[BobX2]

Time for a come to Jesus talk with my dealer/service manager. When installing my updated a-arms, they messed up my outer, drivers side CV boot and failed to tighten the lower a-arm mounting bolts. Found out on Wednesday (the first day of my extended holiday weekend) that they also failed to put a cotter pin in the drivers side tie rod end castle nut.
After several miles of cruising around in the 20-30 mph range, I headed down a winding trail through the trees to get to the lake. This is a 15-20 mph trail. Heard a loud "bang". Looked to the left front and the tire was doing it's own thing, not going straight like I was holding the wheel. Got it stopped and climbed out expecting the worst. Turns out the mounting nut had fallen off and the tie rod was no longer connected. After about 1-1/2 hours of walking the trail, I found the castle nut and washer about a 1/2 mile back. How it didn't come apart sooner is beyond me, but lucky it happened where it did.
Three mistakes, with two of them being potentially dangerous, changing out two lower a-arms and hubs is absolutely unacceptable! The flies on the wall are going to get an ear full...

 

[BigParm]

I thought you went through everything when you found those loose bolts a while back?

 

[BobX2]

I thought you went through everything when you found those loose bolts a while back?

I thought I did as well, but obviously didn't see the missing cotter pin. I do remember specifically looking at the ball joints to be sure the pins were in there. Since it is impossible for a properly installed cotter pin to fall out, there is no way they put it back in. They are going to hurt or kill someone with this kind of careless workmanship and lack of QC, so I am going to be sure the service manager understands my concern. If nothing else, they need to keep an eye on the tech that did the work. (or didn't do the work...)

 

[Rocky Heap]

sorry to hear about this, sounds like a rush job.

 

[BobX2]

sorry to hear about this, sounds like a rush job.

Not sure what the issue was. I've had warranty work done there on other machines in the past with no issues. I'm thinking it's more an issue with this one particular service tech. They have several and I think I drew the short straw with this one.

 

[Speedyg]

You know it’s one of those things that once you’ve had a shit job, you lose trust in the dealership and whomever was working on it was a slob. It makes me wonder if any of the techs are certified or even have experience. I’ve learned in this industry if you don’t do it exactly how you want it, you’ll be disappointed at the dealers work. I don’t have enough fingers to count the mistakes I’ve dealt with the service department here.

 

[Markie]

My dealer had a problem with 1 service tech who worked on mine,it cost them 1600 in parts.They said his wife up and left him with the kids so he took it out on my machine with a hammer.

 

[Speedyg]

My dealer had a problem with 1 service tech who worked on mine,it cost them 1600 in parts.They said his wife up and left him with the kids so he took it out on my machine with a hammer.

Yea I’d make them give me a new one after that.

 

[Remote 8]

Wow....that dealership really needs to look at their company culture. Techs need to realize that they are "all in it together" so to speak. They need to peer enforce excellence as customers will move on if possible from poor/dangerous work. This starts at the very top with the owners. No excuses.

 

[Chilled Rider]

I heard 2 sources say here in Pa the unemployed are making roughly $30/hr at home. Another friend told me ~$57k/yr, We are lucky if anyone is working at the dealership....

 

[Speedyg]

I heard 2 sources say here in Pa the unemployed are making roughly $30/hr at home. Another friend told me ~$57k/yr, We are lucky if anyone is working at the dealership....

I saw a survey that a married unemployed couple is making 87k a year average sitting at home doing nothing but collecting a check.

 

[Remote 8]

This starts at the very top with the owners.

I heard 2 sources say here in Pa the unemployed are making roughly $30/hr at home. Another friend told me ~$57k/yr, We are lucky if anyone is working at the dealership....

Employees are an issue right now for sure. I'm a business owner of a business that supplies specialized skills I get that 100%. However, that's MY problem to solve as an owner. Not a clients problem to solve or deal with. If I can't provide competent help I don't do the job. I try to find a client an acceptable substitute or just be honest and tell them they have to wait. In a lot of fields (UTV/Automotive service, the field I work in, etc.) incompetency can be a killer. It takes one bad tech to destroy years of building a business. Too many owners forget, or ignore, that fact for a quick buck.

Count on hourly labor rates soaring.

 

[Atcdan13]

Man, how in the world did you find that nut and washer? That’s like a needle in a haystack for real.

 

[BobX2]

Man, how in the world did you find that nut and washer? That’s like a needle in a haystack for real.

LOL That's exactly what I was saying to myself. It was either find it or limp back to camp and park it for the rest of the trip, or drive down and spend 1/2 a day or better rounding up parts, driving back up to camp and making the repair. Somehow the nut and washer ended up within about 10' of each other. Actually found the washer first so I knew I was in the right area. Wouldn't think it would be that tough to spot a silver 7/8" nut lying on the ground.

 

[Atcdan13]

I leave for my Spearhead Trails trip in three days. I’ve checked everything half a dozen times but still feel like I’ve probably missed something. It’s funny because I ride with a dude on these farther away trips that rarely washes his machine and does the absolute minimum maintenance and never has problems but if I don’t check everything, I’ll have an issue. Never fails. This will be my first big trip with this machine. I’m excited, only one of the 6 people I’m going with has seen the KRX so far. It’s all RZR’s and me in the group this time aside from one atv. I used to have a gen 1 wolverine rspec and was previously the low ground clearance, harshest suspension guy.

 

[Remote 8]

Actually found the washer first so I knew I was in the right area. Wouldn't think it would be that tough to spot a silver 7/8" nut lying on the ground.

Finished a 2 mile night time plow job during a blizzard a number of years ago. The next morning as I was warming up a skidsteer with a snowblower to clear the now drifted in mess.....lI noticed the plow truck had dropped a chain somewhere on the 2 mile stretch.....about a mile down the road was one small spot blown down to the dirt with one link of the dropped chain showing. Naturally it wasn't noticed until I was walking back......still felt very lucky that day.

 

[guber]

Wouldn't think it would be that tough to spot a silver 7/8" nut lying on the ground.

not sure of the rmax, but a lug nut works on the X2

 

[Mike Davis1107]

I leave for my Spearhead Trails trip in three days. I’ve checked everything half a dozen times but still feel like I’ve probably missed something. It’s funny because I ride with a dude on these farther away trips that rarely washes his machine and does the absolute minimum maintenance and never has problems but if I don’t check everything, I’ll have an issue. Never fails. This will be my first big trip with this machine. I’m excited, only one of the 6 people I’m going with has seen the KRX so far. It’s all RZR’s and me in the group this time aside from one atv. I used to have a gen 1 wolverine rspec and was previously the low ground clearance, harshest suspension guy.

Post some pix to me Dan.
enjoyn
I’m jealous, but lately slammed at work. Don’t see any empty time until October. Yuk

 

[GWH]

LOL That's exactly what I was saying to myself. It was either find it or limp back to camp and park it for the rest of the trip, or drive down and spend 1/2 a day or better rounding up parts, driving back up to camp and making the repair. Somehow the nut and washer ended up within about 10' of each other. Actually found the washer first so I knew I was in the right area. Wouldn't think it would be that tough to spot a silver 7/8" nut lying on the ground.

I got my machine back last week from the dealer,for changing out the knuckles and lower a frames.I double checked for bob bolts after ur original post, did not find any.now I’m going to have to recheck for missing carter pins.glad ur safe,that could have been bad.

 

[BobX2]

I got my machine back last week from the dealer,for changing out the knuckles and lower a frames.I double checked for bob bolts after ur original post, did not find any.now I’m going to have to recheck for missing carter pins.glad ur safe,that could have been bad.

Could have been bad for sure, but got lucky and everything turned out fine.