the issue was discussed on rat net in detail
wanted to make sure it is on the postings that Triumph can see, that there is another bike with the same or similar problem.
I bought my bike from
http://www.motoplexusa.com/ the Old Town Motorcycle shop in Chicago on December 15, 2005 and it was delivered in march 2006. I just got the first 500 miles on it and it sounds like a weird noise that comes from the lower left had side of the engine near the back of the engine. It appears if the engine is running just under 2000 RPMs and disappears when the engine reaches 3000 RPMs. It almost sounds as if something is loose in the inside of the engine. And it is not a regular rythmic sound but varies.
The below is the closest post to my problem.
The dealer has told me that the noise I am experiencing is on EVERY bike, but it did not exist when I bought the bike and it has grown worse as I approached the end of the break in period.
I thought that the 500 tune up would fix it -- but not.
Any instructions I can give a reluctent dealer to help them do their job?
Also, anyone buy from them in the past?
----------------------------------------
rumbler05
Production 125
160 taylors fork rd richmond ky 40475 (usa)
Rides:
2005 Rocket Three
2003 America
Joined: Mar 18, 2006 Posted: 2006-03-18 10:14
My 2005 rocket 3 started to have engine trans noise and vibration problems soon after the first 500 mile oil change. I was told to ride it for awhile to allow it to break in the various components. After continuous complaints to my dealer the problem was finally addressed , I had put 3500 miles on it by that time . I was basically treated by the dealership as if the problem was in my head , but it was actually in my feet ,legs and hand grips. I've owned this bike for eight months and I also have a two year old triumph America.
-----------------
Lance, Dragon RiderLancelot! I'll describe my response to the dealers approach" they all sound that way". I got an attorney involved. First I test road 2 other Rockets in the area. I let those owners ride my bike and verify my bike had a noise and vibration that did not exist in their bikes. I documented in intervals of 500 rpms when the noise and vibration would make it's appearance felt and herd. I also documented that the problem would come and go when the clutch was being engaged and disengaged. This was done at intervals of 500 rpms and various speeds. I was trying to eliminate the possibility that it was in the wheels or rear axle assy. I could be at 80 mph, pull the clutch in while keeping my rpm up to say 3000 rpm the bike would be smooth as glass ,no vibes nor noise would appear. I wound up with Two pages of test data. I'm not a motorcycle mechanic so the information was armature looking but it demonstrated the problem was not in the combustion or upper engine and not in the frame or rear axle. It took a couple of trips to the dealer before their head mechanic finally test drove the bike himself. I guess time is money and they were hoping I would just give up and go away!!! The mechanic acknowledged the noise and vibration. The dealer called Triumph and got an OK to start working on the bike. I,m not sure what was done to the bikes transmission because I was getting conflicting stories from Triumph to as what was done and what the dealer said they did. I know the clutch was apart twice and finally the engine was removed and the trans was inspected . I was not given a summary of what had been done to the bike. I test drove the bike three times and immediately gave it back because the problem still existed. I wouldn't accept the bike until it was without problems. They had my bike in the shop for Four and half months and I'm still trying to get all the paper work completed on my replacement bike. After the tyranny was worked on (engine removed) and I refused the bike, the service writer told me the mechanic stated the problem still was there. I taped all phone conversations . They came in handy when talking to my attorney or the triumph service rep. The tapping of conversations made up for my lack of memory of what had been said or promised to me by the various people involved. Triumph never admitted the problem existed but did give a new bike when all was said and done. The dealer has since changed owners and all appearances are that the new owners are making a huge effort to run the place correctly. I feel Triumph stepped up to the plate to make things right with me. My concern now is whether my new bike will have the same problem develop. I' also more Than curious about the modification of th dry sump oil pan . I'm going to try and get a part number and reason for the change. I had the choice of a refund of my $20,000 investment or a new bike . Buying a Triumph goes against the trends of what most other bikers bought but I was and still am a Triumph fan. Lets hope they are willing to support us like all of us have supported them with are customer loyalty.Posted: 2006-06-16 22:15
well the dealer agreed there was a problem after I printed out this thread and attached it to a letter.
He was unaware of the problem. Triumph apparently is..
They are covering it under warranty or so he says. I am supposed to get the bike back in a week or so and will let you know how it sounds.
For me the sound was caught in the first 500 miles as a sound like a bearing rattling against a paint can at about 2000 RPM and disappearing when the RPM went up or down.
the dealer says he mic'ed the bearings and says they are in a self contained unit so that replacing them will not effect the rest of the engine.
Does anyone know if this is true?
-----------------
Lance, Dragon Rider
Chicago, Illinois
Rides:
Rocket III Classic, 2006, R&B
Joined: May 31, 2006 Posted: 2006-07-04 14:33
Update on my problem with the output shaft bearing.
Guess what. I never rode the bike hard at all. I am a a bit intimidated by the power of the bike and also wanted to baby it during its break in period. I rode from 45 miles to 450 miles on the odometer before taking it into the shop for its 500 mile overhaul. I never rode the bike above 65mph and generally would ride it about 45 mph.
Once I started to become ajusted to the bikes noises I heard a sound that sounded like the engine had something loose in the engine and every time I took it to the dealer, (a dealer that NEVER documented anything), they would tell me it was normal noise from the break in period and that it would go away once the bike was broke in.
Then when it was taken back to the dealer and they F---ed up on the 500 mile oil change, I started to really question their honesty. When I got the bike back from the 500 mile oil change the dealer had not tightened the oil drainage bolt on the front of the f--king engine. No more than 2 teasspoons of oil leaked on my gaarage floor but it was enough for me to catch it and start researching hard about this problem.
Then I forwarded all of the entries in this string. The dealer told me AFTER I had forwarded all of these entries that yes in deedy it was the output shaft bearing. He claimed he had taken it apart and said "that someone at the factory had not packed them into the unit correctly and that this had caused them to wear prematurely." I was also told that this was a sealed unit where the bearings were and that I should not worry that shrapnel would not be able to work its way into the rest of the engine.
I dont know if this is true or not. Anyone know if it was a sealed unit?
Well anyways guess what???!!! The day AFTER my bike was supposed to be returned, and I did not get a call from the dealer, I called them. And they told me that they had found a bit of metal or stone in the oil when they flushed out the engine because the noise that they previously told me was my imagination was still there.
At this point I was really concerend and found out that no warrantee claim had been made by the dealer despite the fact that they told me that they had made such a claim.
I revoked acceptance of the bike and demanded that they replace it with a new one. I gave them until July 7, 2006 to make good on the bike or I would sue them. I am guessing that Triumph is not going to stand by its bike or I would have been given the ok from them.
It amazes me-- I am a lawyer - actually a consumer rights lawyer - the dealer and triumph knew this. They know that the bike was defective. And still they were lying to me. I even gave them a chance by sending them a copy of the lawsuit I was going to file so that they could avoid the whole thing. NO response.
We dont have too many lawyers - we have too few - because businesses wont do anything unless we force them to. If businesses did the right thing, no one would have to hire a lawyer and I would have to find other work.
I love my bike, I really hate the idea of suing Triumph. I also hate the idea of buying a HD just to be a clone of everyone else. I saved for 2 years to get this bike and it just pisses me off that Triumph is essencially saying a bike with less than 500 miles on it which is kept in a locked garage and which has been babied is a bike they will not replace when something as profound as shrapnel or a stone is found in the engine, after the dealer says there is a output shaft bearing problem.
Am I wrong? would you drive a bike that in the first 500 miles you find a bit of stone or shrapnel in the engine. Cant it screw up the entire engine? Also doesnt it seem like a gremlin -- i.e. a bike that has a bit of bad luck associated with it?
Posted: 2006-07-04 14:35
i heard that rockets were recalled in britain last year for a final drive problem.was that this problem?
Posted: 2006-07-04 15:56
Lancelot, if by sealed they mean sealed bearings, the one I saw destroyed sitting on the shop bench was not a sealed bearing. If they mean the unit itself is sealed from the rest of the engine, I don't think that's right either. How would it receive lubrication? My understanding is it is splash oiled by oil in the crankcase, which is why some of us want an explanation for the revised oil sump.
After seeing the bearing I did, I also would be concerned by all the flotsam and jetsam floating around in the oil supply.
Perhaps what they meant by "sealed" is that torque shaft assembly is put together as a unit at the factory and then shipped to the dealer.
Rambo, the final drive recall was a separate issue that amounted to replacement of the final drive unit itself.
rumbler05
Super Sidecars
kentucky (usa)
Rides:
2005 Rocket Three
2003 America
Joined: Mar 18, 2006 Posted: 2006-07-08 18:44
I have not noticed any problem yet with my replacement Rocket!! In fact just came back from a group ride with the Southern Cruisers riding club a few hours ago. It was to the Cumberland falls via some nice site seeing back roads that Kentucky offers.. Lancelot I also babied my first rocket as well as my replacement bike. No wheel spinning take offs nor wheelies. I bought an America first . I was just getting back into biking after a 12 year hiatus from biking. Excited about not buying what everyone else was riding and more than ready to see Triumph make a comeback . I'm 56 years old mechanic in charge of doing turbine engine and drive train build-ups for a military contractor. If I say any more about my employment I would have to k............. all who read this. Just couldn't pass up that cliche "GOD BLESS AMERICA and the countries whom stand with us " I have been keeping oil samples since receiving my replacement bike. This is being done Evey 500 miles. Anyone interested doing something similar can look in the back of an aviation magazine for companies that will analyze the samples. This will give you a documented history from an outside and reputable source as to metallurgy derogation over time and should identify the parts going bad prematurely. Great bike, Hopefully a company on it's way to being great.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
geofft
Grand Prix 125
Sugar Land, Tx
Rides:
05 Rocket III
01 Vstar 1100
Joined: Jun 03, 2005 Posted: 2006-07-09 16:17
Lancelot, I may need your help with my output shaft bearing problem. My bike has been at the dealer for over a week (third time for same problem) and no word from them after they told me they would keep me informed. I called them and they have not even looked at it yet. I am getting a bad feeling that they are dragging their feet in hopes that I will just give up and go away. How should I handle them? I also read on the R3owners site that another R3 may have the same problem, but this time his rear wheel locked up at about 50 MPH coming out of a roundabout (England), this is the second instance I have heard about involving a rear wheel lockup because of the trans problem. I would hate for anybody to get hurt because of this.
-----------------
I feel more like I do now than I did a while ago.
