Pared my new spyder! Too dangerous to ride!

[Captain Fin]

I has to park my new spyder while BRP decides what to do about getting my bike properly align ed. The spyder has been to the dealer Three times for alignment and it is still wearing the front tires to the replacment wear marks on the outside in 900 miles. I plan on working with the same dealer and BRP to resolve the problem because i understand that i was the first spyder owner at this south Miami dealership to need an alignment. I want this dealer to be sucessfull in resolving this issue so that in the future other owners will not suffer.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

alignment

Sorry to hear of your problem. 900 miles and the same dealer has done three alignments and you are still wearing out the tires.........I don't think your dealer's mechanic's have the slightest clue what they are doing IMHO........Something is very,very wrong with the front end of your machine for this to be happening....Mike

 

[Ga Blue Knight]

Or something is very very wrong at the dealer!

 

[BajaRon]

I has to park my new spyder while BRP decides what to do about getting my bike properly align ed. The spyder has been to the dealer Three times for alignment and it is still wearing the front tires to the replacment wear marks on the outside in 900 miles. I plan on working with the same dealer and BRP to resolve the problem because i understand that i was the first spyder owner at this south Miami dealership to need an alignment. I want this dealer to be sucessfull in resolving this issue so that in the future other owners will not suffer.

Doing a good job of aligning a Spyder requires taking off the Frunk, the proper tools, a grasp of the correct method, an eye towards exacting detail and perserverence to get it right (not just close). Believe me, it's more like threading a needle than it is horse shoes! But it CAN BE DONE!

I heard a Spyderlover at a recent even say that his tires were weaing incorrectly and the local dealer was going to give one of his tie rod ends 1/4 turn to correct it. I chringed but I didn't say anything. Maybe I should have.

When Lamont and I did the alignment on my RS (by the way, it turned out PERFECT) we would turn a tie rod end so little that we were not sure we'd turned it at all and the alignment would often go past the point we were looking for.

Can you imagine what 1/4 turn would do to your existing alignment? Like fixing a scratch in your paint with a dozer!

I wish we had the time and ablity to do an alignment shop at Lamont's BBQ. But it would be overwhelming. Not to mention that many alignments are bad due to worn parts.

 

[Captain Fin]

The mechanic has been turning the nuts on the tie rod. I have rust on the tie rod nut

L

Doing a good job of aligning a Spyder requires taking off the Frunk, the proper tools, a grasp of the correct method, an eye towards exacting detail and perserverence to get it right (not just close). Belielve me, it's more like threading a needle than it is horse shoes! But it CAN BE DONE!

I heard a Spyderlover at a recent even say that his tires were weaing incorrectly and the local dealer was going to give one of his tie rod ends 1/4 turn to correct it. I chringed but I didn't say anything. Maybe I should have.

When Lamont and I did the alignment on my RS (by the way, it turned out PERFECT) we would turn a tie rod end so little that we were not sure we'd turned it at all and the alignment would often go past the point we were looking for.

Can you imagine what 1/4 turn would do to your existing alignment? Like fixing a scratch in your paint with a dozer!

I wish we had the time and ablity to do an alignment shop at Lamont's BBQ. But it would be overwhelming. Not to mention that many alignments are bad due to worn parts.

 

[Bob Denman]

I can appreciate your loyalty to this dealer, but I also think that I'd just about have my hands on a life jacket and be getting ready to jump ship... :shocked:

 

[NancysToy]

There is an alignment procedure in the shop manual (although there are other ways to do it). It requires some special tools and some care. There is also a little bit of voodoo involved, as the toe-in value jacked up is not the same as when on the ground, and changes further when loaded (so rider weight becomes a factor). It the dealer did not use a marked eight foot piece of aluminum angle and a magnetic laser level to check, he did not do it by the book. If he did, he may want to try again, but increase the toe-in value somewhat. The book value is a bit too little, IMO. He also needs to be sure to use the right value for the Spyder model. The RT takes a larger initial value.

If everything else was done right, it is time to start checking for front suspension component wear or looseness, improper assembly, or damaged components. The camber angle is not adjustable, but it may have to be checked, too, and compared to a known good unit. I hope you were just being brief when you said he had adjusted the nuts. They are merely lock-nuts, and the tie rod ends themselves must be adjusted after loosening them. This should not just be "tweaked", but measured carefully. As Ron said, tiny adjustments make a bi difference in the readings. Oh, one other thing...the steering sensors must be recalibrated, after centering the steering, following any adjustments.

I applaud you for giving your dealer a chance to work this out. It will benefit you both in the long run. I hope you can get it taken care of soon, even if BRP has to send a tech rep to the dealer to do it. Recognizing that something is drastically wrong is a good foirst step, but the dealer needs to call for help if need be. I thnk I would contact BRP Customer Service to submit a claim and get things moving from that end, too. That may help your dealer get assistance more quickly.

 

[shelbydave]

Is this a brand new spyder? I see you just joined this month, so I was wondering. If so, keep track of the number of times you had to return to the dealer for the same problem, and how long you have been down as a result of that problem. Also check your "lemon laws" to see if your situation meets the criteria.
IMHO, if this is brand new, you shouldn't have to suffer while they "figure it out". You dropped alot of coin on this thing, now you have to park it? They better be working on this free of charge...
So indeed work with them, but there does come a time when you have to start wondering if you are being jerked around. In the mean time, do some research, check the lemon laws, and then when you do get too frustrated, you have that info on your side. Knowledge is power. If they know that you have already looked into this, and that they may have to give you a replacement, or buy yours back, they'll figure it out real fast.
I originally had some problems with my dealer - they kept slipping the delivery date. I didn't make threats (not yet), but I did express my frustration with the issue, and painted them a really good picture of my legal argument. They got it in, and they called their techs in early to get it set up for me. Since then, I have had no issues with them - sales or service, so I'm glad that we were able to get past that problem and build a working relationship, so I fully understand your desire to stay with your dealer. Just be fore-warned that if the service department doesn't have competent technicians, your spyder experience will not be all it can be.

 

[Captain Fin]

I really miss my spyder. Hope BRP gets issue resolved soon!

:banghead::banghead:

I can appreciate your loyalty to this dealer, but I also think that I'd just about have my hands on a life jacket and be getting ready to jump ship... :shocked:

Im calling BRP today. They will most likely get tired of sending new tires to this dealer and paying for all the alignments. Mabe they will send a BRP tech to this dealer to resolve the issue. The ball is still in BRP's córner until the lemon law kicks in. I am documenting all at this point and being deplomatic:banghead::banghead: although its hard. I do realize that the mecanic at this shop does not have a clue how to perform the alignment.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

GOOD ADVICE

Is this a brand new spyder? I see you just joined this month, so I was wondering. If so, keep track of the number of times you had to return to the dealer for the same problem, and how long you have been down as a result of that problem. Also check your "lemon laws" to see if your situation meets the criteria.
IMHO, if this is brand new, you shouldn't have to suffer while they "figure it out". You dropped alot of coin on this thing, now you have to park it? They better be working on this free of charge...
So indeed work with them, but there does come a time when you have to start wondering if you are being jerked around. In the mean time, do some research, check the lemon laws, and then when you do get too frustrated, you have that info on your side. Knowledge is power. If they know that you have already looked into this, and that they may have to give you a replacement, or buy yours back, they'll figure it out real fast.
I originally had some problems with my dealer - they kept slipping the delivery date. I didn't make threats (not yet), but I did express my frustration with the issue, and painted them a really good picture of my legal argument. They got it in, and they called their techs in early to get it set up for me. Since then, I have had no issues with them - sales or service, so I'm glad that we were able to get past that problem and build a working relationship, so I fully understand your desire to stay with your dealer. Just be fore-warned that if the service department doesn't have competent technicians, your spyder experience will not be all it can be.

Dave has some very good advice here: but be also advised of what you say to the dealer or BRP....if you bring up the words " LAW SUIT " you will have the door slammed in your face so hard it will make your ears ring......they will go defensive in a BIG way and may just refer you to their legal dept. and you will be years dealing with this, and maybe still not getting it resolved in your favor or to your liking.....You have rights and I back you 110 %. ......good luck Mike

 

[shelbydave]

Dave has some very good advice here: but be also advised of what you say to the dealer or BRP....if you bring up the words " LAW SUIT " you will have the door slammed in your face so hard it will make your ears ring......they will go defensive in a BIG way and may just refer you to their legal dept. and you will be years dealing with this, and maybe still not getting it resolved in your favor or to your liking.....You have rights and I back you 110 %. ......good luck Mike

:agree: The best negotiation method is to simply state the facts without making threats.