tire problem, anyone else?...advice?

[csmead]

wrapping up tire issue, maybe a solution....

1. apologize for not sending follow up sooner, the work for a resolution continues...
2. I read all your advice(-es) and man-upped for the challenge.. went into detective stealth mode....:lecturef_smilie:

*found out that BRP demo team with reps would be at my dealership.
*got there early and was able to confer with two tech reps.
*described issue without prejudice (ie. if you were given a bike with the inside edge bald, what would your initial diagnosis be?)
*tech stated it was mechanical, not a rider issue; check ball joint, a arm and tie rods
*went into management office to discuss resolution
*called BRP on the following Monday, to lodge complaint (service dept. stated that BRP rep would not okay any further $$ to look)
*drove bike off lot (to take home), went 2 miles, check engine light came on, returned to dealer service dept, (lucky me) the O2 sensor finally died in front of the mechanic (had been an issue for several months, intermittant). Bike as been gone over 6 weeks, I want a loaner!!
*while the part was on order, somehow the right tire issue was looked at seriously (who, how, why...no answer)...and...opcorn:...a little tension added to my drama....the right tie rod was loose, causing 3/4 inch sway and oddly enough, causing a 3/4 inch wide bald area on my right tire.:clap::clap::roflblack: hyea: hyea: okay, I am over doing it but I don't care about being right as much as I want my bike back, fixed and ready for Hollywood. I lied, vindication is a good feeling, better than this.... :banghead:

Is the drama over? No, dealership wants to change the tires and charge me almost $400. They are checking with BRP to see if there is some kind of equitable resolution with BRP picking up some of the cost. I told them since service dept forced me to buy 3 new tires, if they (anyone) would pick up the expense of mounting both front tires, I would bring up the tires to them (I took them home, thinking the bike was coming home). Otherwise, since we live 40+ miles from the dealership, we need to learn how to take care of our own tire changing. My husband will get a new tool or two that he can use on his bike. Bob said that the $400 would be better spent on a hydraulic motorcycle stand.

 

[Firefly]

I'm sure they'll cut you a break on the $$$ to mount. The fronts are simple - any local tire place can swap the new tires onto your rims. Very easy to remove and replace on the Spyder.

The back is more complex - had the dealer do it for me ($200 not inculding the tire :yikes.

While the dealer certainly should have caught the loose tie-rod - that is something an owner should also notice when doing the once-over of the bike checking for anything that might have come loose.

Glad you'll be back on the road soon - I would have kicked some serious butt if they even tried to keep my bike for that long!

 

[Firefly]

What if these were eccentric so they can be adjusted? Never looked at them very close - but that would give camber adjustment would it not?

 

[NancysToy]

What if these were eccentric so they can be adjusted? Never looked at them very close - but that would give camber adjustment would it not?

You couldn't use an eccentric very well at the ball joint. The geometry is too critical. An eccentric would cause fore-and-aft adjustment as the side-to-side camber adjustment was made. An eccentric at the other end of the A-arms would be acceptable from an engineering standpoint, since any off-axis movement there would be up and down, and would only change the angle of the A-arm, which changes as the suspension works anyway.
-Scotty

 

[Firefly]

You couldn't use an eccentric very well at the ball joint. The geometry is too critical. An eccentric would cause fore-and-aft adjustment as the side-to-side camber adjustment was made. An eccentric at the other end of the A-arms would be acceptable from an engineering standpoint, since any off-axis movement there would be up and down, and would only change the angle of the A-arm, which changes as the suspension works anyway.
-Scotty

Okay - makes sense.

 

[bone crusher]

Okay - makes sense.

Fire,

I think you're rather eccentric, in a good way...if that matters for anything??:doorag:

 

[Firefly]

Fire,

I think you're rather eccentric, in a good way...if that matters for anything??:doorag:

Don't make me pull out my photos of 'Famous Pet Stars' I've had taken with me! Got one pretty racy one with me and Rin Tin Tin---- :roflblack:

 

[jansboy]

Inside tire wear.

If you have inside wear on the inside edge, you have too much toe out. This can show on one or both front tires. If you have outside edge wear on one or both you have too much toe in.
Toe in adjustment is the most important adjustment for alignment. Many modern vehicles have no provision for camber or caster adjustments. So toe is so very important. It is not unusual to see one tire take the blunt of misadjusted toe in.

 

[murphybrown]

My experience on this issue

Was told REPEATEDLY by dealership .. Could do nothing about. When I asked about alignment they basically put me in the "woman knows NOT of what she ?'s". I was wearing out the insides of both front tires by 8-9k miles. First put on Elka shocks..then took to a well know alignment shop for cagers (had never worked on a Spyder)...his position was excessive wear on tire, 95% of time alignment will help. He said he tweaked a little...I am at 12k on front tires they are wearing evenly. Same brand tires as other 3 sets...same tire pressure (I chk that every time I chk oil level)...cause he said uneven pressure quarantines uneven wear.
Hope that helps give some insight. Unfortunately sometimes dealers/techs give the "pat/easy" answer CAUSE "they know not of what they speak". :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[NancysToy]

ldpost:

 

[Flanker]

I'm running 15psi in the fronts, and 28psi in the rear...........................working good for me, very even pressure across the entire tread width, right to tire corners (where the tread turns into the side wall). Chronic under inflation could lead to excessive wear on the outside edge of a front tire, regardless of alignment. I've looked a replacement tires for my new Spyder at the Tirerack.com. They have a very easy to use size selection and search feature that produced a number of replacement choices in the stock tire sizes as well as slightly larger options for the front tires. I've used the Tirerack for numerous sets of car tires over the last 25 years, and have always had excellent service from them. Any local tire shop should be able to handle a tire swap and rebalance for 14 and 15 inch rims and tires.......................gives you more options on the labor charges than just your BRP dealerships. Good luck!

 

[NancysToy]

ldpost: