3)The one bay garage that is close to my house.. 'come back next week'..is about the best answer you will get from him..

All of the above are managed and owned by mechanics that are great mechanics...but do not have time to manage their shop.

[Danglerb]

Welcome to the forum, good and bad advice freely offered and worth every penny. ;)

What sort of shop are you opening, where abouts?

Hunter at least a 400, but unless you have a really big shop, most of the shops I know set the toe so its safe to drive with a simple measuring device and send cars out for the real alignment. Otherwise its just too easy to tie up a bay for hours on a $49 alignment.

To make money in a shop you need to attract work that doesn't tie up bays unless a labor clock is ticking all the time.

[krismoriah]

Danglerb,
I have started a thread in the General Garage forum. I have a ton of questions alignment machine is just a fraction of what I am thinking about.

I am building a 4 bay garage from the ground up. I am in the land buying process now. I am located in West Virginia.

I am going to go into tires..which is why I am debating the alignment. Less than half of the shops that sell tires do alignments, those that do offer are very very busy.

I am about 2 miles from a walmart that does a good tire volume from a large population city. They do not offer alignments..those that go for alignments have to go out of their way to get them done. On paper I can justify a bay for aligments only. But it is an expensive thing to get into.

I am still learning and making decisions as I go.