I agree with you totally - unfortunately, all the dealers and service people around here seem to be real idoits. I'd much rather throw $125 at this and know that it's fixed right.
I'll condense the nightmare of this and then you'll know why I've taken to repairing a lot of our equipment myself. The truck '92 F250 has had a consistent electrical systems drain problem while plowing. Last year we replaced the batttery and the alternator ($100 and $180 aprrox)and thought it was fixed (not much snow after so - who knows?).
This year problem returns. Battery tests bad - replaced twice. About this time I take it in to have the electrical system diagnosed by Western Dealer - could be bad luck/bad batteries, but batteries shouldn't go bad like that. System checks out. Two weeks later - problem returns. Same dealer checks the alternator - now says its bad and replaces it ($250). A day later, the problem is back - return it to the same dealer, he no says the battery is bad again - another ($100).
Now up to this point, all these failures have come during snowstorms - the only time problem seem to ever manifest themselves! Each time I've taken it back to the dealer, I've given them an extensive list of the symptoms and also of the things I know that it isn't. I've also listed several things that I believe might be the problem and several things that I'd test/check. Each time the dealer assures me that all these things check out. To this point, the dealer assures me that the pump amp draw is normal and the pressure is good. So, I can pretty much eliminate the pump as the source of the problem (I constantly find myself having to troubleshoot equipment when I do take it to a mechanic - to prevent them from just treating the symptoms and not source!).
Finally, I cave in and take the truck to the "big Western dealer" on this side of town. They're really expensive put they do most of the installations around here and I've heard they're good - (BUT REAL A#$HOLES). I tell them the history, the symptoms and the what I think may be the problem and let them have at it. (Note: anytime I ever give any advice or suggestions as to any mechanical matter to these guys, I'm very acquiesing - so as not appear "pushy or like a know it all" - always ending with "you guys are the experts so ....."). At any rate, I go to pick up the truck - ANOTHER $304! For what, you ask - a new electrical pump motor $140 and $160 to install it - and rehook the elcetrical contacts to it. As close as I can figure that's about $45 a bolt - as there's 2 mounting bolts and two electrical leads. By the way, at $62/hr labor - it took the mechanic 2 1/2 hrs to do the job. So, let's figure 15 minutes to run the amp load test on the motor (well actually 12 minute to smoke 2 cigarettes and 3 minutes to load test it) - then 15 minutes per bolt. Here's the kicker, the problem was only slightly improved. So, finally, I decided if want something done right..... So, took the pump apart, flushed the system, blah, blah, blah and I think I finally found the problem. It looks like a few worn o rings and an angle cylinder that may have been binding were causing the pump to ultimately strain and load the system.
So, utimately I blame myself for not getting a Western Mechanic's Manual and chasing this problem down to begin with. I could have bought a new pump (power unit) with the $ I've spent trying to fix this. I wish I could find a decent plow mechanic around here. I know a lot of other compaines with the same problems. Some have even asked me to do repairs as they know that I do all the summer equipment mechanic work myself. I'd much rather pay someone to do this work if I knew it'd be done right. I do know some great mechanics - and I treat those guys like gold (tip 'em, comp 'em, etc..) but they don't know much about plows. Don't worry - I didn't think you were knocking me - I wish I had the luxury of taking it somewhere. Unfortunately, I tried that route and I only ended up wasting about $1100.
PS - I'm sure air is in the ram - it was really "squishy".
PSS - Thank god for lawnsite.com - everyone's input on this has been very helpful. Had I know about this site eariler, I may have been able to save some of that money. Sorry for the long post - venting feels so good.