general common breakdown/breakin issues question

[fastfreight]

tranny bearings gone-QUESTION

My 07 Rocket with 9900 miles on it is in the shop for replacement of the damper shaft bearings. So far, Triumph has said they will send the parts kit at their expense, but labor to install would be on my dime. My dealer has made the very fair offer to absorb half the labor cost. However, I have followed the reports of other people and it looks like I could be in for multiple failures of multiple components taking me back to the shop repeatedly, not to mention getting stranded. I am not happy. I bought the RIII for short tours and I could end up hundreds of miles from home with no dealer nearby.

So here's my question: has anyone initiated a safety complaint with the NHTSA? I get a magazine that every month reports recalls, and most of them are for issues that are much less significant than the RIII issues. The bearings issue, the timing chain issue, the burnt out ignition switch issue all have the potential to cause the bike or safety related components to quit unexpectedly while the bike is being ridden and a number of the posts on this site have reported just such incidents. A recall means no negotiations; the manufacturer fixes the problem at its expense or else. It appears that at one point Triumph's policy was to install the entire "upgrade" kit that is posted on another thread when any of the failures occurred, but judging by my case not any more. Are they just playing a game of chicken hoping that nobody turns them in to the NHTSA, or has this been tried and failed?

 

[Bobby K]

I would print a copy of the upgrade kit parts list that I posted, and take that to show the dealer. It's hard for the dealer to plead ignorance when you have the evidence in hand. And leave threats of legal action, or the NHTSA, as a last resort.

 

[HD2Rocket3]

Rusty Driveshaft

I finally got my R3 opened up this past weekend, at first thinking it is has a loose flywheel. When they took the driveshaft housing off and opened it up, the driveshaft looked like it had been laying out in the rain for about a year, just a rusted hunk of junk, and not an ounce of lube on it anywhere. The universal joint on the front and the teeth it connects to at the back were also worn down. There was an '05 R3 in the shop for a transmission problem with twice the miles and its driveshaft was nice and shiny and slick. I can think of maybe three reasons this could happen. 1: the boot didn't have a good seal 2: Triumph didn't grease it when they put it together, or 3: there is a crack in the housing somewhere. Anyone else ever seen this? The tech at the shop said he has opened a few up and has never seen it before.

 

[garygene351]

breakdown

2010 R3R stock 7500 miles lost count of no starts/dead batt. pops thru intake 22 Mpg ,clutch cable,main wire harness, gear poss. sensor,noise /vibration in "N" clutch chatter,final drive slack & T.B.s maladjusted. If I ever go to sell hope no one knows of this forum, doubt it though, determined to make lemon-aid,besides ,owned a Harley, and round here has a ****** rocket of one brand or another! My R3R reminds me of an old big block,no replacement for displacement.

 

[CanberraR3]

Rocket IIIs are top quality - the numbers prove it

What I find amazing is that over the life of this thread, some 3 years, there's been 14,110 views yet only 73 posts about problems. That inane thread called "Thread Killer" in less than a month has had 334 posts!! And on the last of 3 threads about the Rocket ring there has been a staggering 993 posts and 20,562 views - and the two other 2 threads about those rings had 912 and 170 posts and 11,600 and 3083 views respectively all in the space of 7 months.

Don't anyone dare suggest there is a problem with these bikes. Sure there are examples of issues and certainly the ignition switch suffers from Triumph being too tight to spring for a $5 relay, but 73 posts in 3 years about problems that happen to all bikes anyway - versus 2,075 posts in 7 months about a piece jewellery - surely is a bloody good indication of the quality of these machines. Sure, a higher number have voted in the poll - 323 to be precise - but 46% of those (149) said they'd had no problems at all and the bike runs fine. Mine sure does.

Rather than being worried about people reading this thread, I'd be hoping they do and use it as the valuable resourse that it is.

 

[Dennsell]

I only just found this so carfully voted

 

[ewswartze]

There's a reason everyone does not post all of their positive experiences on the R3. It's because there would be no room for anything else. BTW, had a great day riding and look forward to another one tomorrow!! c-ya!!

 

[Rayvin]

Only had my '06 Classic for a couple of years, and had originally posted an idle problem in this poll, but after taking care of it (just reset the TPS in tuneECU) I haven't had a lick of trouble since. I'd like to withdraw my vote...

 

[TRIIICK]

My 2005 Standard has run like a top.Except for the recall on the idle problem and the tires leaking air rear more often than the front, it's been a joy to ride. .The seat was my biggest gripe,the standard seat was good for about the first 100 miles the gel seat not much better.

 

[Dennsell]

My 2005 Standard has run like a top.Except for the recall on the idle problem and the tires leaking air rear more often than the front, it's been a joy to ride. One thing you might want to check ,when i installed the Powerlet electrical plug on the left side the bolts had worked there way out. No big deal ,but probably a hassel replacing the bolts..The seat was my biggest gripe,the standard seat was good for about the first 100 miles the gel seat not much better.

Loosing Tyre air pressure must be an 05 thing mine is exactly the same Rear more that front weekly **** annoying ditto on the seat