Best case scenario is an engine swap and back on the road in time for my Bandera trip in mid September. Worst case is warranty claim denied and out-of-pocket expenses exceeding $7000 by my estimate.
I really hope for the engine swap scenario. Will save a LOT of labor expense and gets me out of their hair quicker. Let Triumph do the post-mortem on their time.
Read the service manual last night and learned that the engine casing halves are matched pairs. You cannot simply replace one half. SO . . . that essentially means a new or remanned short block. I'll know for sure if that happens because I have the original engine serial number on the upper half. Good news out of that is even if they save most of the parts from my existing engine, they are going to have to be disassembled to move into the new block. This should ferret out any collateral damage. Looks like the 500 mile and 10,000 mile service milestones will get repeated again. Maybe it will get the new upgraded transmission pack from the 2008's.
On the dealer issue - - Since the bike is under warranty, my attitude on the service response is different than if it was no longer covered. If the dealer says its OK, then let the warranty and Triumph support the assessment. If the bike had been out of warranty, I would have accepted nothing less than a signed statement claiming the health of the bike.
Lastly, British-USA has always treated me well. When I came in late one Saturday afternoon with a nail in the rear tire, they got me in and spent more than two hours changing it. This was when their service department was booked. Like it or not, you are married to your dealer and your safety rests in the skill of their techs. Best to keep a very polite, but business-like relationship to preserve the marriage. But just in case, I prepared an 18-page documentation package with service records and pre-maintenance photos of the bike. Hope for the best; prepare for the worst. Call it a post-nup.
I really hope for the engine swap scenario. Will save a LOT of labor expense and gets me out of their hair quicker. Let Triumph do the post-mortem on their time.
Read the service manual last night and learned that the engine casing halves are matched pairs. You cannot simply replace one half. SO . . . that essentially means a new or remanned short block. I'll know for sure if that happens because I have the original engine serial number on the upper half. Good news out of that is even if they save most of the parts from my existing engine, they are going to have to be disassembled to move into the new block. This should ferret out any collateral damage. Looks like the 500 mile and 10,000 mile service milestones will get repeated again. Maybe it will get the new upgraded transmission pack from the 2008's.
On the dealer issue - - Since the bike is under warranty, my attitude on the service response is different than if it was no longer covered. If the dealer says its OK, then let the warranty and Triumph support the assessment. If the bike had been out of warranty, I would have accepted nothing less than a signed statement claiming the health of the bike.
Lastly, British-USA has always treated me well. When I came in late one Saturday afternoon with a nail in the rear tire, they got me in and spent more than two hours changing it. This was when their service department was booked. Like it or not, you are married to your dealer and your safety rests in the skill of their techs. Best to keep a very polite, but business-like relationship to preserve the marriage. But just in case, I prepared an 18-page documentation package with service records and pre-maintenance photos of the bike. Hope for the best; prepare for the worst. Call it a post-nup.
