BBC Triumph

Review: IN 2009 I left my 1955 BSA Motorcycle with Tom Robinson, owner of the company. He had done some work for me in the past. I was told he could rebuild a motorcycle engine for $3000 but would have to find a core as mine was no good. I went to San Pedro and purchased one for $550. Tom told me the engine would be find. I specified I wanted with the rebuild, new valves, have harden seats to take unleaded fuel and new pistons and rings... he agreed. I asked for him to let me know when the engine was pulled so I could get bike to repaint frame...Tom said he would do that for me. I then paid him a $1000 cash deposit and got a receipt. I left the motorcycle to begin repairs. about 4-6 months later I came by to see progress as I had told him to take his time...as I needed to raise the rest of the money...but when I visited...nothing had been done, engine was still in frame. Nearly a year later I was told the motorcycle was ready to go. I had already paid him the additional $2000 in cash, thinking it would help him since he'd talked about having money/health/rent issues. I went to start the cycle...wouldn't start...he tried for nearly an hour and no luck as well...so I left for him to recheck. A few weeks later I was told again it was ready to go...took the long tip to the shop only to find the cycle would not start... I had Tom do it this time. At that point he said it was the magneto... I doubted that as there was spark to the plugs. This went on t2-3 more times...finally got it to start but difficult. got it home oil shooting everywhere...and smoking...he;d put rings in backwards. later found out he had failed to install gaskets. long story short... bike woould never runwell and hard to start...he finally would not wirk anymore. I took it to several different ships over the course of a few years, as I had to save money and wait for them to check. USED valves...not hard seats...pistons bad and undersized...was told bike looked like never worked on. went to BAR, he said never worked on it.Desired Settlement: I was told he could give me no final receipt as it was cash and didn't want to report to IRS. Says he gave me refund...never worked on the cycle and gave me refund back... told that to the BAR. I have witnesses to say he did. I want full refund of $3000 plus the $550 for the core I bought, plus compensation for the hours lost at work driving to his business several times and the mileage for a cycle he had not actually rebuilt. This was a 4 hour round trip each time.