Triumphrat

perfectbonnie · 01-13-2012, 01:56 PM

I found the same attitude at my dealer - "the boards are full of misinformation". That attitude is partly correct in that there is bad information out there, but it is usually blasted out of the water by corrections from the other participants. This group is exceptional in their collective unselfishness that ultimately results in the correct information coming out to its users.

Although the dealer may be the "expert", I would always double check with the collective knowledge of this group for confirmation.

oldgreybull · 01-14-2012, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draeger

Fast idle notch? I'm guessing you are talking about a bike other than a Tbird, or does my Tbird have one of those?

Huh? What Draeger said... didn't know I had one either.

merchantmarguy · 01-14-2012, 11:14 AM

I am sure that every mechanic has the finger on the pulse of several thousand owners and bikes. Owners that have found simple answers to complex problems. Bad stealership mechanics that poke and feel for a problem (especially on a newer or rare bike) rather than have other mechanic friends that might have seen a problem he hasn't.

While I might not go online for a step by step stroker, nitrous modification to an engine - it may help find that a part might be sticking on other bikes or an error code is common among other bikes or that using aftermarket parts could cause issues.

davidp · 11-11-2012, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnbykrtim

The dealership in Pensacola, FL where I bought my 2011 Thunderbird Storm said I shouldn’t listen to the people that post in the Triumph forums. He called us all “a bunch of backyard mechanics.” Then he tells me I don’t know how to start a motorcycle. I’m 50 years old and have owned bikes my entire life. Granted fuel injected bikes are relatively new, I still believe I know how to start one. Mine has been hard to start whenever the temperature is cooler than approx. 60 degrees F. It starts without problem when the temperature is warmer. When starting cold I have to press the starter button as many as 5 times to get it to start and it smells flooded. If I touch the throttle even slightly while pressing the starter it fires right up the first or second time I try. The dealership said you have to press the button continuously until it starts no matter how long it takes. I asked about burning up the starter motor or draining the battery and he said the first won’t happen and if the battery fails I should bring it in for a replacement battery. The owner’s manual that came with the bike says to hold the button in no longer than 5 seconds and to wait 15 seconds before pressing it again to avoid burning up the starter.

What do you “backyard mechanics” think I should do?

My 2011 Storm also developed "starting issues" but only after a dealer service at 5800 miles. As reported on the repair order, the "tps and steeper motor" were out of spec. (Yes, steeper motor) I am at 6400 miles now and all has been good until I dropped the kickstand with the bike running AND in gear, tonight. The starter is labored and I am 15 minutes after an 80 mile ride. Could that kickstand thing put the engine brains out of sync??
If the bike needs a patch like so many computer applications, Triumph best get on it. Carburetated Kickers are looking sweeter than they know!!

MickeyBoy · 11-12-2012, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnbykrtim

I did the 12 minute adaption tune without any noticeable improvement. So I'm faced with a conundrum. The dealership is 2 to 2.5 hours away and the only dealership in NWF. The guy on the phone that tried so hard to insult me and everyone else that uses this forum picked up when I was put through to service. He used the same name as the owner and he sounded like the owner. I’d be happy to take my business somewhere else but there really isn’t anywhere else to take it. Either I go there or I do what I can myself. Can I download the TOR’s myself? If not, how do I get the dealership to do it when they have the attitude this guy has?

I've always considered myself a shadetree mechanic, too. Thanks for all the help.

Google Triumph mechanics in your area. There has to be more than just the dealership.

BigGuy82 · 11-16-2012, 12:12 PM

I work in my garage, so I guess I am technically a garage mechanic

Since your dealer shows indications of being less than competent (I'm trying hard to be kind here), you are far better off with all of us "amateurs" than you are with this dealer. If you can't find a competent mechanic, I suggest developing some skills or switching to a brand that has good dealer coverage. I hate suggesting that because of the extremely high regard I have for the T'Bird, but switching brands is far better than having to suffer with substandard performance from a clueless dealer.

I've got the best of both worlds ... I'm a pretty good wrench (at least I like to think so) AND I have a good dealer. The warranty stuff goes to the dealer, who gets it done right. The maintenance and upgrades I do, and they also get done right.

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

skromfols · 01-07-2013, 10:06 AM

If it were me I would take the bike personally to the dealer. Start with the service manager. Tell him what you're experiencing and ask him what he thinks. When you called the dealership you may have talked with the owner or someone who really isn't a mechanic. Most service managers that I've delt with seem to be pretty knowledgable. If you don't get the help that you desire just tell them why you're disappointed with them and that you're going to take your business to another dealer or mechanic. Being upset gains you nothing, but talking in a calm voice and giving them the chance to make things right just might save you some time and effort.

steve59 · 03-03-2013, 09:25 AM

Sounds like the guy got defensive from the start, It's ridiculous but getting the job done right means going into the shop informed and massage some ego's patently until the service writer "gets your meaning" or defers to the tbird mechanic in the shop. My Storm got trailer'd back to the shop the day I bought it because it wouldn't start after I gassed it up. Back at the shop while they were putting a fresh battery in it the service mgr came over to me & explained the auto compression release on the bird and told me to hold the starter button a few seconds at a time and the starter will work! At least 1 person in my shop knows the tbird. Good luck getting it right.

georgied · 03-03-2013, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidp

My 2011 Storm also developed "starting issues" but only after a dealer service at 5800 miles. As reported on the repair order, the "tps and steeper motor" were out of spec. (Yes, steeper motor) I am at 6400 miles now and all has been good until I dropped the kickstand with the bike running AND in gear, tonight. The starter is labored and I am 15 minutes after an 80 mile ride. Could that kickstand thing put the engine brains out of sync??
If the bike needs a patch like so many computer applications, Triumph best get on it. Carburetated Kickers are looking sweeter than they know!!

Well, I am not a trained mechanic and maybe qualify as a back yard mechanic of sorts. It isn't a lack of skills but familiarity that holds me back so I am completely open to a definitive conclusion. I have read many posts on this subject and I have formed the opinion that how the motor is shut down will not cause such ill effects. I have read that the elecrical diagram indicates all the switches responsible for sutting down the motor are in series which means they all do the same thing. I will verify this in the next few days. The reason Triumph recommends shutting the motor down with the key is so that other circuits don't remain on and run the battery down. I personally have inadvertintly shut my motor down this way many times without any noticable ill effects whatsoever. I can't imagine a motorcycle manufacturer, especially Triumph, that would engineer a motorcycle that would erase or otherwise harm engine control settings by not following such an exact shut down sequence.

davidp · 03-04-2013, 06:17 PM

Thanks for input Georgie. When Im far from home, I still say a silent prayer before I hit the start button to this day!
Most times vroom on 1st try, other times 2-3 attempts before up and going.