Triumphrat

Big_Rick · 10-12-2007

Well, some of you may remember me poking around to find out if anyone else has had any bottom end issues a few months ago. For those of you just joining us heres the condensed version. Back in June my Bonnie started to vibrate pretty badly. It took some time of ruling out everything I could before I hauled it up to the Dealer a couple of hours away. They couldn't put their finger on it either so I took it back for awhile and it just kept getting worse. It finally became apparent that it was the bottom end, so I took it back up to the Dealer to get it taken care of since it's still on warranty.

That was THREE months ago. Since then it's been a game of cat and mouse between the dealer and Triumph trying to get the warranty work authorized. This week, they finally approved replacing the crank and both counter balance shafts. They all had run-out at the gears. (I knew it wasn't my imagination....)

The painfully Ironic part is that this is what the dealer wanted to do in the first place but it got nixed at Corporate because "they've never experienced this kind of failure in their bottom ends" (I'm paraphrasing of course) Then after SEVERAL weeks of back an forth phone tag and correspondence between the dealer and Triumph HQ they've only just now authorized the replacement of the parts.

My bike's been sitting at the dealer in pieces since Aug. 9th. Now by the time parts come in (everyone's familiar with triumph's lightning fast parts delivery!) and the bike gets rebuilt and back to me, it's quite likely that the snow will be flyin' and I'm not sure I'll be able to put any real miles on it to test it out till spring, but the warranty expires in Feb. Not sure where that is going to leave me.

Needless to say I'm feeling a little put out. Just had to vent.
Hope nobody else has to go through something like this, and that once I get it back this whole issue will all be behind me so next season is smooth and uninterrupted.

Sorry for the rant,
Rick

whoa · 10-12-2007

Your a good man. If I really though my dealer went to bat for me, I'd dump the Triumph and buy whatever else they sell. I accept that the manufacturer needs to qualify the dealers diagnosis, but taking more than two weeks to sort that out is inexcusable.

BlueJ · 10-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoa

...I'd dump the Triumph and buy whatever else they sell....

SACRILEGE!!!!

sweatmachine · 10-12-2007

sounds like a good time for a big bore kit, especially since they'll be splitting the cases. If you are so inclined, without stroking the crank and just by boring the top case 1/2 you can go as big as 1100cc.

Hiltz · 10-13-2007

Rick,

If you are on record with a warranty claim prior to the expiration date of your warranty, you are good to go. Any unresolved problems regarding that particular issue are covered until the problem is resolved.

Whitehurst · 10-13-2007

I had a super bad vibration problem and to come to find out it was the front wheel. Instead of my dealer waiting for Triumph to say neh or yeh, they fixed it free of charge.

Doug Douglas BTW are the best guys that I have dealt with - STAND UP PEOPLE...

idaho_thrux · 10-13-2007

Very similar to the experience one of my friends had when it came time to replace the engine in warranty for his new Daytona 675. Once replaced and rebuilt, he immediately sold it and bought a Honda. He was quite discouraged by his warranty experience and I have to say that I would be too. Appears that Triumph may need to take a very hard look at some of their customer service policies and make them a bit more customer friendly.

Grigsby · 10-13-2007

my bike as well was out of commission for nearly 3 months this season. I had a very audible chatter in the top end on the left side. It was eventually diagnosed as a crack in the left cylinder......took forever for Triumph to agree to tear down the engine and replace the parts.

Now after two months having it back the noise is still there. When I took it back after 600 miles for them to change the oil and check it out I told them I still heard the noise.....They now tell me it's a normal engine noise for the Bonneville.

I'm fairly disgusted. I have until April for the warranty to run out and think I will take it back to them once riding season is done here.

I am pretty disappointed in the whole affair from start to finish......no not finish from start to wherever the heck I'm at with it right now

conchscooter · 10-13-2007

I had a similar issue with electronic black boxes failing on my Vespa GTs. All replaced under warranty and the Vespa 250 runs great but it soured me on the machine.
The good news is that negative expereince has landed me a brand new Bonnie that seems to be running well- so far!

Big_Rick · 10-13-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiltz

Rick,

If you are on record with a warranty claim prior to the expiration date of your warranty, you are good to go. Any unresolved problems regarding that particular issue are covered until the problem is resolved.

Cheers Hiltz, that's what I assumed, but I still brought it up and want to hear it from the horses mouth before it actually happens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whitehurst

I had a super bad vibration problem and to come to find out it was the front wheel. Instead of my dealer waiting for Triumph to say neh or yeh, they fixed it free of charge.

Originally, that's what the Dealer tried to do. They put in for new counterbalance shafts, then when they still hadn't come in after three weeks, they loaned me another bike and started looking into where the parts were. That's when it came to light that Triumph had put a halt on it citing the improbability of bottom end issues. Then the fun began with Triumph requesting all sorts of checks and photos and whatnot over the next several weeks before finally agreeing to the repair this week.
Now the wait is on for the new crank and c-balance shafts. Who knows how long that will take.
At least there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.
Rick