CRANK PROBLEMS

[kbone77]

they're still not covering it, spent a good hour and a half on the phone w/ them yesterday, including the manager. they think I'm not telling them something, they even suggested i heated the shaft w/ a torch-and that's why it's blue. but where it blued is between the back of the flywheel and the case seal-which is unaccessible when it's all assembled. it was pretty much like talking to a wall. horse sh!t deal all around. the thing snapped off while cruising down a dirt road in 4th gear on a group ride, now I'm just out a crank... they have no idea how it happened-but they somehow know with absolute certainty it wasn't the cranks fault... pretty much called me a liar.. not sure where they thought my motive would be-why would I want to take a brand new crank out of my bike to get it replaced!! they offered to sell me one at a significant discount-which is a step in the right direction-but it really puts me in a predicament-because why would I want another un-guarenteed crank in my bike.

 

i'm sure they get alot of drag bike cranks returned, because people get huge hp out of them and they fail-but I'm a port/pipe above stock.

[blowit]

they're still not covering it, spent a good hour and a half on the phone w/ them yesterday, including the manager. they think I'm not telling them something, they even suggested i heated the shaft w/ a torch-and that's why it's blue. but where it blued is between the back of the flywheel and the case seal-which is unaccessible when it's all assembled. it was pretty much like talking to a wall. horse sh!t deal all around. the thing snapped off while cruising down a dirt road in 4th gear on a group ride, now I'm just out a crank... they have no idea how it happened-but they somehow know with absolute certainty it wasn't the cranks fault... pretty much called me a liar.. not sure where they thought my motive would be-why would I want to take a brand new crank out of my bike to get it replaced!! they offered to sell me one at a significant discount-which is a step in the right direction-but it really puts me in a predicament-because why would I want another un-guarenteed crank in my bike.

 

i'm sure they get alot of drag bike cranks returned, because people get huge hp out of them and they fail-but I'm a port/pipe above stock.

 

 

As unfortunate as it may be, you will probably have to get pretty verbal and bug them quite a bit to get anything done. My "first" course of action would be to get statements from real engineers or engine builders as to what caused the failure. I certainly see their point that the steel they use will be certified as such and would be extremely rare to have a failure from material deviations. The first thing I would want is a hardness test. This will not detail the type of alloy used but at least you can test in several places and compare to the other side to see if the temper is knocked out or if it is vastly our of harness range.

 

I would say, unless you get technical with your research as to "why", they may continue to give you the run around.

 

 

Brandon

[deckheight]

That sucks! Not just the crank either, stator, coils... My guess would be a defective crank nose??? I'm sure things sometimes slip through quality control cracks... I would also think the flywheel would have to be so far out of balance for this to happen in such a short time frame that vibrations would have been very noticable. I have seen crank noses break off, but not on a Banshee, yet. And never that quick, yet. I would dought very seriously that anyone at Hotrods will admit responsability. Even so, someone over there should step up to the plate and make it right for you, IMPO anyway.

If you want to send me the flywheel I'll check it FOC, assuming it's not destroyed also??? At least that way you can eliminate or confirm that possability.

Good luck.

[kbone77]

I'll probably go with a new flywheel either way, appreciate the offer though. at the end of the day its more then just a crank, the stator and pickup are now damaged, I'll need to replace all the gaskets, fluids, seals, and not to mention the labor involved with a complete tear down-even though I'm doing it myself. And murphy's law it happens right in the middle of dune season. Maybe I'll ask uncle sam for a bailout!

 

Ultimately Hotrods saved a few bucks for themselves, but they've left a customer high and dry, w/ alot of friends.

 

So my advice to everyone: All these aftermarket companies claiming they sell better then oem parts, ask them if they have a warranty. If they do- what exactly voids that warranty... If they can't produce anything-the warranty is up to the guy on the end of the phone-and what kind of mood he's in that day!!

[deckheight]

Well... Sounds kinda like you got a pretty good feel for which way the wind blows over at Hotrods. Better to take the loss and move forward sometimes...

Good luck

 

Ultimately Hotrods saved a few bucks for themselves, but they've left a customer high and dry, w/ alot of friends.!!

[tony cub]

I'll probably go with a new flywheel either way, appreciate the offer though. at the end of the day its more then just a crank, the stator and pickup are now damaged, I'll need to replace all the gaskets, fluids, seals, and not to mention the labor involved with a complete tear down-even though I'm doing it myself. And murphy's law it happens right in the middle of dune season. Maybe I'll ask uncle sam for a bailout!

 

Ultimately Hotrods saved a few bucks for themselves, but they've left a customer high and dry, w/ alot of friends.

 

So my advice to everyone: All these aftermarket companies claiming they sell better then oem parts, ask them if they have a warranty. If they do- what exactly voids that warranty... If they can't produce anything-the warranty is up to the guy on the end of the phone-and what kind of mood he's in that day!!

last november at the races,my crank also snapped around in the same area.when i called hotrod and told them of the problem they gave me a hard time.kinda like what there doing to you.i guess they thought they where talking to some kid doing work in there back yard.after many pics sent to there email and alot of back and forth(bitchin) they sent my new crank....what i tring to say is dont give up bitch.. bitch.. bitch..if you didnt cause the problem youll get your new crank..ask them if you can send it back so that someone there can check it out...